ECC Awards 2023
The European Cultural Centre is proud to present the prestigious ECC Awards, held annually during the closing day of the Time Space Existence architecture exhibition. Since 2010, these awards have honoured exceptional projects featured in the ECC’s exhibitions, highlighting the work of artists, architects, designers, and academics whose contributions stand out in innovation and impact.
The ECC Awards celebrate excellence in four categories: Architecture, Design, University Project, and Art Installation. All participants of Time Space Existence 2025 are automatically eligible for consideration, offering an exciting opportunity for wider recognition in their respective fields. Winners receive a unique, limited-edition artwork by Dutch artist René Rietmeyer, the founder of the European Cultural Centre.
An esteemed jury of industry experts is tasked with carefully selecting the most outstanding projects, ensuring that each award reflects the highest standards of creativity and influence in the world of art and architecture.
Discover the esteemed jury and the winning projects from the 2023 edition below!
Architecture category
The ECC Award goes to Snøhetta with the project Counterbalance, exhibited at Marinaressa Gardens.
Renato Turri, CEO and Partner at World-Architects, motivated the choice by explaining: The simplicity at first glance is overwhelming. Someone with an understanding of wood screws a few boards together nicely so people can sit on them. If you take a closer look, one sees the depth. The connection to the place and that structures are not always what they seem to be is just ingenious. Especially in the current uncertain times. Counterbalance shows in an impressive way the inseparable liaison of function and design and the fascinating interaction between simplicity and complexity.
Design Category
The ECC Award goes to Light Cognitive with the project Infinity, exhibited at Palazzo Bembo.
Christele Harrouk, Editor at ArchDaily, highlighted: an installation that truly transforms space and recreates a natural landscape using light.
University Project category
The ECC Award goes to the project Angelus Novus, by Princeton University and SOM with the support of Taramelli, the University of Bergamo, University of Salerno and IE University, exhibited at Palazzo Mora.
Ursula Schwitalla, Art Historian, Curator and co-founder of the DIVIA Awards motivates the choice remarking: Learning from architectural history, heritage combined with future technology and AR. Efficient material use and reduction of waste. Art becomes architectural and engineering becomes art.
Art Installation category
The ECC Award goes to Adam Rouse with the project On Atmospheric Density, exhibited at Palazzo Mora.
The ECC team explains: For his characteristic perception of the interaction between architecture, nature and atmosphere. He uses the photographic media to capture our environment and the architecture surrounding us, perceiving their temporal and emotional level. His capacity for creating architectural portraits reaches a high aesthetic level which makes the photos real artworks.
As we celebrate the remarkable achievements of the 2023 ECC Awards winners, we look forward to the continued innovation and creativity that will shape the future of art and architecture, inspiring new dialogues and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the years to come.
Discover more about the proclamation and explore the shortlisted projects in this article.
