The UIA-HYP Cup has announced its 9th edition, the competition is the only student architecture competition in mainland China. The UIA has endorsed the competition since its conception in 2012.  

The subject of the competition, organised annually by the School of Architecture at Tianjin University and Urban Environment Design (UED) Magazine, is Architecture in Transformation, a theme which explores the tensions between architecture and the city as well as between architecture and nature in an increasingly interconnected contemporary world.

Each edition of the prize is chaired by an internationally renowned architect, who selects its specific focus. This year Wolf D. Prix, from Austria, has selected the topic "City Puzzle and Puzzle City". Using United Nations figures stating the number of city-dwellers will rise to 75% by 2050, Prix asks students to reflect on the “increasingly alienating nature” of cities, in whose “density one finds ‘space’ but no sense of ‘place’.” 

Today’s city-dwellers, observes Prix, "constantly arrive ‘anywhere’, but not ‘somewhere’" and he offers young architects an opportunity to address how architects can bring meaning to the lives of the inhabitants of the contemporary urban built environment.

Student participants will compete to design mixed-use buildings, integrating 30% green space, for 2,000 – 8,000 people for each of four squared plots, each plot measuring 200 meters by 200 meters. The inspiration for the competition is the Chinese city of Yangliuqing, Tianjin.

Jury

The international jury will soon be announced. Wolf D. Prix (Austria) is the jury chairman and Cui Kai(China) will be the UIA Representative.

Prizes

1st Prize (1 team): Certificate and 100,000 RMB (approx.15,000 USD) (before tax)

2nd Prize (3 teams): Certificate and 30,000 RMB (approx.4,500 USD) (before tax)

3rd Prize (8 teams):  Certificate and 10,000 RMB (approx.1,500 USD) (before tax)

Honorable Mentions (several teams): Certificate and 6-month free subscription of UED magazine

Advisors of prize-winning projects will also be awarded with certificates. 

Eligibility

This competition is open to all students enrolled in accredited architecture schools or programmes in their country of residence.

Language

The official language of the competition is English.

Calendar

Deadline for registration: Midnight, 30 August 2020

Deadline for submissions: Midnight, 20 September 2020

Jury meeting: October 2020

For further information, see the competition website or contact the organisers via this email: [email protected]. 

Top image courtesy of UIA-HYP Cup

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