World Architects Accept Living Steel Challenge

World Architects Accept Living Steel Challenge

Brussels, Belgium, 1 Feb 2007 - Living Steel's 2nd International Architecture Competition for Sustainable Housing, launched on World Architecture Day, has generated tremendous interest among the world's leading architects. With over 1,100 entrants from 88 countries submitting Expressions of Interest, these architects have embraced Living Steel’s challenge to provide designs for responsible and innovative housing demonstrations in Brazil, China and the United Kingdom. The competitions first phase, the Call for Expressions of Interest, closed on 19 January 2007.

The Competition Shortlist Committee, a 12-member team including architects from the demonstration countries, met in London last week and prepared a shortlist of 18 entries. The entries were short listed based on criteria that included creativity and innovation, evidence of built designs, sustainability, suitability for the relevant climate/market, and suitability of building type. Also considered was the willingness to work with local partners and developers in the respective countries and evidence of steel construction experience. The Competition Shortlist Committee adopted a two-stage approach to produce first and extended shortlists. These entries were then further deliberated to produce a final short list of six firms, plus four alternates for each of the three demonstration locations.

Scott Chubbs, Programme Director, Living Steel said, “We are very happy that architects around the world believe that steel is the material for the future. The 18 short-listed entries, six for each location, have inspiring and unique architectural perspectives. Besides demonstrating design excellence, each shows a strong implementation capability and a promising strategy that impressed and excited the Living Steel committee.”

Beginning in February 2007, the short-listed firms will be invited to submit their detailed designs based on the Competition Brief to be provided by Living Steel. The competition jury will meet in São Paulo, Brazil where the short-list designs will be evaluated. One winner for each location will be announced at a formal event around September 2007. The internationally acclaimed jury, approved by the International Union of Architects (UIA), includes Glenn Murcutt, Charles Correa, James Berry, Andrew Ogorzalek, Cui Kai, Roberto Loeb and Jaime Lerner with Nicholas de Monchaux serving as an alternate juror.

With a total prize fund of €300,000, the competition is one of the largest architectural design initiatives in the world. The winning submission for each location will receive a €50,000 prize and a contract to complete their designs for construction of a demonstration building in the target location. The remaining 15 short -listed finalists will each receive a €10,000 honorarium.

The 1st International Competition of Sustainable Housing, launched in 2005, invited architects to design sustainable environment-friendly housing in Kolkata, India, and Warsaw, Poland. The winning architect for Kolkata, India, Piercy Conner Architects and Designers (United Kingdom), and for Warsaw, Poland, architenbureau cepezed (Netherlands), were chosen from the 259 Expressions of Interest received from architects in 38 countries.

Further competition details, news on demonstration buildings as construction commences, as well as case studies and other information on steel building practices is available at livingsteel.org.

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