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Minimal Shelter Space International Design Competition

 

Proposals for improving evacuation environment inside Japanese evacuation centers

 

Sponsor: Alliance for Humantarian Architecture
Type: International, open, ideas
Fees: none
Languages: Japanese and English
Locaton: Sendai, Japan
Introduction
Record-breaking rainfall and subsequent flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, heatwaves, and forest fires, humanity is experiencing devastating natural disasters with no signs of easing. Our homes built to protect us from harsh nature are becoming less effective, and in some cases, we have to abandon our homes for survival, whether temporal or permanent. It is becoming ever more critical to prepare for such dire situations at the best of our abilities. Japan, one of the countries consistently under the threat of various disasters all year long, has experienced many throughout the years. Through these devastating experiences, the government has developed standard disaster evacuation guidelines. Based on the current guidelines, how much of this deals with spatial conditions of evacuees is still questionable. Are we still left to sleep on cold school gymnasium floors next to a stranger without privacy?

Typically in Japan, public facilities (primarily elementary schools) serve as evacuation centers for that school district community, but are also open to anyone in need nearby. Evacuees of all ages and family structures coming there are squeezed into the school gymnasium, spending nights there on the hardwood floor. There is need for improving this inhumane condition among individuals and groups. We are starting to see a few evacuation centers with cardboard beds and partitions.

Alliance for Humanitarian Architecture would like to start a conversation about the spatial environmental conditions during evacuation in Japan through this competition and share our current situations and ideas for improvement. We look forward to seeing a submission from all over the world with diverse yet realistic ideas.

Schedule:
October 3, 2021 – Competition announcement (Registration)
December 10, 2021 – 1st stage submission deadline
December 19, 2021 – Announcement of the finalists
January 14, 2022 – Submission of finalists built projects
January 15 to 27, 2022 – Exhibition of submission panels and finalist projects
January 22, 2022 – Competition Final, symposium, award ceremony

Assignment:

  • Submit proposals for private space of 2m x 2m x 2m (4㎡) per person inside a school gymnasium in Japan during disaster evacuation.
  • Duration for the use of 10 continuous days or more.
  • Construction (material) costs should be under 30,000JPY with materials available in Japan.

All competition participants must register through Alliance for Humanitarian Architecture’s competition website. If you are participating as a team, please fill in the representing team member, and fill the other team members name at the affiliation section.

Once the registration is completed, a registration number will be emailed to your registered email address. Please submit your proposals with this number, and do not include any names that reveal the individual or affiliation in your submission.

Registration:
All competition participants must register through Alliance for Humanitarian Architecture’s competition website. If you are participating as a team, please fill in the representing team member, and fill the other team members name at the affiliation section. Once the registration is completed, a registration number will be emailed to your registered email address. Please submit your proposals with this number, and do not include any names that reveal the individual or affiliation in your submission.

Submission Requirements

Diagram showing how to affix entry number to submission.

​First Stage:
1 : One A1 size board (vertical) with sketches, drawings, illustrations describing your proposal. Submission to be in PDF data (under 20MB). No physical panel submissions accepted.
2 : Design statement (A4/1page, font size 11point)
※Finalists and notable projects will be selected during the 1st stage for the panel exhibition in January.
Final stage:
The selected finalist will be physically built and showcased in public at the Sendai Forus gallery “TURN ANOTHER ROUND” for the final and public selection process.
The final presentation in front of the jury, followed by a symposium, is scheduled for January 22, 2022, in Sendai, Japan. All selected finalists must be available for their final presentation either in person or virtually through video conferencing. Each finalist will receive 50,000JPY for traveling and accommodation to Sendai

Judging criteria:
Judging will rely on the values of each judge, but will mainly focus on; practicality, ease of assembly, comfort during all seasons, the flexibility of configuration and use, safety, number of parts, weight, reusability, longevity, aesthetics, storage, and distribution logistics.
Awards:
Grand award (1) Certificate of Merit, 100,000JPY (approx. USD900), Gift
Award of excellence (3) Certificate of Merit, Gift

Other requirements and notes:
Due to travel restrictions imposed by the Japanese government under the COVID-19 pandemic, all finalists must submit building instructions to construct the design. As such, specified materials must be available in Japan or delivered by the later instructed date.
Jury:
1st stage – Alliance for Humanitarian Architecture
Final stage – TBA (public voting will take place during the first half of the exhibition)
Contact information:
[email protected]
Any inquiries regarding the competition, please contact the competition organizer at the following email address. Alliance for Humanitarian Architecture [email protected]

Website:
https://en.allianceforhumanitarianarchitect