The National Association of Architectural Firms (BNA) has announced that the 2020 building of the year is Forum in Groningen. 

Forum Groningen the best building in the Netherlands

Designed by NL Architects on behalf of the municipality of Groningen, Forum was awarded the prize during a live stream on Thursday, October 22. The BNA said Forum was the 2020 winner as it was the building which had the most value for its clients and local society. 

 Source: Marcel van der Burg via BNA.

The jury said the building was impressive because of how the architects made the most of the limited space available to them, and because Forum “contrasts strongly with the surroundings, but also fits into this city with its modern architecture.”

Forum Groningen serves as a cultural centre in the heart of the city, housing a library, a cinema, and parts of the Groninger Museum. In September the building was voted as the best in Groningen, and earlier this month it won a Dutch Design Award. 

 Source: Siese Veenstra via Forum Groningen.

Other BNA winners

Forum was competing against nine other nominees, including Fenix ​​1 in Rotterdam, which won first place in the Liveability and Social Cohesion category, Tiny Holiday Home in Vinkeveen, which one first place in the Private Living Experience category, and DOMUSDELA in Eindhoven, which one the Public Prize. 

In the 2019 awards, the North-South metro line in Amsterdam took home the big prize, while the Public Prize went to the LocHal in Tilburg. 

Thumb via Forum Groningen. 

This country is full of impressive architecture - what’s your favourite building in the Netherlands?