In his acceptance speech, Reischl commended the prize's namesake and asked, "When will we be able to achieve the same goal orientation and consistency in our pedagogical and professional work in educating architects in Hungary as Professor Kotsis did in his own time?"
Kotsis, born at the end of the 19th century was a student of the great Hungarian architects Alajos Hauszmann, Samu Pecz, and Frigyes Schulek. He was made head of faculty at a young age and immediately made a commitment to contemporary architecture. He became one of the first masters of functional space design in Hungary.
Kotsis died, aged 90, in 1980, but his impact on architecture and the way it is taught remains today.
The prize "is meant to reflect Kotsis's approach - validated by his oeuvre - of practicing the profession on an ethical basis and with humility for architecture, as well as recognising the high quality education activities," the Hungarian Association of Architects says of the prize.
