NEXT BIG ONE: An International Open Ideas Competition

The objective of this competition is to propose an innovative design solution that can mitigate natural disasters while simultaneously providing community permanence; rather than a disaster response or recovery plan.

Category Idea Competition / Open to Students
Type International, Idea, Open, Single-Stage, Anonymous
Genre Architecture, Community, Landscape, Urban
Country Vancouver, Canada
RegDeadline 31 August 2014 7 September 2014 GoogleCal iCal
30 September 2014 (via Online) GoogleCal
Eligibility All

Description
The objective of this single-stage open-ideas competition is to propose an innovative design solution that can mitigate natural disasters while simultaneously providing community permanence; rather than a disaster response or recovery plan.
1) INNOVATION FOR THE CITY
Proposals should create innovative solutions to resolve the conflicting requirements in the design of the multi-hazard risk combination of earthquakes and tsunamis. For example, an elevated floor to accommodate flooding may become a “soft storey,” detrimental in an earthquake. How can a community remain “resilient” by either returning to its original or near-original state, or maintaining its performance after a disaster? The design can be any component of a city comprising a community aspect, and also exemplifies innovative disaster preparedness.
The following are questions to prompt brainstorming and should not limit your ideas:
• How can buildings, infrastructure, and landscapes dissipate seismic movement or wave action?
• How might energy be harnessed from natural disasters?
• How can food production be sustained by adapting to urban surroundings?
• How can the economy be maintained to ensure livelihoods before and after a disaster?
2) COMMUNITY RESILIENCY
Proposals must promote social interaction and cohesion before and after disasters. Community engagement cultivates a sense of belonging among individuals and to their surroudings. Disasters do not only physically destroy homes; more importantly, they also uproot the memories of places people call home.
3) MULTI-HAZARD PARAMETERS
Participants must choose multi-hazard risk locations susceptible to both earthquakes and tsunamis, and design for the following worst-case scenario derived from previous earthquake and tsunami events as well as predictions of the “Next Big One": an earthquake of magnitude 9.0 and a tsunami with a velocity of 700 km/h from the epicentre and maximum wave height of 30.0 m.

Jury
STEPHEN CASSELL, PRINCIPAL, ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH OFFICE
STEPHANIE FORSYTHE & TODD MACALLEN, LEAD DESIGNERS & FOUNDERS, MOLO
EILEEN KEENAN, RESEARCHER AND SUSTAINABLE DESIGN ADVISOR, BING THOM ARCHITECTS
SUSAN GUSHE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, PRINCIPAL, PERKINS+WILL
DOUG SMITH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, CITY OF VANCOUVER – SUSTAINABILITY GROUP

Prize
DESIGN PROFESSIONALS AWARD: CAD $3,000
THE BING THOM EMERGING DESIGNERS AWARD: CAD $1,500

Entry Fee
Design Professional Team Fee: CAD$60
Emerging Designer (Student) Team Fee: CAD$30

Entries
- 2 Digital Images (24” (h) by 36” (w) (2300 px by 3450 px)) or
- 1 Digital Image (24” (h) by 36” (w) (2300 px by 3450 px)) & 1 Video Clip (30 seconds maximum)

Timetable
Winners Announced: OCTOBER 31, 2014

Organizer
Architecture for Humanity Vancouver

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