With almost 50 entries from 16 countries, the 2009 Copper in Architecture Awards revealed an exceptional diversity of projects – many not yet published – representing some of the very best in contemporary European architecture.

Copper in Architecture sponsors and organizes the biennial European Copper in Architecture Awards which recognize excellence in design for European projects incorporating copper roofing, cladding or other elements. The Awards have developed in recent years from a purely UK-based competition to one which recognizes great architecture across Europe. To reflect this change the separate design awards for UK and Europe were combined to be one design award.

Five quite different buildings – a media center, museum, urban housing complex, and two individual homes – have now been shortlisted by the international team of architect and editor judges. Entries were judged from photographs, drawings and other material submitted by the following panel of architect judges: Paul Finch - Editor of The Architectural Review (Chairman of judges’ panel); Laurence Bain - Bain and Bevington Architects; Shane de Blacam - de Blacam and Meagher Architects; Craig Casci - Hamiltons (previous winners); Einar Jarmund – Jarmund Vigsnaes as Arkitekter (previous ‘Highly Commended’); Simone Solinas – Solinas Verd Arquitectos (previous ‘Highly Commended’); Keith Williams – Keith Williams Architects (previous winners); and Catherine Slessor - The Architectural Review.

Also in the panel of judges but not standing this time: Peter Clegg - FCB Studios; Kari Jarvinen - Kari Jarvinen Ja Merja Nieminen Arkkitehdit (previous winners); Ken Shuttleworth - Make Architects; and Gordon Talbot - Ian Ritchie Architects (previous winners).

The winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on September 29, 2009. If you would like to attend (subject to space being available), please contact nick.hay@copperdev.co.uk.

The five shortlisted projects demonstrate the growing popularity of copper and its alloys as inspirational, as well as environmentally sustainable, architectural materials.

Clip House, Madrid, Spain
Design: Bernalte-León y Asociados

The Clip House in Madrid, Spain – designed by Bernalte-León y Asociados – is a highly sculptural design formed from copper planes cantilevered from a vertical concrete spine.

Archeology Museum of Vitoria, Spain
Design: Mangado y Asociados

Still in Spain, but in complete contrast, Mangado y Asociados’ Archaeology Museum of Vitoria makes extensive use of cast bronze elements to create contrasting elevational treatments to shape the surrounding urban spaces.

Housing at Frederikskaj, Copenhagen, Denmark
Design: Dissing+Weitling arkitektfirma

In Copenhagen, Denmark, Dissing+Weitling arkitektfirma has used copper and glass to define a cool, high-density housing project at Frederikskaj, suggesting nautical references in its harbor-side location.

House in Ticino, Switzerland
Design: Davide Macullo Architetto

Another house – this time in Ticino, southern Switzerland – incorporates copper mesh screening for transparency as an integral part of Davide Macullo Architetto’s ecological and site-sensitive design.

Mediacomplex 22@, Barcelona, Spain
Design: Patrick Genard y Asociados and Ferrater & Asociados

Finally, to Spain again where transparency is also achieved – this time with perforated copper screens, matching a strong copper façade grid on the Mediacomplex 22@ building in Barcelona designed by Patrick Genard y Asociados and Ferrater & Asociados.

Images: Copper Development Association