Switzerland, We Have A Problem - Call for Ideas

Earlier this year, our sister site Archinect brought you the Michael Jackson Memorial Competition (previously on Bustler).

Now the focus is towards current events and the strange intersection of religious rights, freedom of expression, and architecture following this political decision: on Sunday, November 29th, 2009, the citizens of Switzerland overwhelmingly passed a referendum banning the construction of new minarets in their country. With this move, the ban will be added to the Swiss Federal Constitution – a new and dubious level of status for an architectural element to reach.

The Archinect-initiated competition ‘Switzerland, We Have A Problem’ is an open call for ideas to help Switzerland navigate its recent difficulties with minarets. The contest calls designers to envision a deployable minaret that can attain full presence, visible from a distance, during each of the five daily calls to prayer.

Entries must be added to the Switzerland, We Have A Problem group pool on Flickr, deadline is December 18.

All competition details here.