Twelve Architects Selected for Nobel Center

The Nobel Foundation—the private institution responsible for awarding the Nobel Prizes and administering related symposia and other events—has announced the twelve architects (listed at bottom) that will compete to design the Nobel Center in Stockholm. An evaluation committee looked at over 140 architects from around the world, narrowing them down to the invited dozen based on "design and artistic abilities and experience working in intricate urban environments where historical context and the natural environment must be considered with sensitivity." The Nobel Center will be located at Blasieholmen, a peninsula in Stockholm's city center.

Not surprisingly, half of the architects are from the Nordic countries, and only one of the twelve is from outside of Europe. No date is set for the beginning of the competition; the Nobel Foundation indicates that it "will begin once the majority of the project's financing has been secured."

• 3XN, Denmark
• BIG, Denmark
• David Chipperfield Architects, England/Germany
• Herzog & de Meuron, Switzerland
• Johan Celsing Arkitektkontor, Sweden
• Lacaton & Vassal Architectes, France
• Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter, Denmark
• Marcel Meili, Markus Peter Architekten, Switzerland
• OMA, Netherlands
• SANAA, Japan
• Snøhetta, Norway
• Wingårdhs arkitekter, Sweden