Currently, there are 851 World Heritage Sites. Natural heritage sites, cultural heritage sites and mixed heritage sites have been designated by UNESCO as monuments that have a universal value and should be shared by all mankind. The history within these sites tells us about our past, and by adding new sites, we help weave important moments of our history for future generations. We must not lose the historical interconnectedness that is created by these sites. Historical heritages sites must be more that simply preserved in their current condition in order to maintain their relevance for the future: people ought to be able to visit these heritages sites and learn from them. Yet we must prevent the damage and environmental destruction that crowds of visitors create. The logistics of creating a world Heritages Site which both caters to a great number of visitors and which can be protected from the wear and strain on it caused by the public are central concerns in designing a plan such as this.
To achieve this aim, this year’s theme is “Architecture coexisting with World Heritage Sites.”
Applicants are free to choose any World Heritage Site, however they must make clear the reason for choosing that site. Applicants are also free to select any type of architecture to coexist with the site. There will certainly be many types of architecture, such as information booths, exhibition halls, hotels, restaurants, and viewing platforms. We would like proposals to show how the architecture will interact with the context and practical constraints of the World Heritage site.
Coexistence is not assimilation, nor is it harmony. It is two ideas coming from different premises that come together and raise the overall merit of the project by complementing each other.
Submissions should be adressed to: Dept. of Central Glass International Architectural Design Competition 2008, Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd. 2-31-2 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8501, Japan (If any of the above is omitted, your entry will not be accepted)
Judging Process
Preliminary stage
Those who pass the preliminary stage (10 teams) will be notified by mail by the end of July. Results of the preliminary stage will be posted on the Central Glass website (http://www.cgco.co.jp/) in August, 2008.
Final stage
The finalists will present their proposals in a public forum in Tokyo on 29 September 2008 and the judges will decide the winner. 100.000 Yens will be given to each group from overseas and all travel expenses will be covered for one person of each Japanese group.
Jury
- Toyo Ito (Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects)
- Masaru Okamoto (Kume Sekkei Co., Ltd.)
- Riken Yamamoto (Riken Yamamoto & Field Shop)
- Kiyoshi Sakurai (Nikken Sekkei Co., Ltd.)
- Taro Ashihara (Taro Ashihara Architects)
- Kengo Kuma (Kengo Kuma & Associates)
- Kunito Takahashi (Executive Managing Officer. Central Glass Co., Ltd.)
Prizes
First Prize: (one) 2.000.000 Japanese Yens and a commemorative gift
Second Prizes: (each of three) 300.000 Japanese Yens and a commemorative gift
Honorable Mentions: (each of six) 100.000 Japanese Yens and a commemorative gift
(All prize money tax included)
Requirements
Drawings
- Floor plan, cross section and/or site plan (all any scale)
- A perspective diagram or a picture of a model
- You are free to add charts, diagrams or descriptive text to help describe your plan, but it must be with in 100 words.
Materials
- Complete all drawings, illustrative matters, and texts on one sheet of thick drawing paper (600mm×840mm).
- You may use blue prints, pencil, ink, color, or photographs; but do not use panels.
- On the back of your entry attach a piece of paper bearing your name, address, age, home and office telephone numbers (or fax numbers), e-mail address, and place of occupation. No handwritten entries will be accepted of legibility.
Submission Deadline: 25 July 2008 (Applications from Japan and overseas)
Announcement of Winners: Winners will be announced in the 2008 November issue of “Shinkenchiku” and vol. 72 issue of "The Japan Architect."