Wildlife Pavilions Architecture Competition
BRIEF
Located in the North of Italy between the provinces of Brescia and Bergamo, Lake Iseo – also known as “Sebino” – is the seventh lake by extension in the country and the fourth in Lombardy region. With its stunning landscape, particularly rich in naturalistic and historical heritage, this territory represents one of the most beautiful areas in Italy, as well as one of the most popular among visitors and tourists.
Towards the southern edge of the lake, it is situated the famous wine region known as “Franciacorta”: a precious land characterised by a hilly topography sprinkled with small villages and covered by wonderful vineyards, where the presence of man perfectly blends with nature.
Today, numerous footprints left by the retreat of the ancient glacier responsible for the formation of this special environment are still clearly visible. One of the most significant, located on the southern coast, is where the sediments left after its melting rise to shape a morainic amphitheatre. The encounter between this area and the lake’s shore gives life to an extraordinary ecosystem of unique environmental value: the “Torbiere del Sebino” Nature Reserve.
GUIDELINES
Wildlife Pavilions proposes a paradigm shift: an architecture conceived to coexist in harmony with the landscape, mainly thought for nature itself instead of for human beings.
The goal of the competition is to think out of the box and to imagine inhabited structures designed for flora and fauna: micro-architectures where man meets wildlife just as a passing guest, as a respectful visitor or simply as an observer.
With the aim of challenging anthropocentric architecture and with the idea of experimenting a new creative process focused on nature, the contest requires the design of three small-scale pavilions immersed in the breath-taking landscape of the “Torbiere del Sebino” Nature Reserve.
Today, the only few structures present in the whole complex are just being used for bird watching, whereas the new devices will have to complement the existing ones with an additional feature: providing shelter to nature itself.
The intention is to go beyond the mere act of designing an observation cabin. In fact, it means much more than that: Wildlife Pavilions is about providing supports for bird nesting, new shelters to reptiles, containers to help the proliferation of autochthonous plants, insects hotels, sunbathing platforms and many more. The key lies in being able to conceive a design proposal centred on nature, which, as a secondary function, allows visitors to observe wildlife in total respect of the ecosystem.
REQUESTED MATERIAL
Competitors have to submit two A1 panels (59,4 x 84,1 cm) landscape oriented + a brief text describing the proposal (up to 250 words). Panels must contain all the necessary graphic information to explain the project in the best way possible (title, diagrams, sketches, 3D visualizations, plans and sections, collages, model photos, etc.). All kinds of graphic representations will be accepted.
JURY
• Zhang Ke | ZAO/standardarchitecture (Beijing, China)
• Nicola Russi | Laboratorio Permanente (Milan, Italy)
• Giulia Pozzi | Fabulism (Berlin, Germany)
• Jan van Dijk | Van Dijk Architects (Dundalk, Ireland)
• Alessandro Bonizzoni | Fosbury Architecture (Milan, Italy)
• Ana Babaya| Pesa Arquitectura (Rosario, Argentina)
• Samuel Gonçalves | Summary (Porto, Portugal)
• Stefania Capelli| Torbiere del Sebino (Brescia, I)
SCHEDULE
• Competition Opening on November 28th
• 69 € “Early” Registration from November 28th to January 20th
• 89 € “Standard” Registration from January 20th to February 24th
• 119 € “Late” Registration from February 24th to March 17th
• Submission Deadline on March 17th
• Results Announcement on March 17th
Short Description
TerraViva Competitions launches WILDLIFE PAVILIONS, a new architecture contest that aims to explore the potentialities of “Torbiere del Sebino” Reserve (Iseo, Italy) in order to come up with creative design proposals focused on nature. Prizes up to 7.000 € will be awarded to the winners selected by an international jury panel composed by, among others, Zhang Ke (ZAO/standardarchitecture), Alessandro Bonizzoni (Fosbury Architecture), Jan van Dijk (Van Dijk Architects), Nicola Russi (Laboratorio Permanente);
Organizer
TerraViva Competitions
Link to Competition
Link to Registration form
Prizes
• 1st Prize: 3.000€
• 2nd Prize: 2.000€
• 3rd Prize: 1.000€
• 4 Golden Mentions: 250€ each
• 10 Honourable Mentions
• 30 Finalists
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
The competition is open to students, architects, designers, urbanists, engineers, artists, makers, activists and anyone interested in the fields of architecture and landscape design. Participants can join the competition either individually or with a team.
Dates and Time Frame
Registration Closes March 17, 2023
Deadline to Submit Project March 17, 2023
Winners announcement Date April 17, 2023
Languages
English
Location of Competition
Torbiere del Sebino, Italy
Location of Project (if developed)
Iseo, Italy
Additional Information
Banner, Poster, Brochure or Triptic of Competition