Project Earth 2 has announced a new ideas competition to design "stable and proper settlements" for refugee camps to be used in many parts of the world. 

Titled Cities of Tomorrow, the competition is open to any architecture student or actual architect for the competition, regardless of their nationality. Likewise, people from other disciplines will also be participating, such as philosophers, sociologists, researchers, etc. 

"The presence of an architect is not necessary, although it is recommended. Design proposals can be developed individually or by teams (6 team members maximum)," said Project Earth 2.

Project Earth 2 is a platform creating design solutions for tackling two important challenges of the XXI century: climate change and social development.

"We believe in the potential of universities and young talent for fostering innovative ideas. Our aim is to connect organizations and institutions working on-site with multidisciplinary teams of students willing to think and propose solutions for the challenges of our future. But also re-think about our existing cities and how they could improve towards a sustainable existence," added the competition.

Project Earth 2 wants to propose a different approach towards refugees and refugee camps. Rather than conceiving refugee camps as storage facilities to fulfill basic human needs and refugees as temporary inhabitants, Project Earth 2 encourages all participants to zoom out and consider the refugee camps as an instrument and an opportunity to activate deserted areas of Europe. 

"Design refugee camps as stable settlements and as a changing structure that can grow, adapt and develop. How refugee camps can be flexible and grow in an organized way as their population increase? How can they transform from a temporary shelter into a stable settlement, providing proper living conditions and becoming the cities of tomorrow?," the competition explained.

Winning solutions created by participants will be delivered to organizations and NGO working on-site, aiming at implementing them.

The competition's jury is comprised of by skilled architects with experience working in institutions such as UNHCR, Architects without borders or New Town Institute (NL). You can download full competition brief from the competition's website.

Prizes are listed as: 1st Prize: 1500€, 2nd Prize: 1000€, 3rd Prize: 300€. The competition will choose a project based on people's choice with a cash prize: 200€, plus the jury will select 10 Honorable Mentions, without giving a cash prize. 

The winning proposals will be published in blogs and architecture websites, and with the publication in Open Bank of Design Ideas of Project Earth 2.

Competition schedule:

Registration starts: 1st February, 2018

Registration closes: 30th April, 2018

Submission deadline: 1st May, 2018

Winners announcement: 1st of June, 2018

Submissions are received through Project Earth 2 website. Send your questions for additional inquiries and/or for requesting the documents from the competition to Mario Acosta: [email protected].

Top image courtesy of Project Earth 2

> via Project Earth 2