AMD Open Architecture ChallengeAMD Open Architecture Challenge Architecture for Humanity & AMD Open, international, RfP Not Site Specific 15 Jan 2008 – Registration Deadline 15 Jan 2008 – Submission Deadline SPONSOR: OAN, AMD, Architecture for Humanity TYPE: Open, international, RfP LOCATION: Not Site Specific LANGUAGE: English TIMETABLE: 05 Sep 2007 – Competition Launches 15 Jan 2008 – Registration Deadline 15 Jan 2008 – Submission Deadline 25 Mar 2008 – Results Announced ELIGIBILITY: Anyone worldwide. If a non-licensed team or entrant is the winning designer then we will partner you with a licensed professional in order to develop construction documents for your design. JURY: To Be Announced AWARDS: Winning Project will be constructed. The winning team will also receive a travel grant and small design fee to partner with the selected community group and oversee construction of the project. FEE: US $25 DESIGN CHALLENGE: The AMD Open Architecture Challenge is an open international design competition that reaches beyond the traditional bounds of architecture by challenging industry professionals and others to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to improve living conditions around the world. Every two years this initiative will tackle a different systemic issue faced by half the world’s population that is living on less than $2 a day. It is the belief of the challenge organizers that the generation of ideas alone cannot create real social and economic change and that by building sustainable and replicable solutions we can truly make a difference. This initiative will provide up to $250,000 for the implementation of the selected winning design. The inaugural challenge is sponsored by AMD through 50×15, a global initiative founded by AMD to enable affordable Internet access and computing capability for 50 percent of the world’s population by the year 2015. As an extension of the 50×15 Learning Labs program, this year’s challenge will focus on the design and construction of technology centers that will help a broad cross-section of a community realize greater educational, social and business opportunities via the Internet. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Tel: 415 332 6273 ext. 320 challenge@architectureforhumanity.org http://www.openarchitecturenetwork.org/challenge |
University of Florida’s College of Design Construction and Planning’s New Addition 
Development phase image courtesy ©Brooks + Scarpa
If architects have had one complaint concerning the planning and realization of a project, it has been with planners and especially construction managers, both of whom often display a lack of knowledge about architecture. The survival of a well-conceived design can hang in the balance when there is a knowledge gap at the planning and realization end.
Read more…
Young Architects in Competitions When Competitions and a New Generation of Ideas Elevate Architectural Quality 
by Jean-Pierre Chupin and G. Stanley Collyer
published by Potential Architecture Books, Montreal, Canada 2020
271 illustrations in color and black & white
Available in PDF and eBook formats
ISBN 9781988962047
What do the Vietnam Memorial, the St. Louis Arch, and the Sydney Opera House have in common? These world renowned landmarks were all designed by architects under the age of 40, and in each case they were selected through open competitions. At their best, design competitions can provide a singular opportunity for young and unknown architects to make their mark on the built environment and launch productive, fruitful careers. But what happens when design competitions are engineered to favor the established and experienced practitioners from the very outset? This comprehensive new book written by Jean-Pierre Chupin (Canadian Competitions Catalogue) and Stanley Collyer (COMPETITIONS) highlights for the crucial role competitions have played in fostering the careers of young architects, and makes an argument against the trend of invited competitions and RFQs. The authors take an in-depth look at past competitions won by young architects and planners, and survey the state of competitions through the world on a region by region basis. The end result is a compelling argument for an inclusive approach to conducting international design competitions. Download Young Architects in Competitions for free at the following link: https://crc.umontreal.ca/en/publications-libre-acces/ Houston Endowment’s New Headquarters on the Bayou
Southwest view Houston Endowment Headquarters – Photo Ivan Baan, courtesy Kevin Daly Following in the footsteps of other major non-profits—The Ford Foundation and LA’s California Endowment Center in particular—the Houston Endowment’s new headquarters, located on a grassy knoll just above the Buffalo Bayou in the city’s outskirts, has also made a strong architectural statement. Similar to the California Endowment, this project was also the result of a design competition, won by the California firm, Kevin Daly Architects. Read more…
The Makasiiniranta South Harbor Competition
 Helsinki South Harbour and Tori Quarter Suomen Ilmakuva Helsinki. Image credit/ Tietoa Finland, Janne Hirvonen
As a prelude to a competition for the design of a new Architecture and Design Museum to be located in Helsinki’s South Harbor, the City of Finland staged an open competition to establish a roadmap for the future redevelopment of the Makasiiniranta harbor area, the last old harbor area to be transformed for public use in Helsinki. The competition for the museum is scheduled to take place later this year; but the entire surrounding area has come up with a plan to review improvements for the entire harbor environment.
Read more… Vltava Philharmonic Hall Design Competition 
View to Concert Hall from bridge ©BIG
Classical music is still part of a vibrant musical scene in Prague, with at least four principal venues hosting concerts, ballet and opera. As a modern European city, the only missing venue from these choices is a state of the art concert hall. Other European neighbors have also recently staged competitions for such projects: Munich, won by Cukrowicz Nachbaur Architekten of Bregenz, Austria; Belgrade, won by AL_A of London; and Vilnius, Lithuania, won by Arquivio Architects of Spain. It should be noted, however, that one of the most important competitions for a concert hall, not only in Europe, but the world, was the 1961 Berlin Philharmonic hall competition, won by Hans Scharoun (below). It was the interior of that building, in particular, that served as a model for many others that followed, one of the first being Los Angeles’ Disney Hall by Frank Gehry. Read more… Budapest’s Nyugati Rail Station Competition 
Image courtesy Budapest Development Agency ©Grimshaw
Completed in 1877, Budapest’s Nyugati Railway Station has witnessed many of the twists and turns of Hungarian history: the Austro-Hungarian Empire, revolutions of post-World War I and 1956, and various shades of expansion and shrinkage in their territory. Its important location in Europe’s history as a contested land in southeastern Europe has not only served as a path for armies of conquest, but as a matter of great interest for major powers. Amid all the changes it has experienced, Hungary, and Budapest in particular, has retained a fascination for outsiders, making it one of Europe’s high profile tourist attractions. Read more… |
