Born in 1969, the architect, civil engineer, urban planner, painter and fashion designer Marita Schnepper passed away in 2022 of an incurable disease. Through her diverse talents, she strived to improve the way she lived on all levels. She focused on finding solutions in using our world’s resources carefully and dedicated her time on raising awareness of how we take care of our planet with a spirited sense of humor. A planet whose generosity in treating us must be reciprocated.
Marita Schnepper with her paining “Memories of a Pineapple”
She decided to donate her entire fortune to what mattered most to her. She believed the most powerful source of positive change for the future would be something that is plainly to see for everybody and yet it is so overlooked by many. This source is architecture.
Buildings and everything connected to mining their materials, transport, their construction and maintenance currently consume about one third of the world’s energy consumption. According to our estimates, 40% of energy directly connected to architecture is used for HVAC systems, heating, ventilation and air conditioning. This number is set to be rising in the future.
There may be debates about the attribution of individual energy values, as the numbers are not entirely transparent worldwide. What is certain is that architecture and city planning have a far-reaching influence on the future of global energy consumption as well as on the quality of life, whoever we are, where ever we live.
Marita Schnepper was convinced that challenging this development by new architectural concepts could pave way for an energy transition we need. We need a new concept of modern architecture, a new look that caters to the new functionality of reducing the energy consumption of construction, of buildings, of entire communities while maintaining or even increasing the comfort of living. Her idea of a new ecological architecture has the power of disrupting old habits. It accesses a portfolio of unused possibilities and taps into this large segment of energy use that has not yet reached common public awareness. Changing this awareness can open access to a pool of possibilities which one day might even surpass our efforts in other segments like transport and mobility.
Marita Schnepper was well aware that young architects working on new incentives might find it hard to succeed with their sometimes even revolutionary ideas, as “modern architecture” has reached a new level of conservatism. While providing a smaller CO2 footprint and bringing forth a higher standard of living, ecological architecture will also bring about new business opportunities. That is why she believed a new generation of architects will succeed in the long run.
This prize is designed to encourage innovation and new ideas. It can serve as a promotional tool for winners and shortlisted candidates to advance their concepts and help bring new ideas to realization.
Who can apply?
Anyone who has realized a maximum of one architectural project.
What are you looking for? What is being awarded?
Future-oriented building culture, ecological and financial efficiency, densification of urban regions, resource-saving living in urban and rural areas, improvement in supply and mobility, application of new technologies, new application vernacular solutions.
What do I need for an application?
Projects in various stages of development are eligible. The submitted project may already have been completed or they may be in the process of being funded. They may also be in the early planning stages. They may be a new concept that is in the early stages of investment or planning, awaiting interested customers. It can be an idea that has already been implemented or it can be a revolutionary idea that is compelling enough to convince our jury to take it to the next level of communicating it to the world and to the future.
Your entry needs
– a title
– a log line
– a one pager as a pdf file in A4
– a multi page project description in A4
– a picture of yourself. Your name and picture will not be disclosed to the jury during the shortlisting process.
Who is the jury?
Members of the 1st jury are international professionals from Austria, Germany, Great Britain, the Czech Republic and Hong Kong who knew Marita Schnepper well and who knew what she donated this award for.
Upon accepting a prize, winners oblige to become jury members for the next consecutive term.
What is the deadline?
Deadline is the 31st of August 2023. When will the award ceremony take place?
Given a high quality entry level, the award ceremony will take place in the fall of 2023. The prize is scheduled to be awarded at the award ceremony of the Austrian state prize for architecture in Vienna, Austria.
Download entry instructions as a pdf file
