“Post-castle” – Architectural Design of the Historic and Cultural Complex in KaliningradSponsor: Kaliningrad Regional Government Type: open, one-stage, international Languages: Russian and English Fees: none Timetable: 28 May 2015 – Registration deadline 28 August 2015 – Submission deadline Prizes: 1st prize – 2M RUB ($39,000) 2nd prize – 1M RUBs ($19,500) 3rd prizes (2) 500,000 RUB each Kaliningrad Jury: 1. Bart Goldhoorn Amsterdam, Netherlands, Russia, Moscow 2. Stephen Willacy Denmark, Aarhus 3. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans Stimmann Germany, Berlin 4. Christian Devillers France, Paris 5. Yury I. Avvakumov Russia, Moscow 6. Ilya V. Utkin Russia, Moscow Design Challenge: To create a contemporary governmental complex on the “post-castle” area in a best possible balance with the history of the place and contemporary requirements to functions and image of the largest public building of the region, with restoration or other application of the castle Königsberg fragments (in particular, the western wing of the castle, related to the history of Russia). ÂÂ ÂÂ The main objective for entrants should be to create an architectural and urban planning ensemble, integrating the projected Complex, the House of Soviets and a projected Fairgrounds in the north of the competition area. The ensemble should form a new Main square and be blended in the Consolidated planning concept based on the results of the international competition 2014 “Korolevskaya Gora and Its Surroundings” The competition area is situated in the location that is of key importance for history of the former Königsberg, the former East Prussia and contemporary Kaliningrad and Kaliningrad Region. It has a strategic role for the development of a new image for the central part as well as for the city and the region as a whole. The key functions of the government’s Historic and Cultural Complex are: • An all-purpose (multifunctional) hall • Museum of Archaelogy • Museum of the King’s castle’s history • Museumof rare objects • Design of adjacent open spaces Questions: [email protected] Executive Secretary of the Competition Nadezhda Belesheva, mob. +7 961 351 30 70, office +7(4012) 53 61 47 Competition brief: http://www.tuwangste.ru/en/contests/contest_2/specification ÂÂ |
 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… |
