Bee Breeders Architecture Competitions, in collaboration with the Latvia Nature Conservation Agency, is calling for submissions for the Amber Road Trekking Cabins architecture competition. In it, participants are tasked with creating designs for a series of cabins to be situated along a proposed hiking trail that runs parallel to the white sandy beaches that are often strewn with small pieces of amber that inspired its name. Eventually connecting with other coastal hiking trails to form part of the European Long-Distance Paths Network.

Winning designs will be considered for construction by the Latvia Nature Conservation Agency as a way to help boost Latvia's trekking tourism. As such they need to be in keeping with the country’s traditions and culture, while at the same time with the potential to become iconic landmarks in their own right.

Latvia features over 500 km of beaches along the Baltic Sea coastline

The Amber Road trekking path is planned to allow long-distance hikers to traverse the country, reaching from the Latvia-Lithuania border to the Latvia-Estonia border. Receiving its name from the shiny specimens that wash up on the beaches to this day, the total length of the trekking path would be 530 km, and it would be included as part of one of the European long-distance paths, a network of 12 paths designated by the European Ramblers Association. Path E9 is a hiking trail that follows the coastline, branching out from the Baltics to include countries like Germany, Belgium, France, Portugal, and Spain to name a few.

For the Amber Road Trekking Cabins architecture competition, participants are tasked with producing unique and creative designs for a series of cabins that could be placed along this long and arduous route. The designs should be suitable for the various different terrains that will be encompassed along this hiking trail, taking special consideration to be constructed in preserved environments. 

The Amber Road trekking path is planned to allow long-distance hikers to traverse the country, reaching from the Latvia-Lithuania border to the Latvia-Estonia border 

The Trekking Cabins should be in keeping with Latvia’s heritage, and their design should comfortably adapt to suit various environments, with the potential of becoming an iconic part of the landscape themselves. Working within a modest budget, the trekking cabins must provide guests with safe and comfortable lodgings, allowing both hikers and their guides the facilities to rest and enjoy the natural scenery.

Winning designs for the Amber Road Trekking Cabins will be considered for construction by the Latvia Nature Conservation Agency as a way to help boost Latvia's trekking tourism.

Eligibility: 

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

Language: 

- Correspondence with organizers must be conducted in English

- All information submitted by participants must be in English

Prizes:

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  (more details here) / Publications, Certificate of Achievement

BB Green Award: US $500 (more details here) / Publications, Certificate of Achievement

The competition will select 6 Honorable Mentions

Construction: Winning designs for the Amber Road Trekking Cabins will be considered for construction by the Latvia Nature Conservation Agency as a way to help boost Latvia's trekking tourism.

Certificate: Bee Breeders will also acknowledge the outstanding performance of all winners and honourable mentions with Certificates of Achievement.

Jury panel is composed of Jānis Dripe - Former Riga City Head Architect, Ērika Kļaviņa - Project "NAT-Programme" manager, Raits Čakstiņš - Director of Kurzeme Regional Administration, Andris Širovs - Director of Pieriga Regional Administration. See the competition's full jury panel here.

Key dates for the competition:

Closing date for registration: 27 September, 2017

Closing date for project submission: 25 October, 2017 (11.59pm GMT)

Announcement of the winners: 09 November, 2017

Competition brief, photographs and 2D - 3D images of the site can be downloaded from the competition website. Contact Bee Breeders to receive special student rates for group registrations (discount applies for 3+ registrations from one university/school) and to receive further information and support for getting your students involved in architecture competitions. 

Send Bee Breeders request from your university email address along with basic information about yourself and your university/school. Please note that only recognized university staff can apply for the reduced student rate.

World Architecture Community is media partner for Bee Breeders Architecture Competitions. See Bee Breeders' other competitions here.

Top image courtesy of Bee Breeders

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