Prix de Rome Architecture 2018Prix de Rome Architecture 2018

Architect Alessandra Covini (1988, Milan) received the Prix de Rome Architecture 2018 from the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Ingrid van Engelshoven. Covini is awarded for Amsterdam Allegories, her proposal for the Sixhaven area in the North of Amsterdam. The award comes with a 40,000 Euro cash prize and a work period at the American Academy in Rome. The Prix de Rome Architecture is awarded once every four years to talented young architects, urban designers or landscape architects.

With her proposal Amsterdam Allegories, Alessandra Covini responded to the fictional assignment, formulated by the jury, to come up with a meaningful and non-consumptive programme for the Sixhaven area that could be significant for the city and would be cherished by many. Covini's plan is a proposal that turns Sixhaven into a walled harbour in which twenty-one islands provide space for passing visitors. In addition, Covini sketches scenarios in which the islands drift around the city. Each island refers to specific characteristics and typologies of the city and harbour of Amsterdam. By enclosing the islands, Covini adds a new typology. The result is a refreshing plan that proposes new forms of public space that sparkle with pleasure, positive energy and humour.

The work of all nominees is exhibited in at Het Nieuwe Instituut from 19 October 2018 to 10 March 2019.

Over the past few months, the finalists tackled a fictive assignment, focused on the Sixhaven area in Amsterdam. Whereas the open call for the first round focused on a Low Pressure area in Eastern Groningen, the final round focuses on High Pressure: an assignment in a popular urban environment. They developed an architectural proposal for the area near the Sixhaven in Amsterdam North, opposite Central Station; a plan with a critical perspective on Amsterdam in the 21st century. The solutions for this location will be presented in the exhibition - set up by Collective Works agency.

On the basis of the proposals for the Sixhaven area, the international jury selects the winner. The jury for the 2018 Prix de Rome Architecture consists of acting chairman Mels Crouwel (architect, partner at Benthem Crouwel Architects), Frank Havermans (visual artist, designer at Studio Frank Havermans), Afaina de Jong (architect, owner of AFARAI), Oana Rades (architect, owner of Shift architecture urbanism), Ronald Rietveld (architect, partner at RAAAF, winner of the 2006 Prix de Rome) and Peter Cachola Schmal (director of Deutsches Architekturmuseum).

The four nominees were selected from a list of 66 architects, urban developers and landscape architects, who all submitted a plan in reaction to the first assignment, which focused on a country location in Eastern Groningen. Under the title of Low Pressure, participants were challenged to develop an intervention for the area around the villages of Hongerige Wolf and Ganzedijk and the dyke in between. In addition to the Prix de Rome exhibition, Het Nieuwe Instituut organizes a temporary pop-up presentation in Gallery 2, containing the entries that were submitted in reaction to the open call.

The Prix de Rome Architecture is the oldest and biggest Dutch prize for artists and architects under the age of 40. The Prix de Rome has been organized and financed since 2012 by the Mondriaan Fund. More information about the Prix de Rome 2014 exhibition at Het Nieuwe Instituut can be found here. The exhibition showcases the importance of design and innovation, key principles of all activities at Het Nieuwe Instituut.