Le carré bleu

[i]Feuille internationale d’architecture[/i] Le Carrè Bleu - feuille internationale d’architecture – announces the 2007/08 edition of the yearly competition to select urban, landscape and architectural design proposals in real situations, focussed on built and “un-built” spaces, on urban integration, on the relations between space and multiethnic societies. The 2007/08 edition - under the aegis of UNESCO and in cooperation with INARCH – emphasizes in particular environment and sustainability themes in their different facets and in their different opportunities (energy saving, use of renewable energy sources, water). The competition is open to students (at least in the fourth University year) and to young graduates (after 1/01/2007) of the Faculties of Architecture of the European Continent and Mediterranean Countries. Each group (consisting of not more than 3 competitors) will have to appoint a person responsible for the relations with the CB. The proposals will have to concern small and medium-sized towns, not exceeding 200,000 inhabitants, or even a new suburban neighbourhood, which can be singled out as a unit related to an already existing larger town. The competition calls for ideas and projects on the themes of shaping an urban square - a reference, meeting, socialization lace - from a space which is not a square, but has the potential to become a square. The area will be chosen by each competitor, who will propose a re-design able to trigger a transformation process. The area to be re-designed has to set a relation with the city centre. The area must be chosen in a European region or in one of the Mediterranean Countries. The proposal has to include a scheme of urban design compliant with the local townplanning regulations and feasible in economic and management terms. The project must consist of the design of the square and its connections with the surrounding urban area, the definition of its dimensions, the physical and immaterial connections, taking into account that the square is the place of identification: - of the city, of society, of people; or of their meaningful parts - of the project sustainability The space has to be characterized by the presence of water, either already existing (river, lake, sea…) or designed (fountain, jeux d’eau…); in the second case, water must flow from sources different from the urban aqueduct (rain, aquifer, river, canal, etc…). The official languages for the whole competition procedure will be French, English and Italian. [b]Before February the 2nd, 2008[/b], applicants will have to send a formal application to enter for the competition to “Le Carré Bleu”, filling in the electronic form (Expression of Interest Application) available on the CB web site. [b]SUBMISSION[/b] - 3 A2 vertical sheets, including texts, drawings or photos etc. One of the sheets must include the description of the present conditions of the site and its surroundings, with drawings, photos and/or images , the design programme and a synthesis of the concept description of max 1,000 characters ; - An explicative report, A4 format, of not more than 9,000 Arial Narrow 11 characters, including: a. existing conditions and pinpointing of contexts b. theoretical assumptions and project philosophy c. relation between the project and contexts (physical, social, economic, etc.); logics of sustainability d. description of the project - CV of the author or of the individual members of the group, max one A4 sheet - Duly filled in forms from the web site Each sheet must include, on its top, a 2X42 cm. high band to be found on the CB web site, to be completed. [b]E-MAILING OF PROJECTS [/b] Projects can only be e-mailed. The e-mail delivery will have to consist of a single document (format Adobe PDF – max 10 MB- definition 300 dpi), with 3 sheets to be printed in format A2, Report and enclosed sheet to be printed in format A4. The procedure for transmission of competition documents will be operating on the CB web site [b]from 24.06.2008 to 30.06.2008[/b]. THE JURY AND SELECTION CRITERIA The members of the Jury – formed by 3 representatives of the hosting firms and supported by the INARCH Secretariat – will judge according to the following criteria: - formal and functional qualities; - innovative aspects, suggestions aimed to sustainable development; - sociological and economic feasibility; considering in particular: 1. the idea underlying the project concept (reference principles and consistency with contexts) 2. intervention methods and instruments to implement it, with particular reference to: a. the ways in which a space-square can be used and interpreted by users b. the sustainability features of the project 3. the project’s ability and simplicity to communicate, (the projects will initially be read on monitor; after the first selection, the most interesting ones will be printed in A2). PRIZES at least three prizes will be awarded by the Jury The selected groups will receive a free subscription to “Le Carré Bleu” and “L’Arca” for one year. European architects’ firms will make at least 3 paid stages available to the selected groups (each of 6 months/ 6,000.00 Euros). Stages will begin in October 2008. The remuneration of the stages in some countries will be lower in compliance with local legislation. The stages will be organized out of the region where competitors usually live. QUESTIONS Questions about procedures and contents may be sent to the Competition Secretariat in writing or by email not later than 29. 02. 2008. Not later than 15.03.2008 the answers to the questions will be available to all competitors on the CB web site. [b]TIMETABLE[/b] - November-December 2007 competition announcement (reviews, web sites, Institutes of Culture, Faculties of Architecture, etc.) - 29.02.2008 deadline for applications and questions - 30.06.2008 delivery of projects - 7.07.2008 technical checking of the competitors’ formal compliance with the competition requirements - 31.07.2008 end of the Jury’s work, and announcement of the results Visit the officiali site: http://www.lecarrebleu.eu/