Premise:

War is the most serious reason for causing the damage to both artificial and natural landscape. Syria, one of the oldest civilizations in the world is entering it’s another year of debilitating violence at a moment of geopolitical flux. 

A huge deficit that is created in Syria, including corruption, bombing and communal chaos, the place has lost a lot more than what it had. With its 7th Year of catastrophe, damage assessment reports say the payback amount is over 4 times to Syria’s 2010 GDP. While the immeasurable loss to property, life, tourism and heritage is beyond valuation, the war eventually has plundered all the bustling public life.

Problem:

The only hope Syria now has that the reconstruction of this broken place might bring the region together. It will cost a lot which cannot/won’t come from any one side, and by the trends of today, no side will actually outright win the war in the longer run. To even fix the abject destruction of Syria will require a peace deal producing a level of economic cooperation between all sides, foreign, domestic and people on the ground. Without it, Syria will perish.

Challenge: The first step of this cooperation begins by A. Creating a memoryinfused architecture with a B. Functionby the C. Citizens of the placein one of the damaged/destroyed yet D. Important site(s) of Syria.

Learn more about Memory - Regathering Syria.

Site:

Grand Serail, Aleppo, Syria

Originally conceived to be the seat of the Government, the Grand Serail (Also known as New Serail) held its place in history as an important structure in citadel periphery in the past century. During various war clashes, conflicting forces demolished this historic structure by an underground tunnel bomb explosion. The site sits right next to the citadel of Aleppo and is at the heart of the walled city historic precinct.

As the Government of Syria is just one of the major fronts of conflict today, the demolished Grand Serail site has lost its essence as a unanimous seat of power. The place requires a re-framed answer in the context of today. We use this opportunity/place to address the vacuum of power - to use this place for the people of Aleppo. Any front attacking this place will be labelled as the one against the voice of peace/people. How will you frame the programme addressing this deadlock? 

Judges:

1. Kourosh Hajizadeh, Founder, Hajuzadeh & Associates, Iran

2. Arash G Tehrani, Partner, Arashgtehrani & Associates, Iran,

3. Mohammed AlAssam, Founder & Chairman, Dewan Architects + Engineers, Dubai, UAE  

Timeline:

Launch November 15, 2018

Early Registration: January 15, 2019

15$ Students, 25$ Professionals, 125$ Institutional Participation

Standard Registration: February 28, 2019

25$ Students, 40$ Professionals, 200$ Institutional Participation

Late Registration: April 15, 2019

35$ Students, 60$ Professionals, 300$ Institutional Participation

Submission Deadline: April 30, 2019

Public Voting begins: May 1, 2019

Public Voting ends: May 31, 2019

Result Announcement: June 10, 2019

Prizes:

Prize pool of worth 4000$!

First Prize: 1500$ (For students and professionals)

Runner up: 750$ (For students and professionals)

People’s Choice: 500$ (For students – Most appreciated project wins this)

People’s Choice: 500$ (For students – Most appreciated project wins this)

Honorable mention x 2 (Students): 200$ Each

Honorable mention x 2 (Professionals): 200$ Each

Learn more about the competition  from here. 

Top image courtesy of Memory - Regathering Syria

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