poto: typeResults Winning Entries: FOLDING SCRAPER by S. Papitto & G. Evels (Rome, Italy) PODIUM TOWER by A. M. Kakavandi, F. S. Seiehkalan, N. Lofti, M. Jahanian, F. Bahmani, S. Rezvani (Toronto, Canada) OTO by J. Kurtz, K. Stitak, K. May, D. McKeown (Cleveland Heights, USA) Honourable Mentions:
STACKHOUSE by T. Wai, C. Min (Vancouver, Canada) LOST TYPOLOGIES by D. Jacobson (Vancouver, Canada)
____________
Announcement
SPONSORS:
AFBC, AIBC, RAIC, CCA, UBC SALA
TYPE:
Open, international, anonymous, student, ideas
LOCATION:
Vancouver, Canada
LANGUAGE:
English
TIMETABLE:
18 Jul 2007 – Inquiries Deadline
25 Jul 2007 – Answers Posted
03 Sep 2007 – Registration Deadline
15 Aug 2007 – Submission Deadline (arrive by 4:00 pm)
22 Aug 2007 – Exhibition of All Entries, AIBC Gallery
01-05 Sep 2007 – Jury Deliberation
06 Sep 2007 – Winners Announced
ELIGIBILITY:
Architects, intern architects, designers and creative thinkers worldwide
JURY:
James Cheng, MAIBC
Patricia Patkau, MAIBC
Brent Toderian, Director of Planning, City of Vancouver
Dr. Rhodri Windsor-Liscombe, Head of Art History, University of British Columbia
George Yu, AIA
AWARDS:
1st Prize – CDN$2,500
2nd Prize – CDN$1,500
3rd Prize – CDN$1,000
Honorable Mention per Juror
FEE:
CDN$40
THE COMPETITION:
Potogroup presents an open architectural ideas competition: poto:type. This competition will question the emerging typology originating in Vancouver’s downtown area: podium/tower typology. The podium/tower typology evolved as a response to the cities’ desire to intensify its downtown area by increasing the number of residential units while maintaining pedestrian-friendly streetscapes. Proliferation of this architectural mono-type could potentially create social and economic disparateness while weakening neighborhood identities. Potogroup makes an invitation to the participants to explore, rethink, question and experiment with new ideas that will challenge the concept of the podium/tower. This investigation should encompass formal, programmatic, social and cultural aspects of this specific type. The projects should challenge the logic of the present, formulate new questions, and facilitate variations that will allow new potentials for living and existing in the city. Poto:type should investigate both macro and micro scale as well as examine the notion of ‘vertical sprawl’. Architects, intern architects, designers and creative thinkers all around are encouraged to take part in this challenge to reinvent the ubiquitous Vancouver poto:type and explore viable alternatives for urban densification. The criterion is to explore alternate solutions to the mixed-use/residential typology currently prevalent in Vancouver, with a typical density of FSR 8, and a fictitious site of 120’x600’ with a 300’ ceiling and 4 storey street edge typical of a comprehensive development. It is the competitor’s prerogative to depart from these criteria and propose a project outside these zoning bylaws, but should the entry wish to work within these parameters, competitors may look at the guidelines of the City of Vancouver Comprehensive Developments (CD-1). Regardless, all proposals shouldattempt to incorporate social, regional, economic, technical, and aesthetic elements into the final solution.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Scott Kemp MAIBC, Professional Advisor
Poto:type Architectural Ideas Competition
100 – 440 Cambie Street
Vancouver BC V6B 2N5
Canada
http://www.poto.ca |
 Changdong Station winner – image ©D & B Partners Architects
Whereas international competitions for real projects have become a rarity lately, Korea is a welcome exception. Among the plethora of competition announcements we receive almost weekly, several have ended with foreign firms as winners. But the history of welcoming international participants does go back several years. One notable early example was the Incheon Airport competition, won by Fentress Bradburn Architects (1962-70).
Among the more recent successes of foreign firms was the Busan Opera House competition, won by Snøhetta (2013-) and the Sejong Museum Gardens competition, won by Office OU, Toronto (2016-2023).
Read more… Preparation and Organization of Design Competitions 
[phase 1] Benjamin Hossbach / Christian Lehmhaus / Christine Eichelmann
210 × 230 mm, 192 pp.
over 600 images
softcover
ISBN 978-3-86922-316-2 (English)
ISBN 978-3-86922-240-0 (German)
Dom Publishers
€48 in EU (For price abroad, see below)
Founded in 1998 in Berlin, Phase 1 has been a principal player in the organization and facilitation of design competitions, not only in Germany, but abroad as well. The accomplishments of the firm have been well documented in three volumes—The Architecture of Competitions—beginning in 2i006. Whereas these books mainly focused on the results of the competitions they have administered, the present work, Fundamentals of Competition Management, takes one from the very beginnings of the competition process to its conclusion. The authors envisioned the publication as “three three books in one: one „blue book“ with example projects, one „yellow book“ with statements and the „white book“ with the actual guideline to competition management.”
Although there have been a number of handbooks covering the administration of designcompetitions a study covering the entire process in such detail is a welcome addition to the the literature in this field. As a contribution to this important democratic process that has yielded exceptional design for decades, this volume is not only valid for Europe, but a current overview of the process for those globally who wish to raise the level of design by virtue of a design competition. -Ed Foreign institutions wishing to obtain a copy of the book will recieve a discount to cover the cost of foreign shipping.
To obtain a copy for that offer, go to: [email protected] 
1st Place: Zaha Hadid Architects – night view from river – Render by Negativ
Arriving to board a ferry boat or cruise ship used to be a rather mundane experience. If you had luggage, you might be able to drop it off upon boarding, assuming that the boarding operation was sophisticated enough. In any case, the arrival experience was nothing to look forward to. I recall boarding the SS United States for a trip to Europe in the late 1950s. Arriving at the pier in New York, the only thought any traveler had was to board that ocean liner as soon as possible, find one’s cabin, and start exploring. If you were in New York City and arriving early, a nearby restaurant or cafe would be your best bet while passing time before boarding. Read more… 
Helsinki Central Library, by ALA Architects (2012-2018)
The world has experienced a limited number of open competitions over the past three decades, but even with diminishing numbers, some stand out among projects in their categories that can’t be ignored for the high quality and degree of creativity they revealed. Included among those are several invited competitions that were extraordinary in their efforts to explore new avenues of institutional and museum design. Some might ask why the Vietnam Memorial is not mentioned here. Only included in our list are competitions that were covered by us, beginning in 1990 with COMPETITIONS magazine to the present day. As for what category a project under construction (Science Island), might belong to or fundraising still in progress (San Jose’s Urban Confluence or the Cold War Memorial competition, Wisconsin), we would classify the former as “built” and wait and see what happens with the latter—keeping our fingers crossed for a positive outcome. Read More… 
2023 Teaching and Innovation Farm Lab Graduate Student Honor Award by USC (aerial view)
Architecture at Zero competitions, which focus on the theme, Design Competition for Decarbonization, Equity and Resilience in California, have been supported by numerous California utilities such as Southern California Edison, PG&E, SoCAl Gas, etc., who have recognized the need for better climate solutions in that state as well as globally. Until recently, most of these competitions were based on an ideas only format, with few expectations that any of the winning designs would actually be realized. The anticipated realization of the 2022 and 2023 competitions suggests that some clients are taking these ideas seriously enough to go ahead with realization. Read more… 
RUR model perspective – ©RUR
New Kaohsiung Port and Cruise Terminal, Taiwan (2011-2020)
Reiser+Umemoto RUR Architecture PC/ Jesse Reiser – U.S.A.
with
Fei & Cheng Associates/Philip T.C. Fei – R.O.C. (Tendener)
This was probably the last international open competition result that was built in Taiwan. A later competition for the Keelung Harbor Service Building Competition, won by Neil Denari of the U.S., the result of a shortlisting procedure, was not built. The fact that the project by RUR was eventually completed—the result of the RUR/Fei & Cheng’s winning entry there—certainly goes back to the collaborative role of those to firms in winning the 2008 Taipei Pop Music Center competition, a collaboration that should not be underestimated in setting the stage for this competition Read more… |
