INTERNATIONAL STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITON 2004 CYCLE
Background:
The competition is sponsored by the International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC) in cooperation with the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements and United Nations Aging Unit, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Toyo University and other partners. The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture endorses the competition. The competition was first established in 1995 and winning entries have been exhibited at the United Nations in New York and elsewhere.
The Competition invites architecture students around the world to apply their creative talents toward developing solutions, which integrate older persons seamlessly into the fabric of the community and include them in all social, cultural, and productive activities. This competition was founded by the late architectural historian Dr. Albert Bush Brown in 1995; it is typically held in conjunction with a concurrent of international conference held at the United Nations in New York dealing with “Caring Communities for the 21st Century: Imagining the Possible”.
The number of older persons, who are living in cities, towns, suburbs, and rural areas around the world, is increasing. Each month another 1.2 million people turn 60 worldwide. Between 2000 and 2050 people aged 60 or more will more than double, from 10% to 22% per cent. By the year 2030 the number of people over 60 will reach 1.4 billion. In some developed countries by the year 2050 the number of older persons will out number children (1-14) by 2:1. These dramatic demographic shifts pose serious design and planning challenges. Most communities are not prepared for a rapidly ageing population. Therefore, it is useful for this competition to offer ideas, novel approaches and innovative concepts which could inform the global search for solutions. The goal is to find many ways of accommodating and integrating older people as full and productive members of their respective communities.
As an NGO (non-governmental organization) associated with the United Nations, ICCC promotes cross-sectoral approaches to questions of ageing, encourages interchanges between young and old, and fosters connections between business, academe, government, NGO’s and community organizations. The competitions, conferences and publications sponsored by ICCC are all vehicles for raising awareness, for publicizing innovative projects and for stimulating new thinking about ways to meet the emerging needs an aging population.
Eligibility:
Both undergraduate and graduate students of architecture are eligible to submit projects. All submissions must clearly identify whether the submission is as an individual or as a group. All entries must be prepared by bona fide students currently enrolled in an academic program in architecture or in a related field.
Entry forms are due by October 15, 2004 at the International Council for Caring Communities. Design submissions must be received by December 31, 2004; the judging of entries will take place early January 2005. Winning entries will be announced during the Commission for Social Development, in February 2005, at United Nations Headquarters, New York.
Prizes:
Because the competition is open to individuals as well as groups of students there will be two First place awards of $10,000, two second place winners of $5,000 and two third place winners at $2, 5000 each. At least three more projects in each category will receive honorable mentions. All other completed submissions will be recognized with a certificate of acknowledging a student’s participation.
Program:
While some of the needs of older persons are universal, most take vastly different forms based on such differences as culture, political system, social structure, geographic region and demographic context. The instructor and or students may adapt the competition guidelines to reflect the situation in their specific region.
The design competition program and the respective submission requirements are different depending on whether the entry is an individual or group submission. Individual entries will address the design of a building or building complex, whereas group entries will design a whole neighborhood or community.
In either case the submissions must address a number of key concerns. They include the following issues critical to the success of societal integration of older people:
Symbiosis: Matching of the talents and interests of older people and the needs of
society.
Dignity: Uphold and preserve personal rights and personal realms regardless
of any reduction in faculties.
Access: Availability of essential services such as healthcare, food, educational
facilities, recreational areas, social services and transportation.
Location: Strategic placement of facilities for older people within walking
distance of where older persons can contribute and be
engaged.
Security: Provide a sense of safety in physical and psychological terms.
For individual entries, the project should consist of a building or complex which addresses the key issues and illustrates innovative approaches to the integration of older people in society. Of particular importance are ideas that make use of the experience, talents and interests of older people in the service of society. The solutions should address how the productive engagement of older persons can enrich communities and improve the quality of life for all.
For group entries the design solutions should conjure up a neighborhood or community which incorporates older persons as essential components of the social fabric. Different age groups should be imaginatively intertwined. Opportunities should be sought to link various age groups in mutually beneficial arrangements. The design should assume a community in which approximately 20% are older persons (over 60). The design also should incorporate the necessary infrastructure to enrich the life of old and young alike. The design of the communities or neighborhoods should engage the issue of ageing place rather than moving to ghettos for old people.
Analysis:
In either case, whether individual or group project, a local context needs to be provided. The local context can either be rural, suburban or urban. Based on an analysis of a real situation the context should provide a clear framework for the design concept and its aesthetic interpretation. Students are encouraged to collect and portray information on current neighborhood conditions and the specific needs of the elderly documentation should include land uses, vehicular and pedestrian circulation, housing stock, cultural conditions, educational opportunities, places of worship, civic institutions, commercial establishments, retail locations, social services, health facilities, public spaces and other uses of note to older persons. The analysis and its succinct documentation will allow the jury to understand the conditions to which the design solutions are responding.
Presentation:
Projects must be presented on no more than four 24” x 34” or A1 boards. Horizontal organization of boards is mandated. Unmounted entries may not be accepted. Each entry must be accompanied by either a C.D. with digital copies of each board and salient details or at least 6 but no more than 10 slides (35mm) illustrating the same information. Also provide a one-page statement in English, summarizing intent, concept, solution and key programmatic and architectural features. All notations on boards must be in English to facilitate understanding by the jury.
Board One should present the analysis of the existing neighborhood. Suggested scale 1”-40’ or 1:500).
Board Two and Three should describe the design solution with relevant plans, sections, elevations, suggested scale (1/8” = 1’ or 1:100) and three-dimensional images of the project. Images may include perspectives, sketches or photographs of three-dimensional models and renderings.
Board Four should be used to further illustrate the design concept in vignettes, sketches, perspectives or detailed photographs of models. The purpose of this board is to convey the ideas to lay audiences; it should make the ideas come alive and make them imageable.
The Jury:
An international jury will consist of the following: distinguished academics, architects, gerontologists, urban planners and U.N. representatives.
Following the jury deliberations, winners will be notified by e-mail and surface mail. An acknowledgement will also be sent to their respective Institutions. Other competition entrants will be notified of the results of the competition and are encouraged to attend the U.N. Conference and Exhibition at United Nations Headquarters, February 2005 (date to be announced) free of charge.
All entries become the property of the International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC). ICCC reserves the right to publish or use in any way, any or all entries with appropriate acknowledgment of the author or authors.
Unfortunately, ICCC is unable to mail the boards back to the entrant. Entrants are encouraged to make record of their entry prior to submission.
Identification of Entries:
For identification, all four boards must have a sealed envelope affixed to the back. Each envelope must contain the student’s name or names, home telephone number, e-mail address and student identification number of each participant, as well as the name, faculty advisor, full address, e-mail, or fax number of institution. For group entries each student participant must submit a separate sheet with relevant information. In addition affixed to the back of board also provide a signed copy of the Affidavit or Originality, as well as digital information on a CD or 35mm slides. Do not put your name or any other identification anywhere on the front of your boards and do not use your name anywhere in your project. Any breach of anonymity will result in disqualification.
Shipping Requirements:
Entries may be delivered in person or may be sent by mail or carrier to the International Council for Caring Communities, 24 Central Park South, N.Y. 10019, USA. Ship by mail, in sturdy wrapping. All entries must be postmarked on or before December 31, 2004.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION 2004 CYCLE
ENTRY FORM
INDIVIDUAL ENTRY______ GROUP ENTRY______
Name of Student: __________________ Anticipated Degree: _________________________
Graduate _____ or Undergraduate______ Name of Institution: _________________________
Home Address: ____________________ Address: _________________________________
____________________ ________________________________
Country: ___________________ Country: _________________________________
Telephone No.: ___________________ Telephone No.: ____________________________
Fax Number: ___________________ Fax Number: ______________________________
Email Address: ____________________ Email Address: ____________________________
Faculty Advisor:___________________________
Please send by December 31, 2004 to the International Council for Caring Communities,
24 Central Park South, N.Y. 10019, USA. Fax: 212-759-5893 or register electronically
www.international-iccc.org.
Affidavit of Originality
The undersigned Entrant swears that his/her(s) entry, submitted to ICCC competition was designed and drawn solely by the named entrant or entrants. The competitor(s) also understands that if it is determined that he/she or they did not design and draw the entry without aid (except the advice of faculty members), the prize award shall be revoked and the entrant may be subject to further legal action.
ENTRANT: _________________________________________
INSTITUTION: ______________________________________
DATE: ______________________________________________