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Results: Gladstone Library Extension

Caruso St John (Winner)

Large, blockbuster competitions often gain the attention of the world architectural community; but the RIBA’s policy of providing administrative collaboration for more modest-sized projects in the U.K. is certainly laudable. In this particular case, the competition was for an extension of the Galdstone’s Library, located in Wales.

As has recently been customary in most U.K. competitions, shortlisted firms competed for the opportunity to gain the commission for the project. With the exception of Simpson & Brown (Edinburgh), the finalists were all based in London.

OFFICE 52 at Carnegie Mellon

Form and Dichroic Light
Scott Hall at Carnegie Mellon University
Michelle LaFoe and Isaac Campbell
OFFICE 52 Architecture
Forward by Cesar Pelli, FAIA
Introduction by Michael J. Crosbie, FAIA
Leete”s Island Books, Maine USA
Hard cover; 96 pages in color
ISBN 9780918172709

In his introduction to Form and Dichroic LIght, Michael Crosbie never mentions the term, “wild card,” to describe Office 52’s participation in the invited competition for the Carnegie Mellon Engineering Building. The four finalists, picked from a list of 17 firms, also included three household names: ZGF, Wilson, and BCJ (Bohlin Cywinski, Jackson). So what possible chance could a firm, which had just recently opened a small office in Portland, Oregon, have against a competition lineup of this magnitude? But as OFFICE 52 Principal, Isaac Campbell explained, as a small firm, “we were quite nimble,” and the $50,000 stipend the firms all received to produce a design could allow OFFICE 52 more time to undertake the research involved than might be the case with a larger office, where a cost controller is constantly focusing on the operation.

Where Ecology Rules: Hsinta Ecological Power Plant Competition

Winning entry by Morphosis (image ©Morphosis)

Whether it was the establishment of a shrimp industry, general water and flood abatement, or a site for bird migration, the Hsinta Ecological Power Plant competition produced a plethora of interesting approaches to mitigate the negative effects normally associated with the introduction of a power plant. Each of the five finalists in this international, two-stage competition showed an extensive amount of research to support their design strategies and the underlying sustainability features.

Mussolini on the Spree…and More

Berlin Palace reconstruction with replica of original facade on far right Photo: ©Elmar Engels

A construction site since the end of World War II, the apex of Berlin’s construction boom has seemingly reached a final stage with two major projects, one which is almost completed (Berlin City Palace), the other still on the drawing board, but scheduled to be realized by 2020—the addition to Mies van der Rohe’s New National Gallery by Herzog de Meuron. Above is a view across the Spree River to the almost completed Palace by Italian architect, Franco Stella, the winner of the 2008 competition. At first glance we think we might be finding ourselves in the EUR district of Rome, built during during the 1930s under Mussolini: the “modern” facade is almost a replica of one of the two buildings flanking the approach to Adalberto Libera’s Palazzo Della Civitá. Of course this is only the one, “modern” side of the Palace, looking east across the Spree to a future ensemble of modern structures. The other three sides are Baroque replicas of the original, including the dome.

Addressing Affordable Housing in Bentonville

Site 2 Winner: ©Kevin Daly Architects

Focusing on the lack of affordable housing in the region for residents and newcomers at all levels of income, the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas launched the Housing Northwest Arkansas initiative. Intended to be much more than a theoretical exercise, it began with an advanced design studio and a regional symposium and culminated with a design competition for five sites in neighboring Bentonville. The entire program was supported by a $250,000 grant from the Walton Family Foundation, whereby $100,000 of the grant was earmarked for prizes and compensation for the 25 firms that participated in the competition.

Adelaide Contemporary Art Museum Winner Announced

Winning entry © Diller Scofidio Renfro

Diller Scofidio Renfro’s solid and compelling design for Adelaide’s new Museum of Contemporary Art prevailed over a strong field of five international teams. As a high-profile project, it could come as no surprise that the original RfQ drew 107 teams including over 500 firms—before the shortlisting process whittled a list of finalists down to six teams. This organization format occurred under the guidance of the professional adviser, Malcolm Reading Consultants.

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