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Nykredit Architecture Prize 2009

Entasis Architects win Scandinavia’s largest architecture prize: Danske Arkitekter

post updated 3 May 2021 ; 26 May 2009

Nykredit Prize

Nykredit’s Architecture Prize rewards urban development

The Danish architects, Signe and Christian Cold, founder of the architecture firm Entatis, was awarded Nykredit’s Architecture Prize 2009 on 25 May. The award is the largest architecture prize in Scandinavia and among the world’s largest architecture prizes with a prize fund of EUR 67,000.

Portrait of Entasis : from left, Christian and Signe Cold

Project by Entasis : A project by Entasis – Urban Planning, Carlsberg – design of a new neighbourhood on the Carlsberg site

The Danish architecture firm Entasis, which has designed Carlsberg’s new sustainable neighbourhood of Valby in Copenhagen, was presented the prize by the Danish Minister for Culture at the official award ceremony. The architecture firm Polyform, founded by architects Jonas Sangberg and Thomas Kock, was presented with Nykredit’s Prize for Meritorious Work of EUR 13,500 on the same occasion.

Portrait of Polyform : from left, Thomas Kock and Jonas Sangberg

Project by Polyform : A project by Polyform – Urban Planning, Nordhavn, Copenhagen – design of a new neighbourhood

Sustainable Danish urban development

At a time when building activity is subdued due to slowdown in the building sector, the Nykredit Foundation highlights two young Danish architects who have made special efforts to further long-term, sustainable urban development.

The architecture firm Entasis had its big breakthrough in 2007, when it won the architecture competition for the development of Carlsberg’s new neighbourhood “Our city”, outperforming a number of leading international architects. Further, the young Danish company, Polyform, has attracted attention as one of the three winners of the prestigious international competition in connection with the design of Nordhavnen in Copenhagen. Sustainable urban development was a decisive requirement in both competitions.

“Both prize winners deserve the recognition embodied in Nykredit’s architecture prizes. Entasis and Polyform have boasted a high architectural quality in their buildings, and they have created impressive results in the development of future sustainable cities in major international competitions”, says Kent Martinussen, Chairman of Nykredit’s Prize Committee and Managing Director of Danish Architecture Center, which is particularly pleased with the architects’ focus on sustainable solutions.

Unique architecture prize

Nykredit’s Architecture Prize is Scandinavia’s most prestigious. Since 1987 the Nykredit Foundation has presented this prize to leading profiles such as Jørn Utzon, Henning Larsen and Olafur Eliasson. Having been increased to DKK 500,000, (EUR 67.000) Nykredit’s prize last year joined the international league of leading architecture prizes such as The Pritzker Architecture Prize and the prestigious Mies van der Rohe Prize.

Nykredit is pleased that the two award winners of the year continue the tradition of new thinking and sustainability in Danish architecture and urban development.

– The purpose of the Nykredit Foundation is to support non-profit building projects. Therefore, the Foundation is interested in rewarding two young architects whose work is characterised by new thinking, sustainable solutions and the continuance of the impressive Danish tradition of high-quality architecture. Both architecture firms play an important role in international competitions, and they work with long-term urban development qualities for the benefit of present and future generations, says Peter Engberg Jensen, Group Chief Executive of Nykredit, in connection with the announcement.

Nykredit Architecture Prize Winner 2009 : Entasis

Nykredit Architecture Prize – 2008

Danish Architecture

Nykredit Architecture Prize in 2009

The Nykredit Architecture Prize has been awarded by the Nykredit Foundation since 1987. It is Scandinavia’s largest architecture prize, and this year the prize fund was increased from 300,000 to 500,000 Danish kroner. The prize is awarded annually to a person or people who have personally or through their work made a significant contribution to the building industry in the form of architecture or planning, etc.

The Nykredit Motivation Prize
In 1991 the Nykredit Foundation began awarding the Motivation Prize to talented
young architects who have made an impact on the architecture scene. This year the
prize fund has been increased from 50,000 to 100,000 Danish kroner.

Nykredit’s Prize Committee
The Nykredit Foundation awards the Nykredit Architecture Prize and Motivation Prize
based on the recommendation of a specialist Prize Committee. The 2008 Prize
Committee consisted of Kent Martinussen, architect MAA, Carsten Holgaard, architect MAA, and Klaus Toustrup, architect MAA.

The Nykredit Architecture Prize Winners (the past 11 years)

2008 Cebra Architects
2007 Dorte Mandrup-Poulsen, architect
2006 C.F. Møller A/S, architecture firm
2005 Lene Tranberg, architect
2004 Olafur Eliasson, fine artist
2003 Malene Hauxner, landscape architect, Dr. Agro
2002 PLOT, architecture firm consisting of Julien De Smedt and Bjarke Ingels,
architects
2001 Sven-Ingvar Andersson, landscape architect, APS MDL
2000 Knud Friis, architect, Gehrdt Bornebusch, architect, and Vilhelm Wohlert,
architect
1999 Dissing + Weitling Arkitektfirma A/S
1998 DOMUS arkitekter a/s
1997 schmidt hammer lassen architects

The first year, 1987: Henning Larsen, architect, Jørn Utzon, architect, and Ulrik
Plesner, architect.

The Nykredit Foundation

The Nykredit Foundation has capital of 100 million Danish kroner and annually awards approximately 7 million Danish kroner to initiatives within the Danish financial sector, research and culture. The Housing Prize, Architecture Prize and Motivation Prize fall under this category.
Facts: Nykredit is one of Denmark’s leading financial services groups with activities
ranging from mortgage lending and banking to insurance, pension and estate agency
services.

Copenhagen Architecture

CEBRA

ONV Architects

CEBRA wins Nykredit Architecture Prize
The young Danish architecture firm CEBRA was awarded the Nykredit Architecture Prize 2008. The award is Scandinavia’s largest architecture prize and with an increased prize fund of 67,000 euros, the prize is also among the largest architecture prizes in the world.

Buildings by CEBRA