Bee Breeders Architecture Competitions has announced the winners of Trans Siberian Pit Stops architecture competition, selected Kamvari Architects for the 1st Prize, Jacopo Abbate and Martina Mitrovic for the 2nd Prize and Godfathers for the 3rd Prize.

The winning projects from the UK, Italy and Switzerland were chosen for their celebration of this historic railway. Each project showed the potential to become an iconic landmark in itself, and remained true to the heritage of the world’s longest and most popular railway journey.

The competition's 1st place winners from the UK created an iconic design that was both sustainable and rooted in the history of the railway. Combining traditional forms of architecture and the dynamic nature of the railway, the first prize winners created a bold geometric silhouette that was lifted off the ground, allowing for greater insulation during winter months.

The competition's second and third place winners from Italy and Switzerland respectively took a completely different approach. The former created designs for a simple, circular hut centred around a fireplace; while the latter designed a pavilion with a mirror exterior that would reflect on the different surroundings of each pit stop.

Finally a project submitted by students from the University of Cincinnati was chosen to receive BB Student Award for most innovative student submission.

See all the winners with jury comments below:

1st prize: Trans Siberian Retreat by Kamvari Architects / Omid Kamvari, Masoud Saeedian, Amir Armani Asl, Faraneh Ghahremani, Faramarz Ensafi

Jury comments: First place winners project had it all. Its iconic in its design as well as being sustainable and rooted in the history of the railway. 

The winning project stood out for its unique combination of traditional forms of architecture and the dynamic nature of the railway. Studying local vernacular architecture, the competition's first prize winners adopted a trusted and proven building form by lifting the building off the ground, this allowed for greater control of interior conditions by insulating from the winter cold as well as cooling during the summer period. 

The project implemented a traditional construction and form with a strong silhouette and strong geometry, making it a bold and recognisable landmark that wouldn’t be out of place along this historic railway route.

1st prize winners interview

2nd prize: Trans Siberian Pit Stops by Jacopo Abbate and Martina Mitrovic

Jury comments: The second place winners created a design with the serious potential of becoming a landmark, with its clear and coherent portrayal of woodfire hut. A single, circular pavilion, the project centred around a fireplace which provides light and heat to travellers. A fireplace is an archetype of social interactions, creating a comfortable space to rest, relax and commune with other travellers. The central fireplace also served a structural role as an intersecting point of its interior roof beam, creating an expressive addition to the interior. 

The nature of a large fireplace is inviting and welcoming, and its slight peculiarity gives it a unique and symbolic appearance that can be recognised immediately from every station along the Transsiberian railway route.

2nd prize winner interview

3rd prize: Anamorphosis by Godfathers / Alessandro Carrea and Djavan Cardona

Jury comments: The third place project, Anamorphosis, works to integrate itself within its surroundings with a mirrored facade. What made this design stand out to the jury panel is the dichotomy of its nature, its impressive design making it stand out while at the same time reflecting on the world around it. The exact same pavilion can be placed in Moscow, Kazan or Ulaanbaatar and have a completely different appearance as it is a reflection of its environment. 

Once travelers enter the pavilion, the interior design is such that their gaze is drawn up the walls to the horizon beyond, highlighting panoramic views that allow tourists to easily orientate themselves with the city.

3rd prize winners interview

BB Student Award: Trans-Siberian Pit Stops by Nolan Loh, University of Cincinnati

BB Green Award: Trans siberian pods by Liam Morrow and Elvira Hoxha

The competition also selected 6 Honorable Mentions, which can be seen on the website. World Architecture Community is Media Partner for Bee Breeders Architecture Competitions. Bee Breeders Architecture Competitions are still receiving registrations for Architecture in Virtual Reality, Blue Clay Country Spa and Kip Island Auditorium competitions. 

World Architecture Community members will have 10$ discount by entering promo codes announced in the competition pages above. 

All images courtesy of Bee Breeders Architecture Competitions

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