INTRODUCTION

Throughout the current global circumstances, we have experienced first-hand the challenges that architecture students and graduates are facing in maintaining design motivation and securing roles in industry. This is why we want to launch a competition solely for young architects and architecture students which enhances skills, raises awareness of topical design issues and prepares for the next step in their architecture journey. This competition is organised by the Part 1 Assistants at Arts and Creatives Designs ltd. With the aim for the competition to be exciting, accessible and achievable to tackle over the summer break.

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In response to our current need for more localised travel, the competition challenge is to design a flat-pack traveling ‘pod’ no larger than 20sqm that can fit into a 1m x 3m bike trailer when disassembled. Participants are encouraged to express their personalities through their choice of programme and location, the pod could cater for any activity that they would want to pack up and take with them when traveling. It could simply be a bed or it could be an art studio or somewhere to practice a musical instrument. As long as the structure can be disassembled, the programme is open for interpretation.

A suggested list of sustainable building materials will be provided for participants to choose from, however the materials can be adapted to suite the country that the pod is based in.

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The purpose of the competition is to push young architects to consider the positive impact of choosing to build temporary mobile structures which have the lightest possible impact on the land and can have multiple uses, rather than multiple permanent structures which will one day be knocked down and create more harmful waste. We also encourage participants to think with a circular economy mind-set when choosing materials to use and methods of construction. The submission will be in the format of one A3 image including the overall design and details of each material chosen.

MATERIAL LIST

Provided is a list of environmentaly friendly materials that we suggest participants should use. This list how-ever may not be applicable to all locations, so the materials choice can be adapted to the project. When designing with materials that aren’t within the list, we encourage participants to think creatively about unusual sustainable materials, i.e. are there bi-products from local industries that could be used or any local crops?

1. Wood Fibre and Straw Panel:

The company Ecococon has created a composite panel sandwiching a straw insulation layer between two wood fiber external layers. The panel is made entirely of natural products and meets ‘cradle to cradle’ requirements. Within your design, the panel could be disected to just incorporate 1 layer or you could take inspiration from the prefabricated way of building.

Resource:

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2. Pallets:

Pallets are a very useful bi-product from many goods industries in the UK that are often thrown away. They can be used to aid with structural support of the design, or dissassembled and used as cladding, roofing or flooring.

3. Polycarbonate Sheets:

Polycarbonate sheets can be a good alternative to glass for small scale projects such as this one.They can

be made entirely from recycled plastic and also can be recycled again after they have served their use.

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4. Scaffold Poles and Reclaimed Pine Scaffold Boards:

Bi-products from the construction industry. Scaffold poles can be reused again when the structures use comes to an end. Scaffold boards only have a life span of 3-4 years within scaffold industry but can still be used in construction as flooring. Dimensions of the scaffold boards sourced from the company below are

L3900xW225xT38mm and the scaffold poles have a thickness of 3.2mm with a variable height. Resource:
Resource: https://www.scaffoldingsupplies.co.uk/products/details/3633.html

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5. Woven Willow Panel:

Entirely natural and biodegradable, woven willow panels can be made at any custom size. They aren’t watertight but do provide structural support and can be combined with other materials to generate watertight-

ness.

6. Biochar Plaster:

Made from a mixture of charcoal, clay, and sand plaster, with a thickness of 20cm, biochar is a natural alter- native to regular plaster, and can provide finishes for the interior or exterior.
Resource: https://www.biochar-journal.org/en/ct/3

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8. UK grown timber:

The resource provides a list of timber that can be sourced in the UK and the qualities of each different tree types.
Resource: - pages 12 - 23

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9. Timber Shingles:

Shingles from UK grown timber can be used either as wall or roof cladding and have many benefits over timber plank cladding;
- They have a very long life expectancy
- As they are cut across the grain, they can ‘breathe’ providing extra ventilation

- They use a lower level of energy to produce and transport, they are light in weight, reducing the amount

of structure needed.
Resource: https://www.englishwoodlandstimber.co.uk/products/shingles/

DOWNLOAD BRIEF

Download full competition brief for more information!

This competition is open to young architects and architecture students, professionals interested in participating. No professional qualification is required.

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The competition winners will work in collaboration with the Architects of Arts and Creatives Designs LTD to develop and complete the chosen design.

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Teams must be no more than 2 people and individuals (1) may enter too.

Participants must be proficient in English and all entries must be submitted in English.

SPONSORS

TERMS + CONDITIONS

FlexiPod Terms & Competition

This competition is open to young architects and architecture students interested in participating. 

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No professional qualification is required. 

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Teams must be no more than 2 people can enter.

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Participants must be proficient in English and all entries must be submitted in English.

COPYRIGHT

All materials submitted to the competition will become property of Arts and Creatives (A+C), and therefore give A+C all associated rights.

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Published materials will be attributed to the appropriate author.

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A + C reserves the right to modify the proposals and text in order to better adapt them to any publication format, without changing the essence of the proposal itself.

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A+C reserves the right to alter the winning proposal during the ‘developed design stage’ to respond to site constraints and client requirements. 

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Participants are responsible for using copyright-free images. A+C will not be held responsible for the use of protected images.

JUDGES

REGISTRATION

NOTE:

When registering for Students or Young Architects, Please add FlexiPod to your payment description.

Within 24 hours after registration and payment, the Arts & Creatives team will send a confirmation email.