MADERA: Building With Timber is an international call for the design and construction of a mid-rise timber social housing building in Durazno, Uruguay.

The main objective of this competition is to grow the use of timber in the construction industry and innovate the design and construction of social architecture. The long-term goals are to scale the production of sustainable construction systems based on wood technologies, create new economies based on the wood industry, reduce the carbon footprint of the construction sector, and reduce the housing deficit at the national level, estimated to be in the order of 60,000 housing units.

The object of the Madera Mid-rise Housing Competition is the design and construction of a mid-rise social housing timber building, at least six stories high (ground floor plus five levels). The building will include between 24 and 30 apartments, a multipurpose room, parking lots, and public and semi-public spaces. The overall budget for the design and construction is 90,000 UR, equivalent to approximately 3.39 million US dollars. Participating teams must present an architecture proposal and an offer within this amount, all included.

The proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria: Architectural-urban value (40%), technological-environmental (35%) value, economic proposal and construction timeline (25%). The winning proposal will be built by the bidding company at the price indicated in the economic proposal, all included, within the amount of 90,000 UR (approx. 3.9 million USD).

There will be three prizes awarded at the end of the evaluation: $5,000 USD for first place, $3,000 USD for second place, and $2,000 USD for third place.

Entrants must submit all the requested documents, certificates, declarations and deliverables online before April 10, 2023, 12 pm (GMT-3). Entries that are not submitted through the web portal before the deadline will be disregarded.