The World Monuments Fund (WMF) recently announced that it is inviting nominations for the 2012 World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize. The Prize will be awarded in fall 2012 to a design professional or firm in recognition of innovative design solutions that preserved or saved a modern landmark at risk. The biennial prize was established in 2008 to raise public awareness of the contribution Modernism makes to contemporary life, the important place it holds in the architectural record, and the influential role that architects and designers play in preserving modern heritage. Nominated projects should have enhanced a site’s architectural, functional, economic, and environmental sustainability while benefiting the community, and must have been completed in 2007 or after. Nominations must be submitted by July 31, 2012.
An independent jury comprising architectural scholars, conservators, and professionals in related fields will select the winner. The jury is chaired by Barry Bergdoll, Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture & Design, the Museum of Modern Art, New York City.
In 2006, responding to growing threats to modern architecture, WMF launched its Modernism at Risk Initiative, with Knoll as founding sponsor. The Initiative, which provides a framework for addressing the issues that endanger modern landmarks, supports architectural advocacy, conservation, and public education. For more information about the initiative and previous prizewinners, please visit www.wmf.org/modernism.
Nominations for the World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize must include:
• a narrative description (up to 500 words) of the site’s significance and the preservation project;
• the name and contact information of the nominator and of the design professional or firm being nominated;
• six photographs of the project (three before and three after preservation); and
• other relevant information (eg., news articles, reviews, etc.).
The prize entails:
• an honorarium of $10,000;
• a Barcelona chair, courtesy of Knoll, Inc.; and
• round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations in New York City for the winner(s) to attend an awards dinner and present the winning project at a lecture at the Museum of Modern Art.
Nominations and inquiries may be addressed to: [email protected]