image via UIA.

The Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has launched an international ideas competition open to architects from around the world. The competition is in conformity with the UNESCO-UIA regulations and has received the endorsement of the International Union of Architects (UIA).

Industrialisation and massive urbanization have prompted an exodus from the countryside to the cities, resulting in an aging population, a loss of vitality and deterioration in quality of life in rural communities. The objective of the competition is to propose solutions to the problems encountered by rural communities all over the world, using the Korean example.

The competition is set in a Korean village and seeks solutions for the reconstitution of residential facilities, the rehabilitation of older buildings and the insertion of new constructions. It focuses on the former warehouses of Nonghyup and former children’s centers in Sari-Myeon, Goesan-Gun Chungcheongbuk-Do. The future ‘Junior-Senior Center’ should be envisioned as a space for exchange, where connections can be established between generations. The participants must take into account the regional characteristics, local architectural features while promoting rural sustainable development.

Schedule

Registration deadline: July 31, 2015

Submission Deadline: August 21, 2015