International Competition in Architecture 2019

Description

I. PRESENTATION OF COMPETITION

In 2019 we celebrate the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death. This year also marks Moon landing’s 50th anniversary.

Today more than ever, we must find new forms of habitat and mobility, new ways of life that have to be inventive and efficient for the 10 billion people who will be living on earth in 2050, 75% of whom will live near shorelines and will be therefore particularly concerned by the challenges of the sea level rising. Prospective works on living in space has never been so ambitious. We must act to preserve and build the future of humanity in a sustainable way. To succeed in it, we must dare! In 1869 Jules Verne published "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea". He was deeply convinced that “Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real”.

In 2019 for its 9th edition, the Jacques Rougerie Foundation invites you to imagine bold, visionary projects in accordance to the major issues of humanity. The human being must be at the center of your project. It will be based on biomimicry which is an infinite source of inspiration: nature designs the most beautiful curves, forms, and provides the best materials. From the origins, nature has been designing and providing the best patterns. A transversal and multidisciplinary work will be appreciated.

Architects, engineers, designers, seize, the opportunity to create tomorrow's ways of life, to promote the richness of the sea and space, as well as pay respect to them.

You want to commit yourself by proposing architectural projects on the Ocean or Space? You are aware of the high stakes of the climate change? You are sharp and sensitive. You feel responsible for the future of the humanity and want to build a world preserving the biodiversity and the common good.

II. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES 2018

« Innovation and Architecture for the Sea » award

• Grand Prix – € 7 500
• Focus : Underwater Village € 2 500

The underwater Village

The underwater Village will host a community of women and men, the Meriens , aquanauts living in osmosis with an extreme environment for long term stays. It places the human beings at the center of this submarine world and carries values of solidarity. It can be located at different depths and will accommodate a community of 150 to 250 people or more.

The village must be self-sufficient and fully autonomous running on renewable marine energy (tidal power, wave sensor, ocean thermal energy...). The daily life of its inhabitants will cause a minimal impact on its environment (waste...) There will be a general reflection on the submarine mobility. What kind of submarine vehicles to reach the earth?

There will be taken into account the specific way of life related to the underwater and the multiple constraints due to this environment, among others equi-pressure, buoyancy, etc. The inhabitants will live in equi-pressure and in saturation. The different architectural structures will allow the Merien aquanauts to go out easily under the sea as often as they wish in the third dimension of this submarine space.

It will not only respect the marine biodiversity but will also promote it. All infrastructures must have a minimal environmental footprint on the underwater environment. The materials used must have a maximum level of recyclability.

It may include at the candidate’s choice various programs as far as a scientific research center on biodiversity, aquaculture and algal farms, a hotel, leisure facilities, a wellness center, sports and cultural zones, an underwater museum, a cultural and artistic center, etc.

Exemples of laureates



« Innovation and Architecture for the Space » award

• Grand Prix – € 7 500
• Focus : " Lunar village " - € 2 500

Focus : Lunar village

All space exploration roadmaps include the Moon as the next step before a trip to Mars. The Human presence on this satellite in permanent infrastructures would therefore constitute a real springboard before further exploration. Jan Woerner, Director General of ESA (European Space Agency), proposed the concept of the "Moon Village" in 2015. This vision implies an incrementally growing ensemble suited for multiple uses and open to multiple users.

The Moon Village should be imagined as an open, inclusive and sustainable project to serve humankind by supporting world-class science, novel cooperation opportunities open to all Nations, and opportunities for public as well as industrial and commercial players in diverse fields such as industrial, commercial, tourism, educational or cultural.

On the surface of the moon...

The absence of a protective atmosphere makes its surface very hard and very exposed to extreme temperatures (from - 110°C to + 130°C). The Moon is also regularly bombarded by meteorites. Its surface is covered with a fine dust coated with a glassy shell which makes it very abrasive, but also electrostatic because of its exposure to the waves of solar radiation. The gravity of the Moon is equal to 1/6th of that of the Earth.

The objective of the competition is to propose housing systems independent of the Earth, autonomous, utilizing as much as possible in situ resources (ISRU) in a circular economic mode. These closed-loop life support systems should include atmospheric regulation, food and water production, waste recycling, essential equipment for life (exercise, mobility..). These projects could fall into one of both categories:

• modular systems brought from Earth and assembled on site,
• built in situ with regolith based materials and systems, on surface or partially /fully inside lava-tubes.

Exemples of laureates



« Architecture and Sea level rise » award

• Grand Prix – € 7 500
• Focus : " The African coastline " - € 2 500

Focus : The African coastline

President Mandela said in 1998 that Africa's long and beautiful coasts and abundant marine resources can contribute to improving the continent's economic, food and environmental security. Africa, being bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Indian Ocean to the east and the Southern Ocean at the southern end of the continent, is well endowed.

Among the major assets offered by the African oceans and coasts for the continent's economic, social and cultural development are: 

• maritime transport of coastal and offshore oil and gas,
• transport and maritime trade,
• coastal and offshore mining,
• inshore and offshore fishing,
• biodiversity outside the imagination and enormous marine genetic and medicinal resources, 
• seaside tourism

These marine and coastal resources, like the rest of Africa's environmental resources, continue to be exploited in ways that do not benefit Africa or its people.

Challenges for Africa's coastal development include rising sea levels, coastal flooding and flooding, oil pollution and land-based pollution, coastal degradation including coastal erosion with loss of coastal infrastructure and domains, loss of biodiversity and critical habitats.

It is therefore becoming important to invent new forms of sustainable, open and resilient coastal cities through innovative architecture and locally adapted coastal engineering in Africa. The aim of this focus is to contribute both to the invention of the future with regard to the development of African coastal cities as well as the preservation of their intangible and tangible heritage.

This focus is addressed to any visionary and passionate person or team, to imagine systems of techniques and innovations, design, architecture, concepts and/or scientific models and engineering methods using both modern and ancestral knowledge and technologies, which will respect African civilization and cosmogony, local identity, cultural, social and environmental values in harmony with the way of life of communities and local populations while reflecting our globalized world.

While encouraging international teams rich in diversity around the world, it is however recommended to favour African nationals, ideally based in Africa, at the head of teams or project promoters; in order to support leadership, ownership and entrepreneurship in Africa.

Exemples of laureates



III. THE 4-STEP 

Click on "Registration"

1. Choose the prize you wish to participate in
2. Download the documents 
3. Build your team and design your project
4. Upload your project before November 08, 2019, 23:59 

Good luck !