Swiss architect Miroslav Šik has been awarded the Meret Oppenheim Prize for his contextual and embedding design approach. Šik's work emphasizes integrating new structures with existing environments, using both commonplace and historical references.
Šik developed the concept of "analogous architecture," which focuses on designs that relate to the built environment. His notable projects include La Longeraie in Morges, the parish of St. Antonius in Egg, and the Musikantenhaus in Zurich.
Šik's work challenges the trend of globalized urbanism and over-preservation, advocating for urban areas that grow from a historical core with clear boundaries and a close connection to nature. He also curated the Swiss Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2012, focusing on fitting into the existing environment.
Šik's recent project in Merenschwand, Aargau, creates a new village center with non-geometric volumes and a unifying roofline that integrates the ensemble into the village silhouette. His approach aims to introduce a touch of otherness, making the familiar appear new and relevant.