Bee Breeders Architecture Competitions has announced the Great Kemeri Bog Visitor Center architecture competition to design an entry point to the Kemeri National Park, which is the third-largest national park in Latvia, and covers over 380 km².

The competition is now open until October 12. Winning designs will be put forward for consideration for construction by the Latvia Nature Conservation Agency, as well as receiving US $6,000 in prize funds.

"Kemeri National Park one of the largest national parks in Latvia, and this competition is calling for submissions for an iconic and functional entranceway visitor centre. The entrance point will need to provide several key facilities - such as an information centre, terrace area, and playground, as well as a car park and ticket booth," said the competition. 

It is a chance for architecture enthusiasts to design something iconic, with the potential to become a noted landmark, all within the stunning natural surroundings of the national park. It is therefore vital that the structure be in keeping with its surroundings, while at the same time standing out.

Nearly a quarter of the park, however, is made up of bogs, and this is what most of the park’s visitors come to experience. The Kemeri Bog boardwalk offers guests a chance to explore the vast network of wooden boardwalks and nature paths that traverse the park. Visitors can see nature up close and venture into a world seemingly untouched by man.

Competition site

The Great Kemeri Bog Visitor Center architecture competition is the second in a series run in conjunction with the Latvia Nature Conservation Agency. The participants are invited to submit designs for an entry point to the nature park. The entry point will need to feature an information centre with a small cafe, a terrace available for those camping in the area, a playground for children, as well as a car park and ticket booth.

Competition site is located at the entrance point to the Great Kemeri Bog Boardwalk. The site is currently used as a car park and gathering point by those visiting the Boardwalk

As the Latvia Nature Conservation Agency has expressed an interest in the construction of the visitor centre, designs will need to be both in keeping with the look and purpose of the national park, while having the potential to become an iconic landmark in its own right.

Download full competition brief for more information!

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: US $500 (more details here) / Publications Certificate of Achievement

The competition will select 6 Honorable Mentions

Publications: The winners will get international art and design media coverage and will be featured on the Bee Breeders website and social pages. 

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

Jury panel is composed of Audrey McKee from Renzo Piano Building Workshop in France, Carlos M Guimarães – depA, correspondent of A10 magazine in Portugal, Daniel Jacobs from SHoP Architects, New York City, USA, Gemawang Swaribathoro from OMA, Hong Kong, John Paul Rysavy from SHoP Architects, New York City, USA; And-Either-Or Austin, Texas and Brooklyn, New York, USA. See the competition's full jury panel here. 

Key dates for the competition

Closing date for registration: 12 October, 2018

Closing date for project submission: 08 November, 2018 (11.59pm GMT)

Announcement of the winners: 05 December, 2018

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. 

World Architecture Community is media partner for Bee Breeders Architecture Competitions. 

All images courtesy of Bee Breeders 

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