The Bee Breeders calls for submissions to create eco-friendly designs for a complex in the heart of Latvia, one of Europe’s greenest countries. The Bee Breeders has teamed up SRED property developers, the Stone Barn Meditation camp will be built on the site of a repurposed stone barn. 

Looking to act as an example for green building practice, participants are tasked with focusing on eco-friendly and cost-effective designs to create an exciting and enticing wellness complex that will further encourage ecotourism in the region.

The total prize fund for this competition is US $6,000, and the final deadline for registration is April 12, 2017. Winners will be announced on May 17, and the top designs selected will be considered for construction.

The Stone Barn Meditation Camp will serve as a guesthouse, located in a repurposed stone barn in the heart of Latvia, with the aim of further popularising eco tourism. As one of the greenest countries in Europe, Latvia already benefits from a thriving ecotourism trade.

The Stone Barn Meditation Camp will look to become a regional example for green building practice. As competition winners will be put forward for consideration for construction, designs need to place a strong emphasis on eco-friendly and cost-effective building techniques.

Designs for the building complex in this competition need to include accommodation for guests of meditation camps and other small events, permanent accommodation for the groundskeeper, and an inventive and eco-friendly use of space for guests to practice meditation and yoga.

Competition site

The competition site is situated in rural Vidzeme in the eastern region of Latvia. Known for both its cultural heritage and its natural beauty, the location is rich in forests, lakes and grasslands.

The stone barn was built in 1875 and operated as a sawmill until the late 1990s. All the equipment has since been removed, and part of the building has been demolished. Participants can download information on the existing structure, as well as the historical appearance from the competition website. Participants can decide to restore the stone barn to its original historical design or reimagine its structure in a new way. However, the existing building cannot be demolished, only added to or enhanced.

Eligibility

Competition is open to all. No professional qualification is required. Design proposals can be developed individually or by teams (4 team members maximum).

Key Dates 

Closing date for registration: 12 April, 2017

Closing date for project submission: 03 May, 2017 (11.59pm GMT)

Announcement of the winners: May 17, 2017

Prizes

Total prize for construction: US $6,000

1st prize: US $3,000 / Publications Certificate of Achievement

2nd prize: US $1,500 / Publications Certificate of Achievement

3rd prize: US $ 500 / Publications Certificate of Achievement

BB Student Award: US $ 500 / Publications Certificate of Achievement

BB Green Award: US $ 500 / Publications Certificate of Achievement

The competition will select 6 Honorable Mentions. SRED Global is committed to the construction of the Stone Barn Meditation Camp during 2017-2018 with all winning and honorable mention designs to be put forward for consideration for the final design of the camp.

Jury members include Daniel Jacobs - SHoP Architects, New York City, USA, Daphné Karaiskaki - Renzo Piano Building Workshop, France, Gemawang Swaribathoro - OMA, Hong Kong, John Simons - KPF, USA, Collin Anderson - Renzo Piano Building Workshop, France and other architects. See the full list of jury members. 

To download competition brief, images and see registration fees visit the competition website. World Architecture Community is Media Partner for the competition. See Bee Breeders' other competitions on World Architecture Community's Competitions page. 

Top image courtesy of Bee Breeders

> via Bee Breeders Architecture Competitions