Award for Tose Proeski Memorial affirms Macedonia globally - Culture Minister

Government's capital project, the Tose Proeski Memorial House, won a significant international recognition - People's Choice Award for being the most popular project entered at a competition of the World Architecture Festival 2011.

This was announced Monday at a press conference by Minister of Culture Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska. The Culture Ministry has invested a lot of energy, hard work and commitment into the process of construction.

The public voted on the Open Buildings on-line portal between August and November with 15.000 votes helping the architects of the Tose Proseki Memorial House to win the top prize. The public's choice has been also upheld by a jury at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Barcelona.

"The award is of great importance for the architects themselves and first and foremost for the Republic of Macedonia. The recognition has confirmed the originality and creativity of the designers Dejan Sekulovski, Dejan Spasenovski and Ilija Bozinovski. It will open new opportunities for them to promote their creative potentials," Kanceska-Milevska said.

The People's Choice Award, she added, has not only affirmed Macedonia around the globe, but it also promoted Krusevo - the home town of pop star Tose Proseki, who was killed in a car crash four years ago.

A total of 704 buildings, located across the world, were competing for the award. WAF is the world's largest, live, inclusive and interactive global architecture event and features the world's biggest architectural contest – The World Architectural Festival Awards.

Architect Dejan Sekulovski said the project, as well as Macedonia, the town of Krusevo and Proseki's career, were presented before an international jury.

"Members of the jury said the project was in terms of architecture  well-incorporated into the location, well-executed and designed in a minimalistic fashion that speaks for itself," Sekulovski stated.

The Tose Proseki Memorial House was opened on 25 April 2011. It is located in Krusevo on an area of 870 square meters. The concrete and glass facility is built in a form of cross.