14. International Building Fair FOR ARCH 2003

The Czech building industry has been experiencing a swing period currently, and also the 14. year of the International Building Fair FOR ARCH that has closed on Saturday, September 27 on the Fairgrounds in Letňany, confirms the interest in this sector. More than thousand firms from the Czech Republic and from 15 countries of the entire world came to Letňany to present their top-quality products and top technologies. The expositions occupied seven exhibition halls and were structured in subject groups for a good orientation. Yet more than 103 000 visitors have passed through the fairgrounds' gates. Especially on the first day intended for the experts. The Fair has been visited by representatives of the Czech Chamber of Chartered and Incorporated Engineers (ČKAIT), of the Czech Association of Civil Engineers (ČSSI), of the Czech Chamber of Architects (ČKA), of the Architect's Body (OA), of the Union of Building Industry Contractors (SPS), of the Economic Chamber of the Czech Republic (HK ČR), of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Czech Republic (MPO ČR), and by thousands of engineers, designers, architects and contractors.

The greatest news of this year's Fair were two independent satellite exhibitions. The first of them bore the name "Salon of Innovations and Investments" and was a space where representatives of universities, research institutes but also of the commercial sector presented the results of their scientific research and innovation work. The name of the other satellite exhibition was "Intelligent House & Telecommunications" and it is the first project in the Czech Republic that puts near to the specialists community news and trends upon projection and construction of new buildings or rehabilitation of older housing by employing system technique and information technologies.

ACCOMPANYING PROGRAMMES

Relevant parts of the Fair were professional accompanying programmes that respond to the forthcoming access of the Czech building industry to the European market. To the most important ones belonged the conference Czech building standards upon entry into the European Union, prepared in cooperation with the Czech Standardization Institute. Many current tasks mentioned briefly also the workshop Apartment buildings in conditions of the European Union, intended for apartment building owners.

Another important accompanying programme was the daylong Forum of Regions, Municipalities and Communities under the aegis of the Minister for Local Development Pavel Němec. As part of it, e.g. the lectures CITY Marketing - restoration of cities and sites and outsource financing considering the opportunities of drawing funds from the European Union, or Opportunity of promotion of regions home and abroad within the European Union, lecture Investment opportunities, Industrial zones, the block Restoration of historic centres or the workshop Building industry and funding in the communal sector were held that dealt with the experience of regions, municipalities and communities regarding the projects' and outsource financing.

An ambitious subject chose the symposium "Architectural Changes of the Prague Centre by turn of the Millennium". Its purpose was contributing to the determination of the future development of the capital's historic centre where the interests of the conservationists clash with those of the global investors. The conference "Power and Building Industries" presented new concepts of the energy conception of the Czech Republic until 2030 and focused on the possibilities of low-energy building within new energy barriers.

So-called Presentation Days brought an opportunity for exchange of experience with foreign exhibitors. The presentation of the German - Czech Chamber of Commerce focused among others on knowledge of restoration of the panel building. The French - Czech Economic Chamber prepared a workshop about the transparency of submission of public orders. Also the cooperation and job opportunities in France were addressed.

CONTESTS

A traditional part of the Fair was the 11th year of the prestigious contest BUILDING PROJECT OF THE YEAR - the best-realised building project, without differentiation of the categories according to the financial volume or to the type of buildings. This year, 55 building projects had been sent up, and the jury nominated in the final round 15 among them. Five winning works with the marking Building Project of the Year obtained the title Building Project of the Year without differentiation of the order (results enclosed).

Another important event of this year's FOR ARCH was the announcement of results of the Contest for the Best Article, technology (exhibit) of the Fair FOR ARCH 2003. 19 firms entered for the contest with 28 exhibits. 5 exhibits and firms without differentiation of the order were awarded the main prize GRAND PRIX (results enclosed).

The 2nd year of the accompanying contest of cartoonists FÓR pro FOR (JOKE for FOR) has provided for a pleasant surprise. 455 drawings have come in in total to the theme "House full of Luck" sent to Prague by 166 draftsmen from 32 countries of the entire world. The visitors could see a collection of the best works directly on the fairgrounds.

A part of the Fair was also the 7th Year of the Contest of Apprentices of the Building Trades. The contest had been held during the first three Fair days and 76 competitors from 32 Czech, Slovak and German schools took turns that have advanced from the regional rounds (results enclosed).