Wakker Prize
The Wakker Prize is a prize awarded by the Swiss Homeland Security (SHS), with which political communities in Switzerland are honored for exemplary protection of the local image. The prize has been awarded annually since 1972 and is endowed with CHF 20,000. It is named after the businessman Henri-Louis Wakker , who bequeathed part of his fortune to the Homeland Security.
At the beginning, especially communities were honored that make special efforts to preserve historically grown town centers and old towns. Recently, however, municipalities have also been honored that further develop and upgrade their townscape from a certain current point of view. This can be, for example, the new use of old industrial buildings or the successful combination of old and new buildings .
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Swiss Homeland Security in 2005, the prize was given to the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) instead of a political community .
criteria
Municipalities that receive the Wakker Prize must meet the following criteria:
- Visible, qualitative further development and upgrading of the townscape from a contemporary point of view
- Respectful handling of old settlement structures and the existing building fabric
- Active commitment to above-average architectural quality, whereby the municipality has to set a good example
- Current local planning favors development in terms of the Wakker Prize
- For the overall assessment, landscape and environmental protection , sustainability , traffic planning and quality of living are also decisive
Award winners
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literature
- Swiss Heritage Protection: 40 Wakker Awards 1972–2011 . Swiss Heritage Protection, Zurich 2011, ISBN 978-3-033-03087-9 .