Horton Plaza v3.0: Open Ideas Urban re-Design Competition 2011

This is an open ideas design competition created to encourage critical design approaches and public debate around a vitally important urban space in the heart of Downtown San Diego.

Description
Horton Plaza is one landmark that is not short on history. Dating back to c.1870, the plaza has been home to diverse and changing landscapes including today’s heavily developed urban environment. The plaza has undergone design after design after design; even landscape architect Lawrence Halprin tried to lend his creative hand in designing the plaza for the City of San Diego. But alas, the plaza today seems to be little more than another typical block that pedestrians have to cross to get to their destination. The plaza is now being occupied by a vacant building, vagrants, and a fenced off fountain, while its historic landmarks are all but forgotten. This terminal condition of the plaza will not last much longer. Horton Plaza is currently undergoing a major re-design effort by the City of San Diego. This change will be no small task. Horton Plaza will expand to more than double its current size with the demolition of the nearby Robinsons-May building. This re-design has the chance to change the historic plaza forever. Within the context of this urban environment Horton Plaza has the possibility to become home to some of San Diego’s greatest urban spaces. This open ideas design competition gives designers the freedom to create pedestrian and market spaces, re-envisioned water features, planting designs, special events staging grounds or anything that their creativity can envision. Ultimately, the goal of this competition is to encourage critical design approaches and public debate around a vitally important urban space in the heart of Downtown San Diego during a pivotal time in its history.

Jury
Glen Schmidt, Founder and president of Schmidt Design Group, Inc.
Leslie Ryan, Department Chair of Landscape Architecture, New School of Architecture and Design (NSAD)
Stephen Kelly, Senior Editor, Landscape Online
Katherine Rudnyk, Monrovia Growers

Prize
First Prize: $1,200 Award announcement
Honorable mentions: Web Portfolio Posting, Exhibition Display

Entry Fee
$50.00 : on or before July 15,th, 2011
$75.00 : on or before July 16th - August 15th, 2011

Entries
One 32”x40” board, a supporting text of 300 words or less

Timetable
Exhibition: Beginning October 30, 2011 thru November 3rd, 2011

Organizer
ENV FORMS

Official Website
http://www.envforms.com/