Vienna-based architecture firm the next ENTERprise Architects (tnE Architects) have been awarded the Hans Hollein Art Prize. The Vienna architectural office headed by Marie-Therese Harnoncourt and Ernst J. Fuchs was honoured "for its comprehensive and internationally recognised oeuvre". 

The prize, which carries prize money of 15,000 euros, is named after the globally renowned architect and Pritzker Prize winner Hans Hollein, who died in 2014, and was presented last year for the first time – to Hermann Czech. The award ceremony took place, 12th July 2018, in the Congress Hall of the Federal Chancellery.

Lakeside Swimming Baths Caldero in Italy. Image courtesy of tnE Architects

"The provocation of the random and the unpredictable is our strategy in approaching the spatial and programmatic aspects of architecture. We work to discover the factors leading beyond pure functionality – it is how we see the essence of architecture," said the architects.

Catering Pavilion Cloud No. 7 in Austria. Image © Lukas Schaller

The next ENTERprise Architects was founded in Vienna in 2000 by Marie-Therese Harnoncourt and Ernst J. Fuchs. Their projects include buildings, installations, exhibition design and experimental interventions in the cityscape and they have exhibited several times at the Venice Architecture Biennale – in 2016 the project “HAWI – experimental temporary living” featured in the Austrian Pavilion. 

Wolkenturm Open-Air Stage in Austria. Image © Lukas Schaller

Their Wolke 7 Catering Pavilion in Grafenegg Castle Park was awarded the Client Prize of the Central Association of Austrian Architects in 2017 and the AIT Award in 2018 while the Wolkenturm Open-Air Stage also received a number of prizes back in 2007.

Ernst J. Fuchs and Marie-Therese Harnoncourt. Image © Ferrigato

> via tnE Architects