The ANNUAL BRUNO ZEVI AWARD
for a Historical-Critical Essay

Rome, October 15, 2008

Final Jury Report and Proclamation of the Winner of the Second Edition (2008)

The Jury, composed of Peter Blundell Jones, Roberto Dulio, Aldo Loris Rossi, Robert McCarter and Luciana Miotto awarded the 2008 PBZ to the essay:

Transforming Reality with Architecture: Finnish Contribution, by Petra Ceferin.

The essay deals with the specific qualities of 1950s Finnish Architecture.

It focuses on the work of Alvar Aalto, the concrete result of a desire to transform reality through Modern Architecture, in this case organically inserted into an environmental context using natural materials. At the same time it demonstrates how the common response offered by Finnish architects to political issues and government programmes in Finland at the time was guided by an analogous sensibility.

The award was assigned to the essay in light of:

•  the interest of the subject matter dealt with;
•  the correctness of the arguments presented;
•  the proper construction, documentation, writing style and presentation of the subject matter.

The essay is also accompanied by an excellent selection of images and an exhaustive bibliography.

For the above reasons the Jury believes that the work is suitable for a publication of international interest.

The Jury has selected three other essays as being worthy of mention:

•  Technology and Place in Modern Architecture. An Essay in Three Acts that Analyses Important Case Studies in 20 th Century Architecture by Vincenzo Riso

and, of equal merit:

•  Space in Modern Architecture: Mies and the Limit by Vincenzo Ariu ;

•  In the Academy's Garden. Robert Venturi, the Grand Tour and the Revision of Modern Architecture by Martino Stierli .

The award ceremony will take place in Rome, on a forthcoming date to be announced.
The Competition Documents, preserved by the Fondazione Bruno Zevi, are available for consultation by researchers and scholars.