Living Steel Winners

Living Steel takes pleasure in announcing the winners of the 2nd International Architecture Competition for Sustainable Housing, which challenged entrants to design efficient and innovative housing solutions using steel construction to meet the demands of a burgeoning global shortage. The Competition required entrants to submit housing designs for one of three locations: Brazil, China and the United Kingdom. Winners are as follows:

Brazil - Andrade Morettin Arquitetos Associados Ltda, Brazil

China - Knafo Klimor, Architects And Town Planners, Israel

UK - Cartwright Pickard Architects, UK

The three winning firms will be awarded a prize of €50,000 and a contract to develop their designs for construction of a demonstration building in the specified locations. The remaining fifteen short-listed firms will be awarded a prize of €10,000 each.

According to the UN2nd Competition, the planet’s population will grow to the level of around eight billion people over the next 25 years. It is estimated that by 2030, there will be a need for 40% more housing and basic infrastructure services than existed in 2005. To meet this need, more than four thousand housing units will need to be constructed every hour, for the next 25 years.

“This Competition sets forth a specific proposition that we wanted architects to think about,” said Anand Sen, Living Steel Steering Group Chair. “How will we address this tremendous need for new housing with steel solutions that respond to the unique cultural and social requirements of a given location? Each short-listed firm provided their most creative work, addressing issues like energy conservation, rain water capture, and efficiencies in heating and cooling. Steel is the right material for meeting this housing shortage, particularly in that it facilitates speed of construction and design flexibility to provide durable and comfortable living spaces.”

The winners were selected by an independent jury chaired by renowned architect Andrew Ogorzalek and approved by the International Union of Architects (UIA). Jury members included Glenn Murcutt, James Berry, Andrew Ogorzalek, Cui Kai, Jaime Lerner (UIA), Roberto Loeb, and alternate Nicholas de Monchaux (UIA), who filled Charles Correa’s position since he was unable to attend.

Living Steel members and staff have been working in local demonstration teams to secure land for the construction, as well as establish relationships with real estate developers. In Brazil, the winning design will be part of a development located in the city of Recife. China’s winning design will be constructed in a development located in Han Yang, Wuhan and the United Kingdom construction will take place in the Thames Gateway area. The winning designs will be celebrated at local events in each city in September and October 2007 (View Calendar) Groundbreaking and construction is planned for 2008.

“We are delighted to see steel construction become part of the local and cultural fabric that makes up these key building locations,” said Sen. “And we are very enthused by the jury selections. These designs truly demonstrate innovative steel solutions that capture the spirit of this Competition.”

The Call for Expressions of Interest for the 2nd International Architecture Competition generated tremendous interest among the world’s leading architects. Over 1100 entrants from 88 countries entered the competition launched last October on World Architecture Day.

From these, 18 firms (six per country location) were selected for the short-list to submit detailed designs. 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. These firms were charged with the development of innovative approaches to sustainable building design that use steel solutions to address the economic, environmental and social aspirations of a growing world population. The implementation of best practices and innovation in design and construction with steel were sought to demonstrate the value steel offers in meeting society’s housing needs.

View 2nd Competition Press Kit