urban sos - transformations brief

8/8/2019 Urban SOS - Transformations Brief

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Competition brief


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ContentsWhy p2What p3Who p4Where p5When p13How p14Competition Terms p16

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Why

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Urban SOS is AECOMs annualstudent competition. It wascreated to engage students inthe fields of urban planning anddesign, architecture, landscapearchitecture and engineering with

the issues confronting moderncities and to allow them to proposesolutions that will be seen byestablished professionals in theirfield.

With more than half of the worldliving in cities, the way in whichwe address urban challenges willdetermine much about our future

as a planet. As a global design andengineering consultancy, AECOMrecognizes that cities requirebroad-based, interdisciplinarythinking and, if properly managed,can become machines forenvironmental and social progress.This is why we are pioneering ourGlobal Cities Institute in addition toUrban SOS.

The program culminates each yearat the World Architecture Festivalin Barcelona. Transformations isthe driving theme of the Festivaland of this years Urban SOS. ForAECOM, this partnership is pivotalto growing our global architecturepractice, in which we seek toreinvent the role of the architectas part of an integrated team

who makes connections betweenland and buildings, ecology andeconomy, physical design and socialreality.

Cash prize that will be awarded to thewinning team(s):

US$20,000City where semi-finalists will receive acomplimentary trip to present before theWorld Architecture Festival:

Barcelona


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What

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AECOM is seeking submissions forour second Urban SOS competition.The theme of this yearscompetition is Transformations.We are seeking integrated designand planning responses in fivespecific cities worldwide, which are

currently undergoing an elementaltransformation. In each city, aspecific event or set of conditionsoffers both opportunities andchallenges to improving the qualityand tenor of built environments,the effectiveness of infrastructureand the responsible stewardship ofecological interactions.

City-specific briefs are outlinedin the Where section. Entrantsmust select one city and offer acompetition entry that respondsdirectly to the question posed in it.

As the cities are transformingthemselves, Entrants mustarticulate and propose a designand/or planning initiative orresponse that will help the city topositively address transformation.Responses can range from astrategic framework to a surgicalmicro-response. Entrants shoulddemonstrate a holistic approach toexpressing these transformations.Designs should show a connectivelanguage that can embrace many orall aspects of the site. They shouldexpress a language of built form

that ties together land, community,buildings, ecology, infrastructure,economic and social activity tostrategically transform your site.

We are asking for professionalresponses to challenging questions.Judges will value creativity andinnovation, but your response mustbe fundamentally deliverable.

Responses will be judged based on

these criteria: Response directly answers

stated question for chosen city Clear strategy for how proposal

will affect larger citystransformative state

Clear sense of how proposeddesign will affect transformationof site

Holistic approach to design that

fully embraces site Appreciation for interdisciplinarythinking beyond traditionalpractice

Creativity and innovation Feasibility and viability Ability to communicate ideas

in a clear, interesting andcompelling manner

The most successful responseswill be those that are well-presented, combining the pointsof view of more than one discipline architecture, landscapearchitecture, engineering,economics, planning, ecologicalscience, etc and are realisticallyable to be implemented given pre-existing, city-specific antecedents,conditions, socio-economic and

politico-cultural realities.


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Who

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The competition is open toundergraduate and graduatestudents at all levels of highereducation in all countries of theworld. Entrants must be enrolledin a certified degree programmeduring the Autumn 2010 term.

Levels: Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D.students.

Fields of Study: Architecture,Urban and Regional Planning,Urban Design, LandscapeArchitecture, Economics,Environmental Science,Engineering, and related

disciplines.

Submissions may be fromindividuals or teams of up to 4members. Teams will benefitfrom having members of multipledisciplines.


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Where

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Entrants should submit a responseto one of the seven city-specificquestions articulated in thefollowing pages. Each team mayonly submit a response to one.


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Considered a story of urbansprawl, this desert city isnow attempting to reviveits urban core, having livedbeyond its limits. Its modelof low density, high volume ofresource depletion and harshclimatic conditions has been

replicated in various formsacross the United Statesand now in the developingworld, from the Middle Eastto China. It is a model thatcan no longer continue, forreasons both ecological andincreasingly economical. Nowthat the housing bubble hasburst and the climate crisisis in full swing, what is asprawling desert megapolitanlike Phoenix to do?

Find a site (building, openspace, neighborhood)in Phoenix whereredevelopment of existingtypologies or fragmentscould result in a low- or no-carbon outcome, which could

be widely implementableto similar sites in the SunCorridor region (GreaterPhoenix-Tucson) and contextselsewhere in the world thatare facing the same issues.

guiar

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desrmonico

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deserto


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The glittering skylines ofMiddle East boom cities are a

clich in todays internationalpopular culture. Jeddah,long the gateway of SaudiArabia to the world givenits proximity to the holysites at Mecca and Medina,is on the cusp of a newwave of land development.Recent liberalization in itsdevelopment regulations will

open unplanned settlementsto more investment frompublic and private interests.Now that Jeddah has decidedto make the leap into thestratosphere of real estate,how can it create model newland developments that areboth ecologically responsibleand culturally sustainable?

Propose a private land-development project amixed-use scheme, a retailprecinct, a residentialdevelopment on anactual site in Jeddah thatis responsible; that is, it issensitive to site and climaticconditions, reflects theunique Arab culture of its

surroundings, and minimizesits carbon footprint.

# # ponto de encontro

entre duas curvas

# # salto


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Following the SummerOlympics, the crowdshave left Beijing and theinfrastructure built forthem remains. The Chinesecapital now finds itself

equipped with majorsporting facilities, new raillines, new roads, countlessnew office buildings and

apartment blocks all of itbuilt in the last few yearsat an astonishing scale andrapidity, all in the nameof the 2008 Games. Today,though, many of these places

stand empty, under-usedand under-utilized. Now,nearly two years on, howcan Beijing capitalize on the

infrastructure investment

it has already made topropel itself into long-termimprovement?

Find a recently built place(s)or piece of city in Beijingsuch as a new neighborhood,building, park, piece ofinfrastructure. Plot a coursefor it. How can it be used,

and useful, in a way thatwill enhance quality of lifefirst-and-foremost for localresidents?


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The capital of Haiti, Port auPrince, has recently endured oneof the most cataclysmic eventsin recent memory: a massiveearthquake that left this poor,underdeveloped city devastated,killing an estimated 200,000people. The herculean task of

remaking the city is exacerbatedby conditions of low-gradeinfrastructure, a nearly non-existent civil society, andextreme poverty. Now that thedust has settled from a massivenatural disaster, what model isout there for Port au Prince torebuild?

Propose a redevelopment toa site (building, open space,neighborhood) in Port au Princethat has been damaged by theearthquake. Your responsemust be conscious of greatdisadvantages facing Haitiand must be implementable inlight of its societal conditions:namely, a weak state and

marginal resources.


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Istanbul is this years European Capitalof Culture, an opportunity that puts itin an international spotlight where itcan showcase its cultural identity anddevelopment. As a result, with investmentat the municipal, national and Europeanlevels, Istanbul is in the midst of arenaissance that is bringing increasedtourism volume to a newfound relevancein contemporary art. Istanbul straddles(literally) two worlds West and East,Europe and the Middle East, developedand developing, ancient and modern and it is the major city in a society withdeep aspirations to join the EuropeanUnion. Now that Istanbul has arrivedon the European scene, how can the city

use its Capital of Culture distinction

and its ancient heritage to bolster itsinternational profile as a forward-thinkinghub for contemporary creative industries?

Find a site (building, open space,neighborhood) in Istanbul whereredevelopment could help to enhance thecitys competitive edge in the Europeanand global context as a generator forideas and trends, and a magnet for jobsand investment. Redevelopment shouldbe organic; that is, it finds its roots inthe citys existing cultural and physicaltopography. It should also be socially andeconomically responsive to the needs ofmultiple members of the community.


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One of the worlds largest cities, So Paulo sits within a widermegapolitan context that includes Rio de Janeiro (another oneof the worlds largest cities), and million-plus cities Campinasand Guarulhos. As Brazil emerges onto the world stage as animportant player, its cities and So Paulo in particular willplay an increasingly important role in the global economicnetwork. The result is a steady increase in overall visitorarrivals. Despite a growing tourism trajectory, Brazil stilllags behind in much of the infrastructure that underpins a

successful visitor offer. Now that So Paolo is expected to seea steady increase in outside visitors, how can the city offerthe world-class facilities and systems needed to supportthis?

Find a site (building, open space, neighborhood) in So Paulowhere responsible redevelopment will help bolster tourismand make the visitor experience a beneficial one. Take intoconsideration the anticipated arrivals for the 2014 World Cupand 2016 Olympic Games in nearby Rio, as well as businesstravelers and general tourists alike. Design a destination a

place that will add to So Paulos luster, while still rooted inits vernacular qualities and will benefit local inhabitants.


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2010 is the year of South Africa. This year marks thetwentieth anniversary of Nelson Mandelas releasefrom prison and the country is the host to thisyears World Cup, the worlds most watched athletictournament. Despite all this, South Africas largestcity still faces big challenges: how to integratea well-presented city center with large informalsettlements that surround the city, grapple withincreasing public safety concerns, and provide

economic opportunities for a population thatcontinues to have deep socio-economic divisions.Twenty years on from the beginning of the end ofpolitical inequality, Johannesburg faces a newchallenge: how to make the city socio-economicallyrelevant to all communities.

Find a site (building, open space,neighborhood) in Johannesburg thatcan benefit from a design intervention

that will help support a local industry,or bridge the economic gap betweenhaves and have-nots. This interventionshould leverage existing skills foundwithin a segment of Johannesburgsdiverse communities.


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When

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1 May 2010Call for submissions opens

31 July 2010Submission Deadline

15 September 2010

Announcement of 5 Semi-Finalists

3-5 November 2010Presentation + Critique of Semi-FinalistsSubmissions at the World Architecture Festival inBarcelona, Spain

5 November 2010Announcement of Winner(s)


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How

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Submission Requirements

Each entry will have two components:

1) A project statement

A 500-word description of the site and responseto the question. This statement must clearlyindicate the name of the city. It must also includecoordinates (via Google Earth) of the site, ora search-able address on Google Earth. Thisstatement must include only words/numbers,must be in 12pt font, and must be submitted as aPDF.

2) Presentation

Submit a PDF presentation of up to 10 slides.These must include images and/or text. There is noword limit but font size must be legible (minimum12pt). All responses must be in English, with anymeasurements provided in metric.

Each page of the PDF must be LandscapeOrientation, 25.4cm x 19.05cm. PDF files mustbe 10 pages maximum. Any submitted files thatinclude more than 10 pages will be disqualified.

Entrants are encouraged to focus theirsubmissions on clear, concise communicationemphasizing main ideas, key points, andvisible design solutions. Students may includephotographs, diagrams, drawings, renders,collages or other visualizations to express theirsolution. Entrants are encouraged to ensure thatthe narrative for their submission is clear andexplicit.


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How

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Submission Format

Submissions must be in Adobe Acrobat PDFformat. Each file must be no larger than 5MB.

Submissions must be uploaded using thesubmission link on this website by 12pm GMT on31 July 2010. Entrants will receive a confirmationthat the files have been uploaded and willreceive a confirmation number. (Please retainconfirmation for reference.)

Failure to comply with any of these submissionrequirements will result in immediatedisqualification.

Semi-finalists SubmissionRequirements

Four or five semi-finalist teams will be selectedto develop their proposals further and invited topresent their submissions to the final judgingpanel at the 2010 World Architecture Festival inBarcelona. The semi-finalists will be announcedon or before 15 September 2010.

Each of these teams will be provided with anhonorarium to contribute to travel costs (amountvaries depending on location of team). At theWorld Architecture Festival, the semi-finalistswill be invited to present their submissions in anappropriate format (presentation, video, displayboards, model) to the judging panel. Furtherdetails on submission requirements will beprovided to the semi-finalists.


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Competition terms

SubmissionCompetition submission requires completion of an online form, which includes identificationof team members, site selection, and submission of two PDF documents: the project statementand presentation. Full details can be found in the How section of this brief.

Entry feeThere is no entry fee for entering the AECOM Student Competition.

Schedule + deadlines1 May 2010: Call for submissions opens31 July 2010: Submission Deadline15 September 2010: Announcement of the Semi-finalists3-5 November 2010 : Presentation and critique of Semi-finalists submissions at the World

Architecture Festival5 November 2010: Announcement of the Winner

EligibilityThe competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students at all levels of highereducation in all countries of the world. At the time of submission (31 July 2010) and at theWorld Architecture Festival (3-5 November 2010), entrants must be able to demonstrate thatall team members are enrolled in a certified degree programme during the Autumn 2010 term.No exceptions will be made to this requirement.

Team compositionIndividuals may participate on only one team. Each team is permitted to enter only onesubmission. All team members must be able to demonstrate compliance with the eligibilitycriteria set out above.

No changes are permitted to team members following entry submission, and no substitutionscan be made to team members at any stage in the competition. Withdrawal of any teammembers must be confirmed in writing by all team members, and any team members thatwithdraw will not be eligible for the travel honoraria or prize money.

Publication restrictionsEntrants may not refer to projects that have already been implemented or which have beendesigned on the basis of any agreement entered into by the Entrant or Entrants with a public,public/private or fully private body with the intention of actual development of the project inquestion. Similarly, entries may not refer to of projects published before the last day of thedeliberations of the judging panel.

Infringement of copyright + other intellectual propertyAll work submitted for the competition must be the Entrants original work. It is the Entrantssole responsibility to ensure that the work submitted does not infringe upon the intellectualproperty rights of any third party, including, but not limited to copyright, trademark and design

right. AECOM shall not be responsible for Entrants infringement of any third party intellectualproperty rights, regardless of whether said infringement was known or should have beenknown by Entrant.


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JudgingThe semi-finalists will be selected by a judging panel comprising representatives from AECOMand the Architecture Review.

The top 10 Entrants will receive special mention on the competition website. Five semi-

finalists will be invited to present their work to the final judging panel at the World ArchitectureFestival.

The winning team will be determined by the final judging panel at the World ArchitectureFestival, comprising AECOM leaders and industry experts.

NotificationAll Entrants will be notified by email on 1 September 2010 when the semi-finalists areannounced. The winning team will be announced at the World Architecture Festival on 5November 2010.

Winner + prizesEach of the four/five semi-finalist teams will receive an honorarium to contribute to travelexpenses related to attending the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona to present theteams submission. The semi-finalist honoraria are to contribute to expenses related toattendance and presentation at the World Architecture Festival only and cannot be exchangedor substituted for other prizes. In addition, each team will receive US$500 to contribute toadditional costs. No other costs or fees will be covered by AECOM or the sponsors.

The winning team (or teams) will receive a cash prize. The total prize money is valued at

US$20,000, which may be divided amongst one or more winning teams. In 2009, the winningteam received US$15,000, while the two runner-up teams received US$2,500 each as prizemoney.

Decisions made by the judging panel shall be final.

Use of submitted worksEntrant agrees that AECOM and competition sponsors are granted the non-exclusivereproduction rights to all entries for AECOMs advertising, promotion, exhibition, printpublication and internet purposes directly relating to the competition.

AECOM shall have no responsibility for any unauthorised use of the Entrants works by anythird party, including but not limited to the sponsors.

Public announcement + exhibitionAll competition submissions, the winning proposals and all other submitted proposals, will beexhibited online. The exhibition will continue through the spring of 2011.

Further information + questionsAll information required can be found on this website. If you have questions that cannot beanswered online, please contact AECOM at [email protected]. Questions that relate

to information set out in the Competition Terms will not receive a response.


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urban sos - transformations brief

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