Umwelt

Ignacio Garcia Partarrieu (1984) and Arturo Scheidegger (1983) founded this architecture studio in Santiago, Chile, in 2011. Their projects show a thorough search for the relationship between their architectural practice and the territories they work with. With an emphasis on efficiency and innovative use of materials, the studio is committed to tackling challenges with simplicity, focusing on the spatial experience of architecture. Their minimalist style is combined with an awareness of site-specific environmental and spatial transformations. It is this innovative, sensitive and fresh approach to architecture that made them winners of the second edition of Début Award in 2016.

Shortlisted 

Al Borde
Al Borde is an Ecuadorian architecture firm founded in 2007 in Quito. They focus on residential architecture with projects emphasising storytelling and community engagement. Known for their innovative approach, Al Borde's portfolio includes rural and renovated houses, as well as urban projects.

ASA Studio
Based in Kigali, this architectural practice is involved in impressive long-term projects combining research, education, design and construction. They are responsible for undertaking the first kindergarten in Rwanda (2012), 11 preschools and more than 60 health facilities. 

Carles Enrich
Carles Enrich founded his own studio in 2009 initiating projects at different urban scales. His work has been exhibited at the Venice Biennale both in the Catalan Pavillion (Vogadors) in 2012 and in the Spanish Pavilion (Unfinished) in 2016.

El Umbral
Founded in 2013 in Mexico City, the El Umbral activity includes the construction of residential buildings, public spaces as well as urban design projects to enhance community building.

Hevia + Urzúa
The Chilean practice focuses on cultural architecture. Notable projects include the remodelling of existing structures and the construction of new ones to modernise infrastructure.

Paulo Manuel do Vale Afonso
Architect (1982) trained at the University of Coimbra and NTNU, in Trondheim. He developed projects at OAB, Office of Architecture in Barcelona, ​​with Carlos Ferrater and with 51-1 Arquitectos in Lima. He is co-founder of AMA (2012-14) in Lima, Peru.

Pedro Pitarch
Pedro Pitarch is an architect and composer of contemporary music. Based in Madrid, his research focuses on the ways in which society tracks trajectories through systems of mediation, which produce contemporary culture.

Plural
Founded in 2009 by Martin Jancok and joined by Michal Janak in 2013, Plural projects are based on the idea that architecture is a public domain, being a language whose structure is used to our advantage.

Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados
Known for innovative and impactful architectural designs, focusing mainly on residential projects but also engaged in urbanism and research-based practice, the studio based in São Paulo was founded in 2006 by Danilo Terra, Pedro Tuma and Fernanda Sakano.

About

The Lisbon Triennale Millennium bcp Début Award was created in 2013 to celebrate and showcase new voices and approaches to the architecture practice. This recognition contributes to the young talents' creative, intellectual, and professional growth at a crucial and potentially transformative stage in their career. The contest is open to architects under 35 years of age or to any architectural firm with an average age of up to 35 years. 

The Début Award is granted after an independent selection in two separate stages. Firstly, through a call for self-proposals. In the meanwhile, dozens of international architects are invited to nominate those they consider worthy of the prize. The set of proposals is then made available to the jury, which selects the list of finalists and the winning studio.

For more information, please visit the Open call page.

Jury

André Tavares
Fernanda Barbara
Luís Santiago Baptista
Margarita Jover
Mimi Zeiger
Tetsuo Kondo
Tim Abrahams

Nominators

Ana Dana Beroš, André Tavares, Atxu Amann, Bekim Ramku, Cláudia Taborda, Danica, Jovović Prodanović, Ivan Blasi, João Luís Carrilho da Graça, Josephine Michau, Juan Coll-Barreu, Kaye Geipel, Markus Bogensberger, Martin Fröhlich, Matevž Čelik, Nuno Crespo, Pedro Gadanho, Pippo Ciorra, Saimir Kristo, Valéry Didelon, Vladyslav Tyminsky