Zumtobel | Applications | Mar 14, 2025

Zumtobel is a partner of Fundació Mies van der Rohe

As a new partner of Fundació Mies van der Rohe, Zumtobel is committed to promoting creative thought processes in contemporary architecture and supporting the renowned EUmies Awards architecture prize. The Spanish foundation takes its namesake from Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, one of modernism's most important architects, globally esteemed for pioneering the Bauhaus style. His motto "Less is more" shaped an architectural philosophy characterized by clear lines, open room concepts and innovative materiality. The upcoming highlight in the Fundació event calendar is the presentation of the prestigious Young Talents Award, which will take place at the Biennale Architettura in Venice on the 19th of June, 2025.

Founded in Barcelona in 1983, Fundació Mies van der Rohe dedicates itself to the transferring the legacy of visionary architects into the built reality of the 21st century. A significant achievement in this dedication was the reconstruction of the Barcelona Pavilion, designed by Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich for the 1929 World's Fair. Today, the foundation offers a platform for the dialog surrounding contemporary architecture and urban planning. The EUmies awards ceremony bestows accolades in three categories, Architecture, Emerging and Young Talent. Outstanding works of contemporary architecture are featured, making the EUmies recognized as the most prestigious architecture prize in Europe.

Regarding the partnership, Raphael Petri, VP Brand Zumtobel, has this to say: "We are very much looking forward to working with Fundació Mies van der Rohe. At Zumtobel, we strive to make the perfect interplay of light and architecture tangible. Our close cooperation with architects continuously inspires us and as part of our partnership, we would also like to support young talent and learn from them. Through project-specific lighting solutions, we are constantly developing our portfolio with the aim of improving people's quality of life through light. With Fundació Mies van der Rohe, we are establishing a meaningful collaboration."

As expressed by the foundation, Zumtobel actively supports the EUmies Awards as a collaborative partner, an initiative created in partnership with the European Commission. This June, the Young Talent Award will be presented in Venice. This acclaimed award endeavors to support the talents of recently graduated architects, urban planners and landscape architects, who will be responsible for transforming our environment in the future.

In the words of Anna Ramos, Director of the Fundació Mies van der Rohe: "Fundació Mies van der Rohe is very pleased that Zumtobel has joined the valued group of partners supporting the EUmies Awards, especially this year in which Young Talent is taking place. With Zumtobel’s collaboration, we will strengthen our efforts to support the young generation of architects in establishing their careers. The company's guiding values—innovation, sustainability, and excellence in lighting systems, key elements in the quality of architecture—guarantee a shared vision, committed to improving the built environment for future generations."