RIBA Competition: Masai Mara Conservation Centre

This centre will provide visitors with interactive and exciting experiences while promoting sustainable tourism practices. The facility will include parking, essential amenities, an engaging exhibition space, interactive learning zones, a gift shop, and environmentally conscious design features.

Description
The Masai Mara Conservation Centre at Oloololo Gate of the Masai Mara National Reserve is envisioned as an innovative and engaging facility that aims to educate, inspire, and create awareness about conservation and the unique ecosystem of the Masai Mara.
This centre will provide visitors with interactive and exciting experiences while promoting sustainable tourism practices. The facility will include parking, essential amenities, an engaging exhibition space, interactive learning zones, a gift shop, and environmentally conscious design features.
The competition is open internationally to registered architects. Collaboration is encouraged between individuals and organisations of different size, expertise and experience.
The competition will follow the open design competition format and will be organised in the following phases:
Phase 1: Submission of concept designs assessed anonymously.
Phase 2: A shortlist of up to five designs will be selected and teams will be invited to develop their ideas and present them to the evaluation panel.
The budget for the build should have an upper limit of USD 750,000 which includes the cost of all amenities such as sewage systems, electricity connection, interactive exhibitions etc. and all fees, site visits, etc for the winning architect and contractor.

Jury
Florence Nyole: President, Architectural Association of Kenya
Brian Heath: Managing Director - Mara Triangle
Fernando Delgado: Chief Product Officer - A&K Travel Group
Murray Hardman: Architect Adviser - Luxury Frontiers
Keith Sproule: Executive Director - Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy
Ina-Mari Ferreira Robbertse: Regional Operations Director - Sanctuary Retreats/A&K
Paul Bauer: Regional Managing Director, East & Southern Africa, Morocco & Europe - A&K
Sebastian Notarmarco Pope: Regional Philanthropy Lead - AKP (observer only)

Prize
It is intended that five teams will be selected to proceed to the second phase. Each shortlisted team who submits a compliant phase 2 entry will each receive an honorarium of £4,000 +VAT.

Entry Fee
£50+VAT

Timetable
Deadline for Phase 1 Designs: Tuesday 18 June 2024 @ 12 midday BST
Notify shortlist and unsuccessful entrants: w/c 22 July 2024
Phase 2 Design Period: August-September
Final Interviews/Presentations: TBC End September 2024
Notification and result announced: October 2024

Organizer
RIBA Competitions

Official Website