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40 innovative buildings made the 2017 Mies Award shortlist

The prize jury selected this shortlist from 355 nominees

By Asad Syrkett@AsadSyrkett Jan 30, 2017, 1:28pm EST

The Fondazione Prada, by OMA, is one of 40 works shortlisted for this year’s biennial Mies Award.

The biennial Mies van der Rohe Award—presented by the European Commission in collaboration with the Mies van der Rohe Foundaton and also known as the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture—is the among the profession’s highest honors.

Today, the group’s seven-member jury announced the 40 shortlisted projects in contention to snag this year’s prize, whittled down from a field of 355.

The projects include a mix of housing and cultural institution designs, from Turkey to Portugal. Perhaps the highest profile building in the mix is the Rem Koolhaas/OMA-designed Fondazione Prada in Milan, a gilded pile that received rounds of acclaim and fascination upon opening. It also happens to have a Wes Anderson-masterminded café inspired by midcentury Milanese restaurants on its ground floor.

Work by smaller firms, like France’s Lacaton & Vassal Architectes, also made the cut. Their social housing in the town of Mulhouse is among several residential buildings on the list.

You can read more about each project on the prize’s official website and see our five highlights below.

France