fbpx
We rely on advertising revenue to support the creative content on our site. Please consider whitelisting our site in your settings, or pausing your adblocker while stopping by.

Get the Magazine

Please note that this has expired and is for reference only. See our active listings for more competitions.

Premise

Forces of nature constitute the basis for spiritual beliefs for many communities. Even though spiritual definitions vary drastically between one community to another, nature was always somehow a common link between these mythological stories.

Now, most parts of the world are facing the dire consequences of global warming and climate change. And so, there are a many communities that are trying to reinstate years of spoliation through their faith. The churches of Ethiopia’s Orthodox Tewahedo, the dominant religious group in the country with nearly 50 million members were almost always nestled in patches of dense forest.

Challenge

The Ethiopians are “reforesting” their lands around churches and active conservationists and priests of the “Forest Churches” have seen a significant change in the immediate vicinity of the environment around these chapels. The quality of water improved, tree seedlings survived and pollinators are benefitting the nearby agricultural lands as well. The forests provide a kind of covering for the churches and there is a remarkable difference in the temperature of enclosed forest spaces.

The “Forest Churches” are igniting a ray of hope in preserving and expanding the remaining flora and fauna. Can these “Eco-Chapels” be augmented into something that serves the community beyond creating forests?

The challenge here is to conceive a forest chapel and community centre for the Ethiopian Tribes and communities in Addis Ababa. It must be built in a way that contributes to forest regrowth, all while continuing to preserve them. The church can be also be a point for exchanging knowledge and spreading awareness about drastic depleting forests in their country.

Objectives

The “Eco-Chapel” should be designed to hold a minimum of 300 visitors on regular days the number is subject to increase on festivals and occasions.

  • Sustainable design: the design must be sustainable and climate resilient
  • Materials used must be local and indigenous
  • Agile: Must have scope for future development of the community centre or for catering to a larger population
  • Sensitive: Design must be sensitive to the religious community of Ethiopia

Submission

  • Minimum requisites in the sheets are 3 sheets/boards + Cover image containing:
    • Site plan (Compulsory)
    • Key conceptual sections x 1 (Minimum)
    • 3D views x 4
    • Cover image/Thumbnail of size 2000 x 1000 px or larger in aspect ratio 2:1.
    • Floor plans, images, sketches (if any) can be added to support the entry in the form of additional images.
    • Answer 6 FAQ questions in the discussion section as given on the ‘additional resources folder’.

Rewards

Prize pool of worth 4000$

  • First Prize: 1500$ (For students and professionals)
  • Runner up: 800$ (For students and professionals)
  • People’s Choice: 450$ (For students – Most appreciated project wins this)
  • People’s Choice: 450$ (For students – Most appreciated project wins this)
  • Honorable mention x 2 (Students): 200$ Each
  • Honorable mention x 2 (Professionals): 200$ Each
We rely on advertising revenue to support the creative content on our site. Please consider whitelisting our site in your settings, or pausing your adblocker while stopping by.
See more in Competitions