Design Competition for Innovative ideas & sustainability architecture: El Pantà de Sau – A Beacon for Cultural Heritage
**DESCRIPTION**
**El Pantà de Sau** is one of the most prominent features of its kind across the whole of Spain and home to the oldest underwater church in the world.
The valley in which it lies was home to the small village of Sant Romà de Sau which is now submerged beneath the reservoir, apart from **the Church steeple, which is still visible when the water level is low**. The reservoir is one of many that provides water for Catalonia’s Capital city, Barcelona and is therefore of huge importance to the area.
The reservoir sits within **Les Guilleries national park**, a protected area spread across 8,300 hectares of the pre-Pyrenees within central Catalonia. Its mountainous landscape is made up of tree topped undulating mountains and dramatic sheer cliff edges. Steeped in nature, activities and rich history, the area has become a haven for the people of Catalonia and visitors to the region.
Considering the current environmental crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic that we are experiencing globally, it is important that we use our expertise as designers to create considerate and thoughtful sustainable architecture that feeds and nourishes both the earth and us as people. With this in mind, we are asking for applicants to design a piece of vernacular architecture that will be environmentally conscious with a minimal carbon footprint. It should set an example for how architecture can work with the surrounding landscape and benefit areas such as this protected natural park.
The idea is to provide **an architectural beacon** for the area that will attract short stay visitors and act as a **gathering point**. The building should also provide a **space for meditation and reflection** for visitors and the local community to come and step out of their everyday troubles, with a **close connection to the surrounding nature and scenery**.
Short Description
Explore your creativity and challenge your design skills with our International Design Competition for innovative ideas and sustainability focused architecture.
Organizer
Larsen Liverpool
Link to Competition
Link to Registration form
Prizes
1. WINNING TEAM:
A cash prize of £500 will be awarded to the winning team.
Photos and information about the winners will be published on our website.
Winners will be offered the opportunity to act as jurors for one of our next competitions.
Free entry into one of our next competitions (winners cannot participate and act as a juror in the same competition).
2. The top 5 runners up will have their competition entries displayed on our website and social media platforms and an open vote will select one of these five entries to be first runner up and therefore, the Public Favourite.
The first runner up will also receive a 50% discount off the entry fee for one of our next competitions.
The remaining four entries will receive honourable mentions and have their entries published on our website.
3. A further five honourable mentions will be awarded and published on our website with details about the designers.
Winners are selected at the Jurors’ discretion.
4. All entries will be showcased on our website within a virtual gallery!
Type of Competition
Open to the public/Minimum requirements (Open to anyone that complies with the requirements), Single stage (Winners selected immediately)
Who can Participate
Open to all architects, designers and creatives worldwide from all backgrounds. Students and professionals are welcome. Individuals and groups (up to 3 people) are welcome.
Dates and Time Frame
Registration Closes December 20, 2021
Deadline to Submit Project December 20, 2021
Winners announcement Date January 15, 2022
Languages
English, Spanish, Other
Location of Competition
Pantà de Sau, Barcelona, Spain
Additional Information
Banner, Poster, Brochure or Triptic of Competition
