The European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) launched an international multidisciplinary project competition with pre-qualification for the design of the new JRC Site Headquarters in Seville, Spain in May 2021. It was endorsed by the International Union of Architects (UIA) as being in accordance with the UNESCO-UIA Regulations for International Competitions in Architecture and Town Planning.  

The competition sought a forward-looking, innovative and cost-efficient construction, aiming at integrating multiple disciplines to achieve the highest sustainability targets for a new construction project.The international jury chaired by Bernard Magenhann (Belgium), Deputy Director General of the JRC, European Commission, met on 23-25 March 2022 and examined the 15 projects submitted.

Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG ) along with team members Argenia Ingeniería y Arquitectura (Spain), Buro Happold Limited (UK) and HCP Arquitectos y Urbanistas (Spain) received the first prize for this competition.

The jury commended the winning entry for exemplifying energetically self-sufficient architecture since the building produces the energy it requires to function. Its channeling of Andalucía’s solar power was a major attraction of the proposal, an aspect reinforced by the current energy context and aligned with the e-City Seville programme.

Jury members especially appreciated the monumental power of the solar energy shading canopy and its appealing integration with the adjacent open surrounding space. The white canopies were found to simultaneously create attractive urban spaces, a strong Andalusian identity and a clever building shading mechanism. Emblematic of the New European Bauhaus values of transparency, inclusion and energy efficiency, the building’s innovative shading solutions also generate electricity.

The jury also awarded the following prizes:

• Second Prize: Dorte Mandrup (Denmark), team leader, with Ines Ingenieros Consultores (Spain), Jansana, De la Villa, De Paauw, Arquitectes (Spain), Installacions Arquitectoniques (Spain) and Activitats Arquitectoniques (Spain)
• Third Prize: Cobe (Denmark) with Esteyco (Spain), FSL Ingeniería y Diseño Sostenible (Spain), Estudi Ramon Folch i Associats (Spain) and b720 Arquitectura (Spain)

Honourable Mentions:

• ALA Architects Ltd (Finland), group leader, with Ove Arup & Partners (Ireland) and Mareld landskapsarkitekter (Sweden)
• Mecanoo International (Netherlands), group leader, with Bakpak Architects (Spain), Eddea Arquitectura y Urbanismo (Spain), Arquitectura Agronomia  (Spain) and Valladares Ingeniería  (Spain)
• Muoto Architectes (France) with Schnetzer Puskas International (Switzerland)

More information about the competition is available on the UIA website.