An architectural practice known for their publishing projects has been named as the winners of the Icon Award for Emerging Architectural Practice of the Year. San Rosso, named after an uncompleted Italian design project, is composed of a collaboration of firms with various disciplines including 2A+P/A, a Rome-based firm, Baukuh, photographers Stefano Graziani and Giovanna Silva, the graphic design studio pupilla grafik, Milan-based Salottobuono, and Brussels firm Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen.

Launched at the Venice Biennale in 2010, the practice is a temporary set-up, producing nineteen issues over a five-year period on architecture. Each publication encourages readers to contribute to the magazine and proposes a new model of practice. Commenting on the surprise decision to award the firm the prize, Icon said: “It is a tribute to the alliance behind it [San Rocco] that this award is given despite these seemingly cardinal restrictions.”

Selling around 3000 copies per issue, San Rocco has published pieces on various themes, including Italian modernism and Renaissance architecture. Of their approach, San Rocco commented: “San Rocco seems to suggest the possibility of an architecture that is both open and personal, both monumental and fragile, both rational and questioning.”