Yarışmalar-Competitions

Summary
Self-Sufficient Housing
Architecture does not offer the responses to current environmental issues that might be expected from it. Instead, the enormous influence of its historical legacy shapes thinking around today's design solutions, limiting innovation.

In fact, contemporary buildings might be artificial natures. We believe that housing - where human inhabitation takes place - should take its cues from the trees: it should be tied harmoniously to the surrounding environment, taking only the indispensable resources (energy, water, etc.) and generating recyclable waste that follows natural cycles.

The main goal of this competition is the development of self-sufficient dwellings in which technological elements are essential components of a new architectural concept and not only a reflection of an attachment to conventional ideas about houses.

The building location is open to the designer's choice, so the project can be proposed to accommodate local conditions in any region of the world.

There are two categories:
1. Self-Sufficient Collective Housing
2. Self-Sufficient Single Housing

The prize (total value: € 26.500,00) will be distributed at the discretion of the Juries following the bases scheme.

The competition results and further investigation will be published by ACTAR.

Theme
Scarce Resources
Human impact on the Earth is a vital contemporary issue.
The intensive consumption of resources continues without introducing effective recycling processes. Resources will someday run out.

Population and Consume
A small portion of the world population consumes nearly 80% of the planet's resources and produces 80% of its environmental pollution. The global population has increased tenfold over the last hundred years due to scientific developments and technological innovations. This population will increase from today's 6 billion to an eventual 10 billion people, creating more pressure on our decreasing resources .

Global Disparity
This situation enlarges the gap between high-tech, wealthy states and lower-tech, poor states. Most high-income countries have near-stable populations, but their resource consumption continues to rise. Battles for food, raw materials, and living space between industrialized and developing countries are becoming increasingly severe.

Results
We will soon reach an impasse as a result of this combination of chaotic growth and development with ecological consequences. We can already see the initial signs.

Some Figures
Buildings are responsible for a large portion of the world´s total energy use and raw material consumption and are also responsible for around 25 % of timber harvest and 16 % of fresh water withdrawal. Urbanized areas produce 40 % of the solid waste destined for local landfills. These structures also affect watersheds, habitat, air quality, and community transportation patterns.

Sustainable Building Movement
The environmental impact of building materials, construction techniques, and building operations and maintenance can be reduced. Sustainable building practices attempt to consider the environmental, economic, and social effects of a built project in a holistic way.

Future
The sustainable building movement emerged from solar, energy efficiency, water conservation, land conservation, and indoor air quality interest groups working together to develop a whole systems approach to building. Cooperation from environmental organizations and academic disciplines has become requisite to lead the way toward a sustainable future.

Bases and Prices
Eligibilty
The competition is open to all professionals, designers, and students of architecture, urban design and landscape design.
There is no age limit, and projects may be individual or group efforts.
The number of team members is not limited.
Free Competition Registration
The participation in this competition does not require any type of payment.
Awards
Sustainable COLLECTIVE Housing Category
1st Prize € 3,000. + Master in Advanced Architecture (€ 9000)

The wining design leader will obtain a full scholarship for the Master in Advanced Architecture at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia for over (1) one year period to extend the project.

Sustainable SINGLE Housing Category
1st Prize € 3,000. + Master in Advanced Architecture (€ 9000)

The wining design leader will obtain a full scholarship for the Master in Advanced Architecture at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia for over (1) one year period to extend the project.

The winning design will be examined and the possibility of its realization considered by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia.

Only (1) one second prize and (1) one third prize will be granted for the both categories

2nd Prize € 1,500.
3rd Prize € 1,000.
Honourable Mentions: Net-Delegates:

In addition, the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia seeks to develop an international research group, oriented toward the investigation and diffusion of advanced architecture . In order to fulfil this goal, the jury will select a delegate for each country who will receive mention as an Investigator of the Institute.

Each delegate will have the opportunity to participate in collective experiences that will target the integration and development of both this virtual community and its ideas.

Required Drawings and Documents
Contents
The application is designed to give each project the opportunity to state its story in its own words.

Competitors are urged to concentrate their efforts on providing a clear description of their projects. Although site plan, floor plan, elevation, section, perspective drawings, photographs of models axonometric drawings at any scale, etc are helpful, judgments will be based upon the quality of the project.

Language
The entries are required to be written in English without exception.

Email Submission
The Submission is digital via E-mail. The proposals must be displayed in THREE (3) PDF files in a DIN A-3 size.

Following early submission, each entrant will be provided with a confirmation via e-mail.

All the projects must be emailed NO LATER than Monday September 19, 2005, and MUST ARRIVE no later than Tuesday September 20, 2005.

The competition registration materials, design materials transmission, questions, responses and publication of results shall be provided exclusively through email and the website. Each continent will have a dedicated email address. An electronic communication format will eliminate the necessity for printing and mailing multiple competition entry materials, thus reinforcing the ‘green' design qualities intended for this project as well as lowering the cost of shipment.

Calender
Launch
Launch date of the competition (consultation of website including theme, rules, calendar): Monday 16 May 2005
Closing date for registration: Monday 19 September 2005,
Question
The answers grouped will be put on the Web site before 15 August 2005.
Entries
Closing date for submission of entries: Monday 19 September 2005.
Closing date for receipt of entries sent by E-mail: Tuesday 20 September 2005.
Selections
Selection of the proposals by national juries: September - October 2005
Results
Announcement of results: Monday 24 October 2005
International presentation of results: November 2005

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