Competition Name: Prison Puzzle
Link: http://www.combocompetitions.
Registration: 2016-02-05
Submission: 2016-02-07
BRIEF
The goal of Prison Puzzle is to design a medium-security prison complex with a capacity of 500 inmates, located in the desert of Arizona, United States.
The concept should address recidivism and how it can be reduced, at the same time considering the different interests and requirements found in inmates, victims as well as society as a whole. Designs are to include elemental components such as cells, exercise yards and visiting rooms – a full list is provided in the competition package.
Participants are also encouraged to explore how architecture can help in shaping environments that influence behaviors.
TWIST
While all proposals are to include a basic prison layout, it is left to the discretion of each participant to decide what to focus on – it can be either on a macro scale or a micro scale, tangible or intangible.
For example, an overall approach that considers the relationship between all prison components, or emphasizing a specific element like cell layouts, or the introduction of a brand new prison part. Or a proposal that focuses on the design and materiality of the building(s), using architecture as a way of strengthening the concept. In short, anything that improves the prison.
SITE
The Prison Puzzle site is located in Arizona, United States – a state where the number of inmates per resident is far above the US average.
Over recent years, changes in laws and policies have played a part in the reduction of incarcerated people in some states, like New York and California. Elsewhere, the numbers have been growing almost uninterruptedly for decades. Persistently high numbers of inmates and a limited notion of change make Arizona an ideal location for a progressive prison.
The site is a large area of land along US Route 160, located in the desert near the Utah border in northern Arizona. Further information is provided in the competition package.
FEES
Entrance fees are as follows:
Early registration (October 30th – November22nd): £45 per team
Standard registration (November 23rd 2015 – January 17th 2016): £55 per team
Late registration (January 18th – February 5th): £65 per team
PRIZES
1st prize: £2,000 (two thousand British pounds)
2nd prize: £1,000 (one thousand British pounds)
3rd prize: £500 (five hundred British pounds)
The jury will also recognize a number of honorable mentions.
In addition to the cash prizes, the winners will receive a personal page within the www.combocompetitions.com domain, showing their proposal along with the jury’s motivation.
A selection of the winning proposals will be published on various websites and blogs and/or their printed counterpart. Previous publications include, among others: Bustler, ArchDaily, Wettbewerbe Aktuell and FastCo Design.
Visit www.combocompetitions.com to find out more and download the full brief.
