from The Architectural League

Buckminster Fuller Symposium
Friday, September 12 - Saturday, September 13
The Great Hall of the Cooper Union
7 East 7th Street, at Astor Place

Participants include: Carol Bove, Peter Galison, K. Michael Hays, Chuck Hoberman, Sanford Kwinter, Dana Miller, Pedro Reyes, Allegra Fuller Snyder, Felicity Scott, Elizabeth A.T. Smith, Michael Sorkin, Victoria Vesna, Anthony Vidler

Visionary designer, philosopher, poet, inventor, engineer, and advocate of sustainability, Buckminster Fuller was one of the great transdisciplinary thinkers of the last century with a legacy that extends to nearly every field of the arts and sciences. This symposium takes its cue from Fuller’s dictum, “I always say to myself, what is the most important thing we can think about at this extraordinary moment,” and explores the diverse ways in which contemporary scholars and practitioners are pushing Fuller’s ideas and projects into the 21st century. For more information, click here.

Admission to the Buckminster Fuller Symposium is free for Whitney Museum members, Architectural League members and Cooper Union faculty, students, and staff. Member guests do not receive free admission. General admission to the Buckminster Fuller Symposium is $8; students and seniors with valid I.D. pay $6. For Architectural League member reservations please e-mail rsvp@archleague.org. For general admission tickets, click here. For additional ticketing information, email info@archleague.org.

Co-sponsored by Whitney Museum of American Art and The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture of The Cooper Union.”
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Popularity: 5% [?]

from Bustler

” The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, together with The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and Metropolitan Arts Press Ltd., announce sixty-six (66) new distinguished buildings selected this year in the Museum’s prestigious “American Architecture Awards®” program for 2008.

Established over 10 years ago, the awards program honors and celebrates the most outstanding new accomplishments for new architecture designed and built in the United States by leading American and international architecture firms practicing in the USA.

CAMINO NUEVO HIGH SCHOOL - Los Angeles, California, Architects: Daly Genik
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THE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART - Kansas City, Missouri, Architects: Steven Holl Architects, Associate Architects: Berkebile Nelson Immenschuh McDowell
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156 WEST SUPERIOR CONDOMINIUMS - Chicago, Illinois, Architects: The Miller|Hull Partnership, Associate Architects: Studio Dwell Inc.
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“The American Architecture Awards” have become the foremost, prestigious awards program for public recognition for Excellence in Architecture in the United States both nationally and internationally. The Awards identify the new cutting-edge design direction, urban philosophy, design approach, style, and intellectual substance in American Architecture today.

The Chicago Athenaeum, founded in the historic city where modern architecture was first realized by Louis H. Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Mies van der Rohe, is the only Museum of Architecture and Design in the United States and functions internationally as one of the foremost museums dedicated to both architecture and industrial design.

MEDEU SPORTS CENTER - Almaty, Kazakhstan, Architects: Audrey Matlock Architect
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THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM - New York, New York, Architects: Smith-Miller + Hawkinson Architects LLP.
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ALEXANDRIA EGYPT MASTER PLAN - Alexandria, Egypt, Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP.
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For “The American Architecture Awards” 2008, the Museum received hundreds of submissions from the best and most renowned design firms in the United States and international firms working in the US.

The submissions ranged from new corporate headquarters, skyscrapers, institutions, sports and transportation facilities, airports, urban planning projects, retail stores, hospitals, sacred spaces, and private residences and multi-family housing designed by architects in their countries of origin or abroad for both built and unbuilt projects alike, as of January 1, 2006.
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TYROL TOWER - Wörgl, Austria, Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP.
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THE NEW BEIJING POLY PLAZA Beijing, China, Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP.
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SALT POINT HOUSE Salt Point, New York, Architects: Thomas Pfifer & Partners
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The Awards Program is also open to all international architecture offices and U.S. firms with projects outside the United States, as well as international architecture firms building in the US.

This year’s jury for awards took place in Athens, Greece with the participation of noted Greek architectural practitioners, educators, government leaders, and architecture journalists serving as jury members including:

* Maro Kardamitsi-Adami, Architect, and Curator, Neohellenic Archives, Benaki Museum, Athens
* Pavlos Doukas, Architect, Pavlos Doukas Architect, Athens and Former Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago
* The Honorable Christophe Farnaud, Ambassador, Embassy of France, Athens
* Argyro Konstantinidou, Sculptor/Architectural Consultant, Greece
* Manolis Anastasakis, Architect and Editor, greekarchitects.gr., Athens

The “American Architecture Awards” is curated and organized by Christian K. Narkiewicz-Laine, Director/President, The Chicago Athenaeum and assisted by Lary L. Sommers, Director of Administration/Marketing, The Chicago Athenaeum, and Kieran Conlon, Director/COO, The European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies, Dublin.

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco, California, Architects: LMN Architects
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MONTECITO RESIDENCE Santa Barbara, California, Architects: Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN MUSEUM OF ART Ann Arbor, Michigan, Architects: Allied Works Architecture, Associate Architects: I.D.S.
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Sixty-six (66) buildings in Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington, DC., Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Additionally, the jury selected skyscrapers and large-planning projects in Austria, Egypt, France, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, The People’s Republic of China, and the United Arab Emirates.

Projects selected include new corporate headquarters, schools and universities, government buildings, memorials, libraries, art museums, foundation headquarters, transit projects, retail facilities, hospitals, residences, and single-family homes.

TRANSBAY TRANSIT CENTER: TERMINAL AND TOWER San Francisco, California, Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP.
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SANTA MONICA CIVIC CENTER PARKING STRUCTURE Santa Monica, California, Architects: Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners Associate Architects: International Parking Design
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UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS CASE MEDICAL CENTER CANCER HOSPITAL Cleveland, Ohio, Architects: Canon Design
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Skyscrapers and office buildings were selected this year by the Greek jury, signaling an ever-growing European concern for smaller more intimate building types, an awareness of energy conservation and sustainability, and profound respect for the built and human environments as well as abstract shapes that twist, bend, spin, and defy gravity.

All awarded projects can be found on-line at The Chicago Athenaeum’s website at http://www.chi-athenaeum.org.

“Now in its second decade as perhaps the most significant awards from for new distinguished buildings in the United States, The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and Metropolitan Arts Press Ltd., together with The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, have organized this annual Museum program, “The American Architecture Awards,” as a way in which to draw significant world attention to new buildings and urban planning projects being built and designed globally by the best and most prestigious American architecture offices and design firms,” states Christian K. Narkiewicz-Laine.

“The wide geographic distribution of these awards attests to the importance of the program,” Mr. Narkiewicz-Laine adds. “There is no one, single program that brings together the latest cutting-edge international architecture today as one cohesive universal representation or platform for American design. Our Museum is honored to provide a focus that allows an exploration and analysis for current stylistic directions and philosophical thinking that is apparent in contemporary design today.”

BEIJING FINANCE STREET Beijing, PRC, Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP.
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TREE HOUSE Wilmington, Delaware, Architects: Sander Architects, LLC.
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NASHVILLE PUBLIC SQUARE Nashville, Tennessee, Architects: Tuck-Hinton Architects, Associate Architects: WRT, LLC., Landscape Architects: Hawkins Partners, Inc.
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“The program has a unique educational mission and public profile with the intent of promoting and celebrating the latest, most cutting-edge international design to a national and international audience,” Mr. Narkiewicz-Laine continues.

The awarded projects for 2008 and other selected works will form an exhibition, “New American Architecture” to open at SESV Santa Verdiana (piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti 27) in Florence, Italy in November, 2008. The exhibition and awards presentation is organized by the Municipality of Florence and the Faculty of Architecture in Florence. After, the exhibition travels to The European Centre’s new Contemporary Art + Architecture Centre in Athens.

In 2009, the exhibition will start a national tour in the United States.

The 2009 deadline for submissions for “The American Architecture Awards” is FEBRUARY 1, 2009. Get more information on this competition here. ” Bustler
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Popularity: 52% [?]

from Re:Vision

“Do you have what it takes to make a difference? Are you willing and able to rebuild a sustainable foundation for the future? It’s time for a change in the way we see things, in the way we do things. It’s time for what we build to reflect who we are and what we’re made of. It’s time to Re:Construct the ideas and realities of sustainable building.

We’re looking for your inventive ways to create new types of structures and techniques- or renovate old ones. From planning codes to toilets, dry wall to moveable walls we want your help in re-imagining the building industry.

Change the parts of construction and you’ll reinvent the act of construction itself. You are what you build. Re:Construct is your chance to reinvent yourself.”

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Consider:
- Sustainable building materials are the foundation of a sustainable city block.
- Re:constructing the construction process itself.
- Systems need to work together wherever possible.
- How can we change and improve the current processes and technologies?
- Construction needs to be multipurpose, efficient, livable, non-toxic, non-destructive, affordable, adaptable, and logical.
- Consider a Zero-Net Energy Built Environment.
- Think about dashboard technologies, biodegradable or 100% recyclable products, modular construction, green roofs, localized heat and power generation, LEED requirements and limitations, zero-waste, gray water and water capture, non-construction re-construction, day lighting, air quality, climate change requirements, solar, and cradle to cradle design.
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Just register and submit your entry with us by September 15th
Visit www.urbanrevision.com for complete rules, details and prizes.
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Popularity: 9% [?]

from Re:Vision

“Do you have what it takes to make a difference? Are you willing and able to rebuild a sustainable foundation for the future? It’s time for a change in the way we see things, in the way we do things. It’s time for what we build to reflect who we are and what we’re made of. It’s time to Re:Construct the ideas and realities of sustainable building.

We’re looking for your inventive ways to create new types of structures and techniques- or renovate old ones. From planning codes to toilets, dry wall to moveable walls we want your help in re-imagining the building industry.

Change the parts of construction and you’ll reinvent the act of construction itself. You are what you build. Re:Construct is your chance to reinvent yourself.”

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Consider:
- Sustainable building materials are the foundation of a sustainable city block.
- Re:constructing the construction process itself.
- Systems need to work together wherever possible.
- How can we change and improve the current processes and technologies?
- Construction needs to be multipurpose, efficient, livable, non-toxic, non-destructive, affordable, adaptable, and logical.
- Consider a Zero-Net Energy Built Environment.
- Think about dashboard technologies, biodegradable or 100% recyclable products, modular construction, green roofs, localized heat and power generation, LEED requirements and limitations, zero-waste, gray water and water capture, non-construction re-construction, day lighting, air quality, climate change requirements, solar, and cradle to cradle design.
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Just register and submit your entry with us by September 15th
Visit www.urbanrevision.com for complete rules, details and prizes.
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Popularity: 9% [?]

from Bustler

” The Royal Institute of British Architects is delighted to announce that a shortlist of seven designs for the River Douglas Crossing near Preston in Lancashire has been chosen by an expert judging panel. The international design competition attracted an outstanding response, with 110 designs received worldwide. Entries were received from architects in Hong Kong, Japan, USA, Australia and Malaysia as well as the UK and Europe.
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The seven shortlisted practices are:

• Amin Taha Architects, London
• Guy Nordenson & Associates, USA
• JDA with Arup, London
• Nick Hancock Design Studio, London
• NPS North West Ltd, Cumbria
• Ramboll Whitbybird with Priestman Goode, London
• t-hoch-n Architektur, Austria

Competitors were set the challenge of designing a suitable cycle and bridleway crossing of the River Douglas at Hesketh Bank with Becconsall. A new crossing of the River Douglas will improve access within the proposed Regional Park allowing more visitors to enjoy the area. It is anticipated that the crossing will function not only as an access route but also as a flagship attraction within the Regional Park. The bridge will also provide a safe off-road sustainable travel and leisure route for use by local residents, schoolchildren and cyclists commuting between Southport and Preston.

The seven designs are preliminary concepts at this stage and will be modified and developed over the coming weeks ahead of a public consultation in September.

The shortlisted teams will meet with the judging panel in October to discuss their concepts further.”
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Popularity: 7% [?]

from Bustler

” The Royal Institute of British Architects is delighted to announce that a shortlist of seven designs for the River Douglas Crossing near Preston in Lancashire has been chosen by an expert judging panel. The international design competition attracted an outstanding response, with 110 designs received worldwide. Entries were received from architects in Hong Kong, Japan, USA, Australia and Malaysia as well as the UK and Europe.
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The seven shortlisted practices are:

• Amin Taha Architects, London
• Guy Nordenson & Associates, USA
• JDA with Arup, London
• Nick Hancock Design Studio, London
• NPS North West Ltd, Cumbria
• Ramboll Whitbybird with Priestman Goode, London
• t-hoch-n Architektur, Austria

Competitors were set the challenge of designing a suitable cycle and bridleway crossing of the River Douglas at Hesketh Bank with Becconsall. A new crossing of the River Douglas will improve access within the proposed Regional Park allowing more visitors to enjoy the area. It is anticipated that the crossing will function not only as an access route but also as a flagship attraction within the Regional Park. The bridge will also provide a safe off-road sustainable travel and leisure route for use by local residents, schoolchildren and cyclists commuting between Southport and Preston.

The seven designs are preliminary concepts at this stage and will be modified and developed over the coming weeks ahead of a public consultation in September.

The shortlisted teams will meet with the judging panel in October to discuss their concepts further.”
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Popularity: 7% [?]

from Bustler

The sprawling Beijing Olympic Village won its own gold medal today for going green.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson presented Chinese officials with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold award during a short ceremony, saying the 160-acre Olympic Village could serve as a future prototype for energy efficiency and environmentally friendly design.

“China’s leaders know the development of green buildings is a critical need and the Olympic Village can serve as a model for this development,” Paulson said.

The award, based on standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council, is an international benchmark for high performance in “green” design and construction. The village’s 42 six- and nine-story residential high-rises, which house more than 16,000 Olympic athletes, are 50 percent more energy efficient than most buildings in Beijing, using solar panels for energy and recycling wastewater for heating and cooling.

“With this award, the Olympic Village is being recognized for its contributions to making this year’s Olympics the greenest ever,” said Paulson.

Model of the Olympic Village (Image: United Nations Environment Programme)
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Though much attention has focused on the country’s efforts to curb its air pollution, China’s huge push to achieve its goal of a “Green Olympics” has also meant a major investment in other environmental efforts, including the construction of “green” Olympic venues.

Many of the 31 athletic arenas, including the iconic National Stadium and the Water Cube, were built to incorporate environmentally friendly design.

“On day one, we were given instructions in terms of implementing a green agenda,” said Michael Kwok, the Olympic project director for the British-based design and engineering firm Arup, which has been involved in building some of Beijing’s signature new architecture.

Entrance gate to the Olympic Village which will host 16,000 athletes and officials during the games (Photo: LA Times)
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“There was a general objective that this was the ‘Green Olympics’ so we had to consider energy conservation and water recycling. But in terms of details, it was up to designers to come up with solutions,” Kwok said.

At the Water Cube, where Olympic swimming events are held, builders used material similar to plastic wrap to create 4,000 translucent bubbles as the outer shell, allowing sunlight to filter in. The “skin” lets the building use natural lighting, while a rainwater capture system on the roof saves water for irrigation and landscape purposes, said Kwok.

“The Water Cube is very much a green building because of the way the building’s features work. It had inherent advantages of saving energy and also retaining and recycling rainwater,” he said.

Solar panels in the 91,000-seat stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest, generate enough energy to power the huge underground parking lot. The arena’s open design, with its intricate external latticework, allows for natural ventilation instead of having a heating and cooling system, while the rainwater collection system uses 108 water tanks, said Kwok.

Typical accomodation in the village (Photo: LA Times)
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“China is going through a ‘green’ push and there’s a lot of buildings that have these elements - water recycling, maximizing natural light, etc. Its all moving in that direction,” Kwok said.

The Olympic Village, the largest non-competition venue at the Games, includes the showcase “near-zero energy” welcome center, which generates nearly as much energy as it consumes using a combination of solar cells and geothermal heat pumps. The village’s developers, the Guo Ao Development Co., received technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Though several individual buildings in Beijing have gotten the LEED award, the Olympic Village is the first residential neighborhood to merit one. The developers plan to convert the development into luxury apartments in early 2009. The cachet and amenities of the Olympic residences have proven very popular with the public - 80 percent have already been sold.

China’s motivations for looking at sustainable design and development go far beyond the Olympics, Kwok said.

“They know that the high rate of urbanization is going on in China so there is an urgent need to find a solution where they can sustain growth but at the same time, not create so much problems in terms of energy and pollution that they are facing,” he said.” Bustler
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Popularity: 5% [?]

from Bustler

The sprawling Beijing Olympic Village won its own gold medal today for going green.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson presented Chinese officials with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold award during a short ceremony, saying the 160-acre Olympic Village could serve as a future prototype for energy efficiency and environmentally friendly design.

“China’s leaders know the development of green buildings is a critical need and the Olympic Village can serve as a model for this development,” Paulson said.

The award, based on standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council, is an international benchmark for high performance in “green” design and construction. The village’s 42 six- and nine-story residential high-rises, which house more than 16,000 Olympic athletes, are 50 percent more energy efficient than most buildings in Beijing, using solar panels for energy and recycling wastewater for heating and cooling.

“With this award, the Olympic Village is being recognized for its contributions to making this year’s Olympics the greenest ever,” said Paulson.

Model of the Olympic Village (Image: United Nations Environment Programme)
—————————————————————————————-

Though much attention has focused on the country’s efforts to curb its air pollution, China’s huge push to achieve its goal of a “Green Olympics” has also meant a major investment in other environmental efforts, including the construction of “green” Olympic venues.

Many of the 31 athletic arenas, including the iconic National Stadium and the Water Cube, were built to incorporate environmentally friendly design.

“On day one, we were given instructions in terms of implementing a green agenda,” said Michael Kwok, the Olympic project director for the British-based design and engineering firm Arup, which has been involved in building some of Beijing’s signature new architecture.

Entrance gate to the Olympic Village which will host 16,000 athletes and officials during the games (Photo: LA Times)
—————————————————————————————-

“There was a general objective that this was the ‘Green Olympics’ so we had to consider energy conservation and water recycling. But in terms of details, it was up to designers to come up with solutions,” Kwok said.

At the Water Cube, where Olympic swimming events are held, builders used material similar to plastic wrap to create 4,000 translucent bubbles as the outer shell, allowing sunlight to filter in. The “skin” lets the building use natural lighting, while a rainwater capture system on the roof saves water for irrigation and landscape purposes, said Kwok.

“The Water Cube is very much a green building because of the way the building’s features work. It had inherent advantages of saving energy and also retaining and recycling rainwater,” he said.

Solar panels in the 91,000-seat stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest, generate enough energy to power the huge underground parking lot. The arena’s open design, with its intricate external latticework, allows for natural ventilation instead of having a heating and cooling system, while the rainwater collection system uses 108 water tanks, said Kwok.

Typical accomodation in the village (Photo: LA Times)
—————————————————————————————-

“China is going through a ‘green’ push and there’s a lot of buildings that have these elements - water recycling, maximizing natural light, etc. Its all moving in that direction,” Kwok said.

The Olympic Village, the largest non-competition venue at the Games, includes the showcase “near-zero energy” welcome center, which generates nearly as much energy as it consumes using a combination of solar cells and geothermal heat pumps. The village’s developers, the Guo Ao Development Co., received technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Though several individual buildings in Beijing have gotten the LEED award, the Olympic Village is the first residential neighborhood to merit one. The developers plan to convert the development into luxury apartments in early 2009. The cachet and amenities of the Olympic residences have proven very popular with the public - 80 percent have already been sold.

China’s motivations for looking at sustainable design and development go far beyond the Olympics, Kwok said.

“They know that the high rate of urbanization is going on in China so there is an urgent need to find a solution where they can sustain growth but at the same time, not create so much problems in terms of energy and pollution that they are facing,” he said.” Bustler
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Popularity: 5% [?]

from Bustler

“On November 13th the prize-giving ceremony will take place in Mendrisio, to award the CHF 100,000 offered by the BSI Architectural Foundation, with the support of the Federal Office for Culture in Bern and the Accademia di architettura in Mendrisio.

On 17 September 2008, the winner of the first “BSI Swiss Architectural Award” will be announced by the architect Mario Botta, Chairman of the award’s Jury. The award – promoted by the BSI Architectural Foundation, with the support of the Federal Office for Culture in Bern and the Accademia di architettura of the Università della Svizzera Italiana in Mendrisio – is given to architects aged under 50, of any nationality, “that contributed, thanks to their work, to contemporary architectural culture showing a particular sensitivity towards environmental balance”.
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3LHD (Zagreb, Croatia): 123 Tower Proposal, Zagreb
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Thirty candidates from 15 countries are in the running for this first edition of the award. They were selected by an international committee of advisors made up of internationally respected architects and architecture critics. The Jury for the prize comprises Mario Botta, the Chairman, architects Emilio Ambasz (New York) and Valentin Bearth (Chur), who is also the Director of the Accademia di architettura in Mendrisio, as well as Zhi Wenjun (Shanghai) and Davide Croff, a former President of the Venice Biennale.

Adjaye Associates (London, UK): Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver
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“For BSI Bank, investing in culture has always meant helping to raise awareness of the importance of science and the arts in our daily lives and for the sustainable development of society”, commented Alfredo Gysi, Chairman of the Executive Board of BSI AG and Member of the BSI Architectural Foundation. “Thanks to the merger of Banca del Gottardo into BSI, our commitment has now extended to architecture with the awarding of this prize. The award is the culmination of two years of work by the Architectural Foundation, which was set up by Banca del Gottardo and which now forms a valuable part of the heritage of the whole BSI Group”.

the NEXTenterprise (Vienna, Austria): Lakeside Bath, Caldaro - Kaltern
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Mario Botta added: “This award represents an opportunity to recognise and raise the international profile of architects who can make an outstanding contribution to contemporary architectural culture. It is also a good occasion to reflect critically on ideas that favour first an ethical and then an aesthetic approach. The names selected can be considered as some of the most important architects working internationally today. Their sensitivity and professional commitment in their countries of origin highlight their diverse hopes (both fanciful and realistic), in contrast to the contradictions and confusion that are rife today in the debates within the field”.

Antonio Jimenez Torrecillas (Granada, Spain): Dal Bat Showroom, Granada
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This is the first edition of the competition, which will be held every two years. The prize fund is CHF 100,000. The award is attributed to an architect aged under 50, of any nationality, who has produced at least three major works that meet the aims of the competition.

The candidates are selected by a team of international advisors, each one of whom can nominate up to three entrants who meet the criteria and objectives of the award. The members of the team of advisors are: Laurent Beaudouin, Nancy, Gonçalo Byrne, Lisbon, Alberto Campo Baeza, Madrid, Massimo Carmassi, Florence, Roberto Collovà, Palermo, Kenneth Frampton, New York, Dan S. Hanganu, Montreal, Yung Ho Chang, Beijing, Kengo Kuma, Tokyo, Paulo Mendes da Rocha, São Paolo, Boris Podrecca, Vienna, Anant Raje, Ahmedabad and Bruno Reichlin, Paris and Mendrisio.

Shuhei Endo (Osaka, Japan): Rooftecture S, Kobe
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The candidates for this year’s award are:

3LHD (Saša Begović, Marko Dabrović, Tanja Grozdanić, Silvije Novak), Zagreb (Croatia), Adjaye Associates, London (UK), Jesus Aparicio, Madrid (Spain), Solano Benitez, Asuncion (Paraguay), Gion A. Caminada, Vrin (Switzerland), Alfonso Cendron, Venice (Italy), Dominique Coulon, Strasbourg (France), Richard Francis-Jones, Sydney (Australia), the NEXTenterprise (Ernst J. Fuchs, Marie-Therese Harnoncourt), Vienna (Austria), Sean Godsell, Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Thomas Heatherwick, London (UK), Rick Joy, Tucson (USA), Alberto Kalach, Mexico City (Mexico), Francisco Mangado, Pamplona (Spain), Mansilla & Tuñon, Madrid (Spain), Francisco and Manuel Aires Mateus, Lisbon (Portugal), Rahul Mehrotra, Mumbai (India), Quintus Miller and Paola Maranta, Basel (Switzerland), Marco Navarra – Studio Nowa, Caltagirone (Italy), OFFICE dA (Nader Tehrani, Monica Ponce de Leon), Boston (USA), Valerio Olgiati, Chur (Switzerland), Promontorio Architectos (João Perloiro, João Luis Ferreira, Paulo Perloiro, Paulo Martins Barata, Pedro Appleton, Adrian Beloso-Baker), Lisbon (Portugal), Saša Randić, Idis Turato, Rijeka (Croatia), Joao Alvaro Rocha, Maia (Portugal), Enric Ruiz Geli (Cloud 9), Barcelona (Spain), S-M.A.O. (Juan Carlos Sancho, Sol Madridejos), Madrid (Spain), Beniamino Servino, Caserta (Italy), Shuhei Endo, Osaka (Japan), Antonio Jimenez Torrecillas, Granada (Spain) and Wang Shu, Hangzhou (China).

OFFICE dA (Boston, USA): Helios House, Los Angeles
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The winner will be announced on Wednesday 17 September 2008, at a press conference to be held in the Spazio inBSI at the BSI headquarters in Via Magatti 2, Lugano, Switzerland.
The prize-giving ceremony will take place on Thursday 13 November 2008 at the Accademia di architettura in Mendrisio, Switzerland. At the same time, the works submitted by the candidates will go on display in the gallery of the Accademia, and a catalogue of the exhibition will be published in both Italian and English.

About BSI Architectural Foundation

The BSI Architectural Foundation promotes knowledge, training and research in the field of architecture. It presents a biennal architectural award (BSI Swiss Architectural Award) and sponsors activities and projects as part of that event, including exhibitions, publications and presentations. The BSI Architectural Foundation is one of the BSI AG Foundations.

João Álvaro Rocha (Maia, Portugal): Tourism Office, Ponte de Lima
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Gallery of the Accademia di architettura in Mendrisio, Switzerland
Dates: 14 November 2008 - January 2009
Opening times: Tuesday-Sunday 1pm-6pm. Closed Monday. Admission free
Catalogue: In Italian and English, on sale to the public
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Popularity: 9% [?]

Registration deadline: September 30th, 2008

“”A design competition which focuses on three specific areas of the city of Roanoke, VA and challenges design professionals and students to create new environments that will transform the current urban landscape. Applicants will explore the city’s potential by creating unique urban and architectural designs that enhance the best qualities of Roanoke and create positive impact on three specific areas of the city: the Roanoke City Market, The Crossing, and Reserve Avenue/Roanoke River. Each is located along the city’s main thoroughfare, Jefferson Street. Through public/private partnerships, redevelopment efforts are currently underway in this area known as The Jefferson Street Corridor.

Drawing upon the skills and resources of designers and visionaries nationwide, we seek big plans to inspire the community and stimulate dialogue about the future growth and development of the city. Roanoke Urban Effect challenges applicants to look beyond the traditional urban planning and architectural model to present innovative and inspired ideas that create a vision for a more vibrant and sustainable urban environment.”

Contact: Joesephine Villacreces

540-857-3298

questions@roanokeurbaneffect.org

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About Roanoke

The City of Roanoke is nestled in a picturesque valley surrounded by the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. First inhabited by Native Americans, the region was a fertile hunting ground with an abundant supply of game drawn to the area by the natural salt licks occurring along the valley’s floor. These natural salt deposits gave the region its first name, Big Lick. Due to its favorable geographical location and with passable gaps in the four cardinal directions, colonials and pioneers began to settle the area. With the emergence of coal mining in West Virginia, the area developed from a small farming village into the railroad hub for the Norfolk & Western Railway. In 1882, the railroad developers, seeking a more dignified appellation for the growing town, changed the name from Big Lick to Roanoke. As the influence of rail travel increased and lines were built and expanded the town grew rapidly. Within two years the population grew from 600 to 5,000 inhabitants. In eagerness to expand the railroad lines, tracks were laid along the path of least resistance. For Roanoke this meant filling and covering the salt licks, the largest of which was filled with rock and became the city’s Main Street, now known as Jefferson Street.

old Roanoke Mills [from flickr]
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Jefferson Street runs on a North/South axis crossing the rail lines at Norfolk Avenue on the south side of downtown. The rail yards and machine shops are located along the north side of the tracks and to the east of downtown. The Hotel Roanoke and the former Norfolk & Western passenger station, now the O. Winston Link Museum, are both located to the east of Jefferson Street on the north side of the tracks. The urban core of the city extends southward from the tracks along Jefferson Street. Market Street, home to the vibrant local farmer’s market as well as retailers and restaurants, parallels Jefferson Street to the west and terminates at Elmwod Park. Jefferson Street continues through the city, past the new Carilion Medical complex and proposed Riverside Center, ending in the neighborhood of South Roanoke.

The Jefferson Street Corridor has been chosen as the focus area for this competition due to its unique influence in Roanoke’s history, on its urban core, and its potential too affect the city’s future.

downtown Roanoke, VA from Mill Mountain [from Flickr]
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Design Goals

* Improve the quality of life in the city of Roanoke by creating a more vibrant and sustainable urban environment.
* Present innovative and inspired ideas to the community, providing them a vision of how well-designed public spaces can improve the city and its quality of life.
* Encourage young talent in the area to become involved in the future growth and development of the city.
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Design Options:

Option 1 - Buildings
Present a design solution that proposes a building development plan for one of the competition focus areas. Proposals should address building function, scale, massing, interrelationship with other buildings and open spaces, and conceptual theme.

Option 2 - Urban Design
Propose an urban design solution that connects all three focus areas along the Jefferson Street Corridor. Proposals should address street scape, vehicular and pedestrian circulation, public art, street furnishings and other methods of enhancing linkage of the three focus areas.

Option 3 - Urban Planning
Propose a land use policy or scheme that creates a pattern of development along the Jefferson Street Corridor that creates synergy and connectivity between the Market area and Riverside.

In all options, entrants are encouraged to incorporate the ideals of sustainability and pedestrian movement while addressing the issues and constraints unique to each focus area.

Proposed Focus Areas
Three focus areas have been chosen for this competition. All are located along the Jefferson Street Corridor. The Jefferson Street Corridor lies along a north/south axis and is anchored by the railroad tracks and Rail Walk fountain to the north and the Carilion/Roanoke Memorial Hospital to the south. These three sites have also been identified by the City of Roanoke as preferred sites for proposed redevelopment.

Some properties on these focus areas are susceptible to flooding during periods of heavy or extended rainfall, specially focus areas #2 & #3. Any proposed solution for these areas should take into account that much of the area is within the 100 year floodplain

* Early Registration - August 18th - 31st, 2008
* Registration - September 1st - 30th, 2008
* Q & A - August 25th – September 5th, 2008
* All Q & A will be addressed by this date - September 12th, 2008
* Site Visits - September 2008 (Day TBD)
* Site Visits - October 2008 (Day TBD)
* All competition entries must be received by 5:00PM EST to be eligible for judging - October 31st, 2008
* Competition Judging - November 13th, 14th and 15th, 2008
* Awards Announcement and Final Awards Event - November 15th, 2008
* Exhibition - November 16th, 2008 – December 7th, 2008

Jury Panel: To be announced
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Check All the details of  ROANOKE URBAN EFFECT 2008 DESIGN COMPETITION on:
http://www.roanokeurbaneffect.org
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