YAYA expands into Europe

European architects will be able to compete for BD’s prestigious Young Architect of the Year Award (YAYA) this year.

YAYA, now in its 16^th year, is the only prize that recognises the UK’s most promising architectural talent and is a crucial means of allowing new practices to emerge.

Speaking at Mipim, the international property fair, BD editor-in-chief Amanda Baillieu said: “Since the prize was launched the world has changed and the best architects in the UK now have to compete with their counterparts abroad.

“More than any other, this is a global profession so it makes sense to extend YAYA’s helping hand to the rest of Europe.”

Last year’s winner, Phil Coffey (pictured) of Coffey Architects, said winning had changed the practice in three distinct ways.

“We are being recommended for selected competitions and projects; current and prospective clients feel more confident about the practice’s ability to deliver; and consequently the practice itself is developing and able to undertake larger projects,” he said.

The winner of the 2013 Young Architect of the Year Award will be announced in London in December. Full details of how to enter YAYA 2013 will be on Bdonline from July 2013.

The award is open to architects that are 40 years old or under and carries a cash prize of £5,000.

Entries will also be accepted from practices where the majority of principals are 40 years or younger. If there are only two pincipals, both need to be 40 or under on the deadline.