Skopje, November 13, 2023
Europe House Skopje marked its fourth anniversary with a fusion of heritage and a vision of the future, hosting an exhibition and prize-giving ceremony for the “Skopje of the new generation” architectural and urban design contest. This event showcased the talent of young architects contributing to the urban development of Skopje.
The competition saw 12 submissions from 24 budding architects, each presenting plans to rejuvenate various sites within the city. The first prize was awarded to “Lotus 4 Her” by Antonio Grujevski located at Lotus Fountain at City Park Skopje. The second prize was received by Daniela Vasileva, Sara Veleska, and Sara Trajkova for “Reimagining Colorwaves,” centered around Dimitar Vlahov Quay on the Vardar River. The third prize went to Natalie Veleska, Alen Cvetkovski, and Donna Mitrovska for their “SpineX” project, aimed at revitalizing “Plasticharska” Street.
The event was hosted at the Skopje Central Post Office, a site of considerable historical significance, which has been recognized by Europa Nostra as one of Europe’s seven most endangered heritage sites. On the 26th of July, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of Skopje’s devastating earthquake, Europa Nostra, in collaboration with the European Investment Bank Institute, called attention to the urgent need for the building’s restoration. This sentiment was reflected in the remarks made by EU Ambassador David Geer, emphasizing the importance of immediate action to preserve this historic edifice.
“Today we stand here in Poshta, probably the most emblematic example of brutalist art; an aesthetics that shaped Skopje’s post-earthquake architectural identity. To recall the cultural legacy that needs to be protected and cherished. Today, Poshta still has no roof and is at an increasing risk of disuse and deterioration. Yet Poshta, to use Sartre’s words, does not accept a defeat! And neither do we. We decided to mark Europe House’s fourth birthday right here. On the Day of Liberation of Skopje. “Ambassador Geer remarked.
Minister of Culture, Ms. Bisera Kostadinovska-Stojchevska, spoke about the competition’s broader cultural impact. “This competition transcends mere architectural designs; it’s a canvas where our cultural heritage and modern aspirations converge,” she stated.
The competition Skopje of the new generation was evaluated by a jury of 5 members from all five architectural faculties in Skopje, (International Balkan University, University American College Skopje (UACS), MIT University, Faculty of Social Sciences (FON) and University “St. Cyril and Methodius” Skopje). Prof. Dr. Bojan Karnakov, on the behalf of jury explained that: “The main goal of the Competition is to inspire innovative ideas for architectural and urban design that would enhance the sense of community in public spaces of parts of the city etched in the collective memory of Skopje, where young architects up to the age of 35 were to focus on rethinking and redecorating parts of the city, in order to create a sustainable and inclusive environment.”
The winning project “Lotus 4 her”, made by young Architect Antonio Grujevski, represents a visionary landscape and restoration project aimed at enhancing green sustainability within Skopje’s urban fabric while paying homage to the pioneering women architects who played a pivotal role in the city’s post-earthquake reconstruction in 1963. In his acceptance speech, Grujevski reflected, “Receiving this award is not just a personal achievement but a validation of a dream for Skopje – a dream where architecture is not just about buildings, but about creating sustainable, vibrant spaces for communities to thrive.”
The exhibition in Central Poshta, will be open to the public for the next three days, from Tuesday to Thursday, between 12:00 to 15:00.
