Winegrowing village wins heritage prize
Fläsch in canton Graubünden has been awarded the prestigious Wakker Heritage Prize 2010 for its “innovative local planning”.
The Swiss Heritage Society awards the prize every year to a town or village in recognition of successful urban planning developments.
The village in the Rhine valley in eastern Switzerland was singled out for its “fragmented reorganisation”, which had enabled it to maintain its winegrowing culture in the face of housing pressure.
The Swiss Heritage Society added that Fläsch’s 600 inhabitants had actively pushed for contemporary buildings of good quality, which had successfully enforced the village’s unique character.
The official presentation of the SFr20,000 ($19,400) award will take place on June 19.
The Wakker Prize, bequeathed by Geneva businessman Henri-Louis Wakker, has been awarded annually by the Swiss Heritage Society since 1972.
A specialist committee evaluates numerous candidates every year and compares their commitment to building culture. The prize-winner is chosen by the society’s board of directors based on the recommendations of the committee.
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