The history of modern architecture can be tracked through the lineage of the single-family home. Each generation has sought to improve upon earlier iterations, rethinking and reinventing this seemingly simple building type. At certain historic moments, new ideas about domesticity have given form to radically different configurations of home and community. With worldwide interest in green design and the necessity for sustainable communities, a powerful opportunity to design affordable houses that respond to current economic, social, and environmental challenges presents itself.
"From the Ground Up" seeks to provide a new model for formerly vital, urban residential neighborhoods throughout the United States through the creation of sustainable, affordable housing. Selected teams will work on infill sites, proposing designs for an 1.100 to 1.500 squarefoot, single-family home. The goal of the competition is to create innovative designs for cost efficient, green prototypes that are sensitive to the scale and composition of the existing conditions, while providing a new vision that is legible to a wide array of existing and potential residents.
"From The Ground Up: Innovative Green Homes" is a two-stage competition.
Stage One: Design teams are invited to submit a booklet of relevant past projects and qualifications for consideration. A committee will review the submissions and choose up to three teams to advance to the next stage of the competition.
Stage Two: Teams will travel to Syracuse for a day-long information session and tour of the neighborhood and selected site. Teams will have eight weeks to develop their designs. Each participating team will receive a $25,000 stipend for the competition.
The intention of the competition is to draw out the most advanced thinking about design, sustainability, and cost-effective building practices. The competition sponsors intend to see the winning scheme(s) realized and will endeavor to build the jury’s top ranked design Summer - Fall 2009. However, competition sponsors reserve the right not to build any of the submitted projects, or to select one of the alternate designs, depending on the strength of the submissions, the resources available, and how the mechanics of the project unfold.
Submission
Teams wishing to be considered for the competition must submit a booklet profiling their proposed team and qualifications. At this stage, the booklet will serve in lieu of an interview or direct conversation with the selection committee. It should convey the required information clearly, compellingly, and demonstrate the team's commitment to good design.
All qualifications must be bound securely in a format no larger than 8.5" x 11" (oriented either portrait or landscape), utilizing both sides of every page (wherever possible). A high quality digital copy of the complete booklet must also be submitted on disc.
The Selection Committee will look for the following items, in this order:
Letter of Interest
The letter should be a carefully considered discussion about why your team is interested in this project. You should cite relevant information about the challenges of designing affordable housing or neighborhood infill housing, based on your experience. The letter should also address the team's knowledge of technical factors such as sustainable design or innovative construction techniques.
Sketchpad
As part of the booklet, each team must submit preliminary sketches illustrating their initial thoughts about affordable housing, sustainable design, and the other issues presented in this overview. The sketchpad should feature ideas your team might explore if selected to participate in the design competition. Sketches (hand drawn, collaged, or digitally generated) and annotations should reflect the team's best thinking on the subject. The sketchbook is limited to between five and seven double-sided pages (ten to fourteen page fronts).
Team Overview
Provide a review of the team's members and their respective expertise. Team members do not need to have worked together before, but must demonstrate the ability to form a compatible, complementary partnership.
Team Composition
Multi-disciplinary teams including an architect, structural engineer, sustainability expert, and landscape architect are strongly recommended. Faculty-led student teams are also encouraged. Team descriptions should start with an overview of the firms involved (if applicable) and how the team is organized, followed by a brief resume of each of the key individuals participating on the team. Be sure to cite each person's anticipated responsibility on the project. At least one team member must be licensed to sign architectural drawings in the State of New York.
Portfolio
Present three projects from the team's body of work. You may include one un-built project, but the majority should be built. Include:
- Team members participating on the project and their role
- A general description of project goals
- The design approach or philosophy driving the project
- Any responsibilities the team had in addition to the design of the project
- The total project cost and whether it was completed within the budget
- Any awards or peer recognition
Disc
The submission should include a separate disc with a high-quality digital copy of the entire booklet in either PDF or JPG format. Please identify your team on the outside of the disc.
Jury
- Barry Bergdoll (The Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design, The Museum of Modern Art)
- Edward Bogucz (Executive Director, Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental Systems, Syracuse University)
- Julia Czerniak (Director, Upstate: A Center for Design, Research, and Real Estate, Syracuse University School of Architecture)
- Julie Eizenberg (Principal, Koning Eizenberg Architecture)
- Bethaida Gonzàlez (President, Syracuse Common Council)
- Marilyn Higgins (Vice President, Community Engagement & Economic Development, Syracuse University)
- Carol Horan (Near Westside Resident)
- Paul Lewis (Principal, Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis)
- Jason Pearson (President and CEO, GreenBlue)
- Kerry Quaglia (Executive Director, Home HeadQuarters, Inc.)
- Mark Robbins (Dean, Syracuse University School of Architecture)
Competition Schedule
15 September 2008: Submission Booklets Due
01 October 2008: Short-listed Teams Notified, Competition Brief Issued
October 2008: Information Session in Syracuse
15 December 2008: Competition Entries Due
January 2009: Exhibition of Entries Open, Winner Announced
Winter - Spring of 2009: Design Development and Construction Documents
Summer/Fall 2009: Construction