Archeology Museum of Vittoria takes the top prize for its extensive use of cast bronze elements

The Archaeology Museum of Vitoria, Spain, has won this year’s Copper in Architecture awards. Designed by architects Mangado y Asociados the building makes extensive use of cast bronze – an alloy of copper – elements.

From the street the continuous vertical fins create an impenetrable wall into which are set a few deep set windows while the glazing on the courtyard side is framed in a matrix of bronze panels.

Spain featured heavily in this year’s awards, the fourteenth to be held. The Mediacomplex22@ in Barcelona designed by Patrick Genard v Asociados and Ferrater & Asociados was also highly commended by the judges.

The mixed-use development incorporates a solid horizontal block clad with panels of perforated copper which contrasts with a vertical tower shrouded in a vertical grid of recessed, copper-faced screens.

Other projects to receive commendations were the Clip House in Madrid, Spain, by Bernalte-Leon Asociados, the Ticino House in Switzerland designed by Davide Macullo Architects, and the Frederikskaj high density urban hosuign scheme in Copenhagen designed by Dissing+Weitling Architecture.