Over the last fourteen years and seven editions, the biennial BigMat International Architecture Award has distinguished built works in seven European countries, with a focus on architectural quality, sustainability and technical excellence in constructive solutions and materials. Backed by BigMat—founded in 1981 and recently celebrating its 40th anniversary—the award includes two Grand Prizes and a set of national and special distinctions.

Created to focus attention on exemplary built architecture, the BigMat International Architecture Award recognizes projects that make a significant contribution to contemporary culture while engaging timeless ideas. Evaluation looks beyond form to emphasize energy efficiency, sustainable construction and improved habitability, aligning architectural excellence with the lived experience of users across Belgium, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The award originated in Spain in 2005 and, after three national editions, expanded in 2013 to its current international format. Since then it has been held every two years, with ceremonies rotating through emblematic European cities—Granada (2013), Berlin (2015), Florence (2017), Bordeaux (2019), Paris (2021), Seville (2023) and Warsaw (2025)— reflecting the diversity and reach of European architectural practice.

The initiative is promoted by BigMat, Europe’s reference network for building‑materials distribution. Founded in 1981, the group recently marked its 40th anniversary, reaffirming a long‑term commitment to architectural culture through support for high‑quality construction, knowledge exchange among professionals and the dissemination of exemplary works across its seven European markets.

PARTICIPATION AND SCOPE
Participation has remained consistently strong: the 2019 edition received almost 600 entries; 2021 surpassed 1,000; 2023 again exceeded 1,000; and 2025 drew almost 700 works from the seven participating countries—figures that reflect the award’s capacity to bring together diverse scales, programs and geographies.

PRIZE STRUCTURE AND EVOLUTION
The award structure has been progressively refined to reflect changes in contemporary architectural practice. In 2019, one Grand Prize was awarded alongside National Prizes and Finalist distinctions. In 2021, the structure again featured a single Grand Prize with National Prizes, Finalists and a Special Mention for small‑scale projects. In 2023, the award introduced two top distinctions—the Grand Prize for Architecture and the Grand Prize for Small‑Scale Residential—together with National recognitions in both categories and a Young Architect special mention. In 2025, the award consolidated a second path with the Grand Prize for Proximity Architecture, highlighting works delivered in close collaboration with local builders and BigMat distribution centers, and distributed fourteen National Prizes (seven in Architecture and seven in Proximity Architecture) plus a Young Architect special mention. In parallel, the award maintains clear eligibility windows for completed works: in the 2025 edition, Architecture entries had to be built between January 1, 2021 and January 1, 2025, while Proximity Architecture entries could date from January 1, 2016 to January 1, 2025.

GRAND PRIZES BY EDITION (2013–2025)
Across seven international editions, the Grand Prize timeline offers a concise reading of contemporary European practice. In 2013, XDGA – Xaveer De Geyter Architects was recognized for the Elishout Kitchen Tower Campus (COOVI) in Brussels; in 2015, Alberto Campo Baeza won for the Office Building in Zamora; in 2017, Lacaton & Vassal prevailed with the FRAC Nord‑Pas de Calais in Dunkirk; in 2019, Eduardo Souto de Moura won with the Foz Tua hydroelectric power plant; in 2021, XDGA was honored again for the Melopee School in Ghent; in 2023, Estudio ACTA (Ramón Pico and F. Javier López) received the Grand Prize for Architecture for the Fish Market and South Area Remodeling in Roquetas de Mar, while Hugo Ferreira and Nuno Melo Sousa took the Grand Prize for Small‑Scale Residential for Casa no Tâmega in Marco de Canaveses; and in 2025, brandão costa arquitectos earned the Grand Prize for Architecture for the TIC – Terminal Intermodal de Campanhã in Porto, while Ted’A arquitectes received the Grand Prize for Proximity Architecture for Birgit’s home in Calvim, Mallorca.

EDITION 2025
The 2025 edition consolidated the dual focus with two Grand Prizes and a complete slate of National distinctions. Among the National Prizes in Architecture were: Automatic Mills Grain Silo Conversion by Prokš Přikryl Architekti (Czech Republic); Charleroi Palais des Expo by AgwA with Architecten Jan De Vylder Inge Vinck (Belgium); Lac du Temple nautical facility by Hérard & da Costa Architectes (France); Stones Venue by Associates Architecture (Italy); 25 social dwellings in Palma de Mallorca by Harquitectes (Spain); and The first phase of the revitalisation of Freedom Square (Bratislava) by 2021 Architekti + LABAK (Slovakia). In Proximity Architecture, National Prizes included Kurth by Olivier Fourneau Architectes (Belgium); Infiorate di Pietra by Massimo Berzetta Architetto (Italy); SJK Pavilion by studeny architects, Peter Stec Studio + GRAU (Slovakia); and house of many faces by fala atelier (Portugal). The Young Architect Special Mention recognized depA Architects for the Educational Pavilion and Chicken Coop at the Serralves Foundation in Porto. After the publication of selected projects in July and the final jury session in Madrid, thirteen finalists were invited to the ceremony on 7 November 2025 at the Warsaw University of Technology. The 2025 jury was chaired by Jesús Aparicio and included Oana Bogdan (Belgium), Martin Jančok (Czech Republic + Slovakia), Anne Lacaton (France), Francesca Torzo (Italy), José Neves (Portugal) and María Langarita (Spain), with Jesús Donaire as secretary.

PRITZKER LAUREATES—PARTICIPATION AND RECOGNITION
Since 2013, Pritzker laureates have featured prominently in the award’s history. Lacaton & Vassal (Pritzker 2021) won the 2017 Grand Prize with the FRAC Nord‑Pas de Calais; Eduardo Souto de Moura (Pritzker 2011) won the 2019 Grand Prize with the Foz Tua power plant and had been previously selected with Auditorium A; SANAA (Pritzker 2010) was selected in 2015 for the Louvre Lens (with Catherine Mosbach); and RCR Arquitectes (Pritzker 2017) was also selected in 2015 for Carpa al restaurant Les Cols. This lineage, uniting established names and new voices, reinforces the award’s mission: to recognize built quality that improves our enviroment, edition after edition.

BIGMAT INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL AWARD LEGACY
Across seven international editions, the BigMat International Architecture Award has built a clear and consistent legacy: to celebrate built work that advances the discipline while benefiting everyday life; to capture, every two years, a precise snapshot of European architecture through a rigorous, transparent selection process; and to acknowledge excellence at multiple scales—from transformative public infrastructure to intimate residential interventions and locally rooted collaborations. Under the patronage of BigMat—a group founded in 1981 and recently celebrating four decades of activity—the award’s dual focus on Architecture and Proximity Architecture, its strong participation across seven countries and its dialogue between renowned figures and emerging practices ensure that each new edition contributes to a shared, evolving showcase of architectural excellence in Europe.