Occurring biennially, the Aurea Award has established itself in the Italian design landscape as a reliable measure of architectural trends that dare to engage with the rigorous standards of Schüco PVC systems. More than a simple contest, it functions as a critical on-site review of the essential equation linking design excellence to the mandate of sustainability and a profound focus on habitable well-being.

The second edition was fittingly hosted at La Lanterna in Rome, an esteemed backdrop for affirming a clear-sighted vision for the built future. Elena Zagatti, Marketing and Communication Director of Schüco PWS Italia, articulated the core theme: “The Aurea Award champions a new approach to construction: one that is green, contemporary, and centered on comfort and energy efficiency. It is a tribute to the designers who share our values and whose choices are driving the ecological transition of the sector. Our collective, critical challenge is achieving climate neutrality in construction—an ambitious goal that Schüco is actively supporting with concrete, innovative solutions.”

The highest honor went to architect Maria Carmela Perri (Maria Carmela Perri Architetto) for Casa GB in Quattromiglia (CS), a project realized in seamless collaboration with Schüco PVC Partner Metal Pollino by Gianluca Laitano. Perri was lauded for masterfully weaving the four pillars of the Schüco philosophy—sustainability, design, daylighting, and innovation—into a vibrant, tangible structure. She successfully elevated the concept of the building beyond a mere inert object, interpreting the home as a continuously resonant organism that dissolves the boundary between interior and exterior, creating a fluid living continuity with the garden and surrounding landscape.

By utilizing light as the primary narrative device, achieved through bold overhangs and expansive glazing, the space achieves a high degree of liveability and intrinsic quality. Here, Schüco PVC window and door frames transcend their technical function, becoming essential compositional elements that amplify the visual dialogue with the environment while simultaneously guaranteeing energy efficiency. Casa GB's expressive power stems from an architectural approach rooted in the Mediterranean tradition, yet refined with a contemporary sensibility, ethical material selections, and renewable energy solutions. It stands as a prime example of how to inhabit a dense urban setting with both grace and environmental consciousness.

The selection process, overseen by a high-profile panel and the Aurea community (www.premioaurea.it), also recognized architect Omar Simonini (Careddu Simonini Architetti) for Casa D&P and architect Paolo Capece (Paolo Capece Studio) for 10 paesaggi (10 landscapes), both in partnership with Klass Serramenti. Looking to the future, a significant new direction was established with the introduction of the Schüco PWS Italia Public Architecture Award, a crucial acknowledgment for projects that deliver clear benefits to the community. The inaugural winner in this category was architect Federico Florena (tiarstudio), with Schüco PVC Partner F.lli Ramaccioni, for the reconstruction of the Carracci Schools in Bologna. This central hub impressed the judges with its ability to integrate services open to the city, extending the use of the spaces beyond rigid school hours and creating an educational environment that is bright, welcoming, and deeply humane.

The event gathered influential figures from the worlds of architecture and design for a vital interdisciplinary exchange. Stefano Boeri, the keynote speaker and creator of the trophy—a stylized travertine sundial that measures time, responds to light, and symbolizes human intelligence in harmony with nature—focused his address on the ethical imperative of decarbonization, green architecture, and urban forestry, with his iconic Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) serving as a living case study. Equally compelling was the talk by Piero Lissoni (Lissoni & Partners) on the "philosophy of error," a fascinating argument proposing that imperfections can be integrated into the alchemical formula of architectural creation, turning into unexpected added value.

Elena Salmistraro (Elena Salmistraro Design Studio), an internationally celebrated designer, explored the fundamental role of color: "Color is more than just a surface: it is structure, memory, emotion. In 'La forma del colore' (The Shape of Colour), I share my design process through a chromatic lens that acts as an invisible architecture—an element that gives rhythm, volume, and character to objects. In my work, it behaves like living matter, able to transform a shape, accentuate its mass and void, and define or overturn visual hierarchies. It is often the first element to guide creative intuition, but also the final detail that seals the project's overall meaning."

Finally, Stefano Piraccini and Margherita Potente (studio Piraccini+Potente Architettura) aligned their research on sustainable architecture with the values of Schüco PWS Italia, sharing strategies to achieve net-zero emissions and reduce energy consumption while maintaining compositions that inspire emotion and communicate beauty—a value that, like environmental protection, stands the test of time and deepens its significance.

The Aurea Award is compelling evidence of Schüco PWS Italia’s  (the Italian division of the Schüco Group, a global leader in window, door, and façade solutions) commitment to responsible innovation, cementing the company's position as a national benchmark for green building and architecture.