2020 Forge Prize: Vision in Steel for Architectural Excellence and Speed Sponsor: American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Type: open, ideas, two-stage Eligibility: U.S. and Canadian architects within 10 years of licensure or pursuing licensure. Participants must be working professionals in any of the following firm types: Architecture Firm; A/E Firm, but submitting as an emerging architec; Design-Build Firm, but submitting as an emerging architect Fee: None Language: English Process: During Stage One, a jury of experts will convene to identify up to three conceptual submissions that will be awarded a $10,000 stipend to continue onto Stage Two Timetable: 25 January 2020 – Submission deadline February 2020 – Stage One Finalists Annoounced May 2020 – Stage two Submissions deadline Spring 2020 – Final winner announcement and event Awards: Three finalists each receive $10,000 for their participation Winner receives and additional $10,000 for a total of $20,000 Jury: TBD Challenge: The design submissions may be for any type of conceptual building structure and should represent creative, technical, or innovative approaches to solving a specific design challenge or challenges (i.e. environmental, economic, social, logistical). Additionally, all submissions will be judged on how much they contribute to the reduction in time it takes to design and build. The design approach and resolve of the challenge(s) should be clearly identified in a narrative that includes an overview of the role played by the utilization of structural steel in the design to achieve the resolution. If submitting as a team, only one team member is eligible to present at the live Presentation and Critique Session. The cumulative package consisting of a narrative, drawings, and live presentation should be developed to convey evidence of understanding and process of design consideration given to context, structure, aesthetics, and real-world feasibility. Regarding site selection for the proposed building structures, participants must select an actual and existing site but have the discretion to locate it anywhere in the United States. Existing sites that are currently occupied with existing buildings may also be utilized to introduce the new proposal; however, participants must note this replacement in the narrative. The site must be prominently identified as part of the drawing submittal. For more information and to register: https://www.forgeprize.com/ |
 ©Bauen+Wohnen An article, Trois tourettes et un jardin (Three Turrets and a Garden) by Swiss landscape architect, Valérie Hoffmeyer, in Werk, Bauen + Wohnen, is another recent example highlighting the value of green space in the design of mid-rise residential buildings. At a time when developers endeavor to maximize their profits by turning to highrise buildings, even when higher density is at stake, referencing the Garden City concept has been turning up as a more frequent theme.
Read more…  Aerial view ©Grimshaw Architects After the conclusion of the second stage of the Nyugati Railway Station Competition, Grimshaw Architects has been declared the winner. This conclusion was reached by a jury after twelve teams had been shortlisted from the initial stage of the competition in an RfQ process. 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/  Boardwalk photo: Courtesy Atlantic Beach Boardwalks, especially on oceanfront locations, have a pretty universal look. But how they fit into their local context is another matter. Topography, real estate and commerce all play a role in their function, and to some extent, design. In the case of Miami Beach, it’s primarily a promenade; Brooklyn’s 2.7 mile Coney Island boardwalk stretching all the way to Brighton Beach is a mixture of promenade and commerce, with the latter at both ends. In the case of Atlantic City, it’s mostly about retail.
Read more…  Winning entry – Hyunjoon Min Architects Office National Library of Korea Data Preservation Center Competition Retrofitting existing buildings is nothing new. The abandonment of old factory structures, especially in the northeast of the U.S., has been occurring at a rapid pace ever since those businesses ceased to be profitable in the face of foreign competition. However, in North America, retrofitting those structures has seldom been the subject of a design competition. In Korea, the recent plethora of design competitions for all types of projects has also included several for providing a new life for abandoned buildings. Read more… Countryside Dilemmas – New Rural Planning  1st Place – ©Tianjin University Team Planning used to be at the bottom of Chinese students’ lists of design priorities. One western architect, whose firm was at the forefront in the design and implementation of numerous planning projects in China, surmised that planning was an area that received little attention in the university curricula. So when planning for a major metropolitan area has occurred, the Chinese have almost always turned to outside international firms for ideas and implementation. Read more… The Chicago Architecture Club Shines the Spotlight on Another Endangered Landmark  Public Pool Image: ©Perkins&Will What do Bertrad Goldberg and Helmut Jahn have in common? Besides having high-profile buildings threatened by demolition, both served as subject matter for two competitions sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Club (CAC)—raising public consciousness about their impending fate. They both produced buildings in a city famous for its architecture that have been abandoned: Goldberg’s Future Prentice Women’s Hospital, demolished in 2014 after a valiant effort by preservationists to save it from the wrecking ball; and Jahn’s Thompson Center, now the object of a similar effort by the State of Illinois to sell it to a developer. Read more… |