On Wednesday 25 - 10 - 2006 at 07:00 at the Podium in the Architekturzentrum Wien, Hans Hollein, ZV President and chair of the jury, and Marta Schreieck, member of the ZV and of the jury, will award the Clients' Prize 2006. Of the 132 projects submitted this year, the jury (Hans Hollein, Marta Schreieck, Thomas van den Valentyn) has selected 16 winning projects. The submitted projects will subsequently be on show in the Clients' Prize exhibition until 13 - 11 - 2006, Halle F3.

The Background
The Zentralvereinigung der Architekten Österreichs has been awarding the Clients' Prize to exceptional projects on a regular basis since 1967. From the outset the award has helped to spotlight the architectural quality and cultural significance of projects completed by their clients under what is sometimes massive public controversy. The prize is intended as a distinction for people who have rendered special services to the planning procedure as clients, investors or mentors, and whose particular engagement has enabled the realisation of outstanding architecture.

The Aim
The Clients' Prize cannot be compared with a conventional architecture competition. Completed buildings and not theoretical potential are assessed, the results of a planning and building process in which the clients' and architects' roles are fundamental. For the Clients' Prize architecture is not only seen as a building but also as the process behind its completion. Taking up the dialogue between client and architect can yield a great deal of potential to both partners. This potential lies in the discovery of design qualities, in the revaluation of ideas and wishes, in the functional optimisation and the creation of identity in the spatial and social setting.

The display of all of the submitted projects is also intended as an invitation to ponder the possibilities and positions intrinsic to architecture. Admission free