The student competition show The Second Skin presents the best residential buildings designed by students of the second year of the bachelor's study at the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University in the past year. Its results serve the school to reflect on teaching and to support and motivate talented students. "Residential design is a royal discipline. It forms the basis of architectural design and it is good that students at our school design buildings for housing as early as in their second year. They can cope well with the problem and their projects are of good quality," said the Dean of the Faculty, Doc. Dalibor Hlaváček.
The competition is organised by the Institute of Building Science of the Faculty of Architecture and this year 39 works from 17 design studios took part. The jury selected the contestants in three rounds. Nine projects advanced to the second round, from which three prizes and two honourable mentions were awarded in the third round. The jury meeting and the announcement of the results took place on 24 February.
The jury was composed of prof. Ing. arch. Jaroslav Šafer (chairman), Ing. arch. Jakub Nakládal, Ing. arch. Jiří Zábran (for the independent part), Ing. arch. Martina Buřičová (for ZAN) and prof. Ing. arch. akad. arch. Václav Girsa (for the design studios of the Faculty of Architecture of the CTU, which did not nominate their own projects) appreciated the depth of processing and the level of presentation of the designs. At the same time, she was positively surprised by the social and societal impact of some projects.
Results of the Second Skin 2021/2022:
1st prize: Ester Maria Dvořáková, Apartment house with café facilities (Redčenkov-Danda studio)
2nd prize: Miroslav Faist, Nový Střížkov Housing (studio Kuzemenský-Kunarová)
3rd prize: Michael Hovorka and Michal Hruška, Na Knížecí Urban Housing (studio Hlaváček-Čeněk)
Honourable mention from the jury: Barbora Laššáková, Die Brücke: Bridge between movement and peace (studio Cikán)
Honourable mention of the jury: Tereza Voltová, Mělník, Family housing (studio Seho)
1. prize
Ester Maria Dvořáková, Apartment house with café facilities (studio Redčenkov-Danda)
Author's report:
The project aims to stop the gap in the complicated and ambitious location of the Poultry Market in Opava. A place that was fundamentally transformed by the fighting at the end of World War II and has never recovered. The surrounding buildings are very close and the inner block is currently used as a parking area. The aim was to stop the open space, complete the street line, avoid encroaching on the surrounding buildings and create a suitable courtyard. The apartment building seeks to blend into the surroundings while adding new aesthetic and social values to it.
Jury evaluation:
A simple residential house, integrally integrated into a complicated corner situation, resolved by a well thought out architectural and layout concept. The small apartment building fits well into the surrounding buildings, the layout, facade and choice of materials are designed with detachment, the house looks natural. Excellent work with mass and context, pleasant atmosphere.
2. prize
Miroslav Faist, Nový Střížkov Housing (Kuzemenský-Kunarová studio)
Author's report:
Table Mountain terminated by a cliff, a peaceful place for a garden city. How to develop a plot of land that no one has to drive over or wander through? Ideal place for young families with children, for residents who want to live in the city but still want to have their own garden. At the same time, a garden city should provide ample public space for the community to gather or for children to play safely. My ambition was to combine individual and residential housing to create a set that references existing developments but brings something different to the table.
Jury evaluation:
A coherent and well thought out design of a large site, the architecture is sober. The jury appreciated the typology of buildings used, the combination of terraced houses with separate apartment buildings, with good layouts. Good social mix of residents, good quality public and semi-public spaces and their hierarchy. Sophisticated urban design, exceptional scale, detailed elaboration. The jury also appreciated the designed atmosphere.
3. cena
Michael Hovorka and Michal Hruška, Municipal Housing Na Knížecí (studio Hlaváček-Čeněk)
Author's report:
What should housing look like if the city is the investor? Quality, affordable, sustainable, city-building. These are the basic requirements we set ourselves when creating our design to create a house that not only shapes its surroundings, but offers spacious and pleasant living. The proposal deals with the development of a gap in Prague's Smíchov district.
Jury evaluation:
The design is balanced in layout, facades and presentation. It is a full-fledged town house with public and semi-public spaces, a concept very suitable for the location in Smíchov. Added value of communal spaces, generous layout for urban rental housing. Sophisticated design of the parterre and courtyard, with a pleasant atmosphere.
Honourable mention from the jury
Barbora Laššáková, Die Brücke: Bridge between Movement and Peace (Cikán studio)
Author's report:
The name of the house Die Brücke - The Bridge is based on the variety of functions connected in the house located in the new Aspern district of Vienna. The house serves as a link between human needs: work, living and relaxation, but at the same time bridges the busy Ringstrasse with a green and quiet courtyard. The house has apartments with private front gardens, duplex apartments, studios, a café and a gallery on the ground floor.
Jury evaluation:
The project has its own strong opinion. Despite partial errors, the jury appreciates the creative concept and its concise presentation.
Honourable mention from the jury
Tereza Voltová, Mělník, Family housing (ateliér Seho)
Author's report:
The aim of the project was to create housing for families looking for something between a house and an apartment. Most of the apartments in the house are duplexes with an emphasis on individuality and a sense of ownership. The dominant staircase in the middle of the house allows for independent access to the upper floors and a pleasant view of the adjacent park.
Jury evaluation:
Sympathetic house with innovative typological solution, convincing presentation. Creative spatial design
Photographs can be downloaded here. (author: Jiří Ryszawy, CTU)
