Entries open for architectural competition

The congress will be held at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) from 3-7 August 2014.

Warwick is a dynamic trade and transport hub in the heart of Durban's inner city; it is a nucleus of activity and movement for hundreds of thousands of people every day. In addition, the competition outcomes will be shared with the Warwick community as part of the legacy of the congress.

Three aspects to project

The project brief has three aspects to it, ranging in scale and needing a range of technical/spatial skills, as well as good understanding of the socio-cultural and political dynamics of the context. These include the development of a long-term/large scale vision for Warwick Junction; the development of a medium term/medium scale intervention on one edge of the Brook Street Cemetery; and a short term/immediate small scale intervention as an urban catalyst in Warwick Junction.

Emphasis will be placed on seeking solutions within other unexpected places, local knowledge, habits, traditions, movement networks, evolving habits and highly specific perspectives; and how these directly impact architectural materialisation in terms of concept, orientation, tectonics and embedded or external technologies.

The focus of the competition will fall on other ways of critiquing, arguing and interacting with the problem beyond the confines of the architectural studio or office, beyond the confines of architectural literature, and beyond the conventional parameters of architectural professional practice.

Sustainable development

"The event will not only provide an opportunity for professionals and industry leaders from around the world to discuss some of the most critical questions around sustainable city development, but also foster a long-term relationship between the profession, government and communities, in order to position the profession and young professionals as stable and relevant partners in development," says competition convener of the UIA2014 organisation committee, Amira Osman.

"The work of shortlisted student teams will be exhibited and the competition winners announced at the UIA 2014 Durban Congress in August 2014," adds Osman. "Outside of the cash value of the prizes, the prestige of winning this competition, which forms part of the UIA 2014 World Congress on Architecture, cannot be overstated."

The competition registration closes on 31 October 2013, adjudication starts on 7 April 2014 and shortlisted teams will be announced in May 2014.