International design competition platform Volume zero has announced the results of The Dwelling 2023 Architecture Competition.
Humans traditionally have thrived on social dialogue creating communities based upon work, education, place of origin, etc. aligning interests, and a place for incubation of skills, values, and ideas fueling civilizations. These Communities play a pivotal role in defining the social fabric and embedding values and virtues by which an individual perceives the world outside this habitat.
The world is transforming at a breakneck speed putting a strain on our resources. In a quest for a better life, millions across the globe have been moving to cities every day. This has resulted in a rise in densely populated urban areas along with a lack of land resources and financial constraints to provide sufficient housing for the masses.
This phenomenon has led to a rise in innovation focusing on unconventional ideas like Smart Homes, Pod Houses, Social Housing, Co-Living Spaces, Tiny Houses, Micro Houses, Hostels, etc., making a home accessible to many and simultaneously helping achieve one’s aspiration. The concept of these revolutionary homes encouraged for making the innovation of maximum functional area in a minimum footprint, thus redefining the perception of Sustainability in urban dwellings.
The Competition challenged its participants to come up with inventive and sustainable solutions for urban dwelling clusters. Participants were encouraged to create functional, aesthetically pleasing designs that cater to the personal and communal needs of its inhabitants. The proposed archetypes should address space constraints, maximize functionality, and reflect the cultural identity of the community.
Volume Zero Competition thanks all the competitors for participating in this competition and for contributing to this competition's research.
Participants from more than 37 countries contributed valuable concept ideas to the contest, which was evaluated by a panel of international experts. The winning projects have been awarded a total cash prize of $4,000 distributed to the first 3 team winners.
The esteemed jury for judging this competition consisted of Arash Aliabadi (DAAZ Office), Jurgen Mayer H. (J. Mayer H. Architects), Pa Li (Studio APL), Sachin Rastogi (Zero Energy Design Lab), Doan Thanh Ha (H&P Architects), Akshay Heranjal (The Purple Ink Studio), Tang Hua (Tanghua Architects), Mattia Chinellato (SO - IL).
The top three winners were awarded total prize money of $4,000 while ten entries received Honorable Mentions. Here are the winning entries. The full result for the competition The Dwelling 2023 Architecture Competition can be found at - https://volumezerocompetitions.com/competitions/result/22
FIRST PLACE
Timber Tales
Ooi Yong Rong
Malaysia
In response to the escalating trend of urban redevelopment and the consequent displacement of long-time residents, the concept involves the construction of timber low-rise dwellings atop an abandoned Wisma building. This forward-thinking endeavor aims to provide enhanced housing options for 100 individuals, granting them an opportunity to remain in proximity to their cherished roots and observe the transformation of their beloved town.
The project seeks to infuse new vitality into the heart of George Town, a city renowned for its rich history and cultural heritage. Drawing inspiration from the emblematic George Town Chinese street opera stage, the design pays homage to this symbol of vibrant local culture and community. In this reinterpretation, the dwellings situated atop the Wisma structure symbolize the very essence of the stage itself, with each home assuming the role of a script in the collective narrative of life in George Town. These dwellings, intended not solely as places of residence but also as platforms for individual expression, empower their occupants to actively participate in shaping the ongoing story of the city. The project offers a unique opportunity for these individuals to maintain their ties to their hometown while enjoying upgraded living conditions.
SECOND PLACE
Vitalizing Watertanks
Kevin Chellakudam
Switzerland
Vitalizing Watertanks – Affordable Dwelling Solution For Slums
Due to the lack of proper infrastructure and water, the slums in Ernakulam – India, located close to the water sources. Given the fact that most building on water canal banks open their toilet outlets in to the canals, improper sanitation facilities, they not only pollute the water source, but also disease outbreaks here are ubiquitous. With the city facing increased threat of waterlogging, Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) is expediting the implementation to revive the water canals, forcing the slums to shift location. Most residents are either a tenant or homeless, so the project asks how do we ensure land ownership for the people?
Vitalizing Watertanks is an alternative solution offered to the government to create social dwellings. Located in Kaloor, India. It aims to inhabit the empty part of the structure that supports a working water tank, while encouraging construction in dialogue with the community, bringing them closer and reducing labour costs. The goal is to design self-sustained modular pods with a variety of compositions, while still respecting local dynamics and culture.
THIRD PLACE
CARE CO-OP
Shujian You
United States
CARE CO-OP: A community that links vulnerable households
In Detroit, an illegible archipelago of households and single family houses is continually being produced due to the de-densification, which disintegrates the notion of community, and being challenging especially for smaller households including single-parent and single households. While the site is a child care desert as well as a deserts of animal shelters, this project focuses on providing a dwelling community that links vulnerable households, where children, single parents, single people, and cats accompany and care for each other, in an informal intimate relationship.
Honourable Mentions:
Honourable Mention 1 – POP UP’s
Xun Wang
United States
Honourable Mention 2 – rethinking GRANJA
Denise Morado, Pedro Medeiros De Faria and Rodrigo Rocha De Freitas
Brazil
Honourable Mention 3 – TIDAL REVIVAL
Rhea Walter, Radhika Rajan and Apurva Wasule
India
Honourable Mention 4 – I. CAN. DIY
Adib Aslam, Amir Arsyad Bin Rosidi and Mohammad Hassan Azri Bin Mohd Naim
Malaysia
Honourable Mention 5 – An Integrated Dwelling Community
Jingyi Zhou and Chuanqi Gao
United States
Honourable Mention 6: TRANSIT PLUG - in
Subham Sinha, Swarna Kanti Ghosh and Aditya Aryan
India
Honourable Mention 7 – Matrix
Regita Pramesthi, Fabian Hosea and Frederick William
Indonesia
Honourable Mention 8 – A LIVING LAUNDRY LANE
Gaurav A Jain, David Stephen and Bindiya S
India
Honourable Mention 9 – DIGNITY
Sakshi Sandeep and Vamsi Changavalli
India
Honourable Mention 10 – CONCRETE JUNGLE
Terry Cai, Chico Von and Kz Lai
China
Volume Zero Competition extends its heartfelt gratitude to all participants, judges, and everyone who contributed to the success of The Dwelling 2023 Architecture Competition.
Curious to discover the creativity that defined our competition? Check out the Top 50 entries of The Dwelling 2023 Architecture Competition here.
