Start election BNA Best Building of the Year 2022

The 17th edition of BNA Best Building of the Year - the architecture award of the Netherlands - started today. Architects and clients are invited to submit their best building - in use in 2021 - until March 7. Jury chairman is Barbara Baarsma, professor of Applied Economics at the University of Amsterdam and director of Rabo Carbon Bank.  

Expert jury chaired by Barbara Baarsma

The election is led by a six-member jury composed of leading architects and clients. They judge the buildings in four categories: Identity & Iconic Value, Livability & Social Cohesion, Stimulating Environments and Private Residential Experience. 

The BNA is delighted that Barbara Baarsma has agreed to take on the role of jury president. She is professor of Applied Economics at the University of Amsterdam, director of Rabo Carbon Bank and she regularly joins TV programs to comment on (macro) economic developments. She is looking forward to the judging tour of the Netherlands along the best buildings of the moment: "Buildings that capture the imagination and inspire as examples of sustainability mean a lot to a village or city. I very much look forward to working with an expert jury to select the 2022 award winner from the multitude of such buildings."

Added value for people and society

With the Best Building election, the BNA (Branchevereniging Nederlandse Architectenbureaus, since 1842) wants to make visible the added value of architecture for people and society. The prize is therefore primarily intended for clients and users. BNA director Fred Schoorl: "The prize does not go to the best architect or the most beautiful building, but to the best building with the most value for clients and users." Last year, the Van der Valk hotel Zuidas was the Best Building in the Netherlands.

Architects and clients were invited to submit their best building - in service in 2021 - on www.gebouwvanhetjaar.nl to be submitted until March 7. This edition, following the categories, the jury will pay extra attention to the ecological values claimed in the submitted buildings.