Fundació Güell – Nando & Elsa Peretti Foundation: Architecture Award 2023

Project location: SPAIN
Project start date: June 2022 - Project end date: December 2023
Project number: 2022-011
Beneficiary: Fundació Privada Güell

Fundació Güell, is a Catalan foundation founded in 1956 by Joan Antoni Güell, one of the sons of Eusebi Güell, sponsor of the well-known architect Antoni Gaudi, with the mission to financially support Catalan, Valencian and Balearic young artists, painters, sculptors and musicians. 

Today the foundation continues with dedication to pursue the founding goals established by its founder so that young artists from the Catalan lands can find not only financial aid, but also the warmth and support of an institution that helps them make their way in artistic life.

On an annual basis, the foundation awards scholarships in the fields of art, music, sculpture, painting and drawing. Each year a scholarship is awarded to an applicant in each category, according to the selection of the corresponding Jury. 

The Güell Private Foundation wants to help new generations make their way into the difficult world of art, through that small spark that can later ignite the fire of a great artist.
To date the institution has awarded more than 120 grants to young artists and supported several art institutions and schools.

This project, which received a grant from the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation, Delegació a Catalunya, foresees the launch of a “Fundació Güell – Nando & Elsa Peretti Foundation Architecture Award” to promote architecture that has been and is being made in Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands, as well as to support young architects from Catalan-speaking lands who are entering the professional world. 

The basis of the award highlights the sustainability concept importance, requesting the following to the projects:
-demonstrate their ability to take advantage of the ecological and social values of the geographical and historical places in which they are located, increasing their attractions with an innovative architecture, respectful of nature and able to become a center of social life and cultural quality.
-demonstrate their ability to use new technologies and new scientific and artistic advances under the principle of a specific modernity, that is, a modernity that responds to environmental, circularity, cultural and cultural needs. social of the place.

The award also aims to recognize the importance of the dialogue between architects and clients, both in public and private projects. The Architecture Award will be open to final year students of architecture, from Catalonia, Valencia and Balearic Islands communities. Applicants can either be born of studying/working in the above-mentioned communities. 

Through the partnership with 9 Universities the award program targets a community of approximately 1.000 architects on a yearly basis. Each university will shortlist from 3 to 5 best Final degree/master projects, for a total expected number of 30-40 shortlisted applications. 

A Jury of experts of three experts, will then select the winner of the €4.000 scholarship and 2 additional finalists. 

In addition, with the exhibits, conferences and other planned events there are other factors that can develop the candidates’ professional strengths/skills like: commitment with deadlines, accuracy with the interpretation of the requested general basis, ability to express their arguments in public presentations, etc. The idea it is to work in a closer real professional environment to give some experience to the candidates in their next step into the real work.