The exhibition of the vertical atelier Gregor Smatanová Varga (FAD STU), displayed as part of the accompanying events of the ongoing Venice Architecture Biennale 2025, has been nominated for the European Cultural Centre Award.
The European Cultural Centre (ECC) has announced 21 projects that have been shortlisted for this year's ECC awards. They were selected from 207 projects from 52 countries that participated in the accompanying exhibitions of the current Venice Architecture Biennale.
Five exhibitions were selected in the University Project category, including the FAD STU project, VA Gregor Smatanova Varga: Manor and Small Noble Houses in Slovakia, which deals with the layered history of forgotten estates and explores their reuse in the current context. In collaboration with local communities, non-governmental organizations, and the Monuments Board of Slovakia, they examine their architectural narratives, their role in shaping cultural identity, and their potential for social and ecological renewal. Through research, photography, and spatial storytelling, they seek to bridge past and present, revealing these estates as silent witnesses of time, resilience, and transformation
The winners will be announced in November 2025 in Venice. The entire exhibition can be viewed until November, 23rd. The participation of FAD project at the Venice Architecture Biennale was supported by public funds from the Slovak Arts Council.
Since 2010, the European Cultural Centre has honoured outstanding architecture, art, design, and academic projects through the ECC Awards. With a mission to celebrate innovation across creative disciplines, the Awards recognise those who rethink space, people, materials, and perspectives to shape a better future. As of 2023, a dedicated jury evaluates the most compelling works presented in the architecture exhibition Time Space Existence as well as the art show Personal Structures. All projects featured in the biennial exhibitions are automatically eligible and considered across different categories, assessed for their originality, execution, storytelling, and relevance to the year’s themes.
A group of esteemed industry experts will carefully select the winners of the ECC Awards 2025, celebrating excellence in four categories:
- Architecture Project – Recognising outstanding built or unbuilt projects that redefine how we live, work, and interact with space;
- Design Project – Celebrating innovative design solutions that merge creativity with functionality;
- University Project – Showcasing visionary academic research work in architecture;
- Art Installation – Celebrating projects that adopt an artistic approach, utilising various media and/or creatively transforming the space.
Shortlisted projects in the category of University projects:
- Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, School of Design, Wooden Pavilion, Palazzo Mora
- Slovak University of Technology, VA Gregor Smatanova, Manor and small noble houses in Slovakia, Palazzo Mora
- The Virginia Tech Honors College & Cloud 9, unEarthed / Second Nature / PolliNATION, Marinaressa Gardens
- Rice University / Juan José Castellón / xmade, Impluvium Redux, Palazzo Mora
- University of Washington, Daniel Winterbottom, Winterbottom Design, Negotiating the Boundaries of Legitimacy: A Healing Journey, Marinaressa Gardens
More information on the web.
