Wakker Prize facts for kids

The Wakker Prize is a special award given every year in Switzerland. The Swiss Heritage Society gives this prize to a town or city that does a great job of taking care of its old buildings and making its area look good. It's like a prize for good architecture and town planning!

At first, the prize was mostly for towns that worked hard to save their old parts. But now, it also celebrates towns that develop their look in a smart way. This could mean finding new uses for old factories. Or it could be about mixing new buildings well with older ones.

In 2005, the prize was given to the Swiss Federal Railways. This was a special case, not a town. It was to celebrate the Swiss Heritage Society's anniversary. The prize is named after Henri-Louis Wakker. He was a banker who helped the Swiss Heritage Society a lot.

How Towns Win the Wakker Prize

To win the Wakker Prize, towns and cities need to meet certain important rules. These rules help make sure the prize goes to places that truly care about their looks and history.

Here are the main things towns need to do:

• They must clearly improve their town's appearance. This means making it look better in a modern way.
• They need to respect the old layout and style of their settlements. It's about building new things without ruining the old.
• The town must actively support high-quality architecture. They should set a good example for others.
• Their current town planning should help them win the prize. This means their plans are smart and forward-thinking.
• Finally, other things are important too. These include protecting the area, being sustainable, planning traffic well, and making sure people have good places to live.

Wakker Prize Winners

Many towns and even a railway company have won this important prize. Each winner has shown a great commitment to their architectural heritage.

See also

• Premio Wakker para niños