The AIA|DC Urban Design Committee (UD DC) has announced the results of its recent urban design competition, In/Visible Borders. The brief called for reflection on the nature of borders at all scales, from the street edge to the geopolitical, from the physical to the unseen, and how they are alternately devices for identity and belonging or exclusion and inequity. Entrants were challenged to propose a design solution that enhanced spatial equity along with a specific border condition of their choosing.

The competition entries have chosen a wide range of locations from Atlanta to Dhaka, scales, and design techniques. Many of the entries drew on rich historical, cultural, and political analysis of place. Some focused on research and policy, while others mined iterative form-making to generate spatial solutions. Collectively, they identified many border conditions characterized by inequity that demand visionary, socially engaged design solutions from today’s city makers. Out of the many incredible submissions, the jury selected our winner, a finalist, and some honorable mentions, noted as follows:

Winner:  "School Without Borders" by Theresa Mozinski

School Without Borders takes on one of the most fraught border conditions – the U.S.-Mexico political divide – and offers a poetic design intervention. It envisions a thickened, programmable edge which creates a place for intellectual and physical common ground. The resulting school prototype is a thoughtful piece of architecture and placemaking, and the design convinces us that similar pieces of “shared infrastructure” could succeed in the same way.

Finalist: "The Wall Street: From Fortress Besieged Towards More Equitable Public Space" by Heyan Xu, Shiyao Li, Wan Huang.

Honorable Mentions:
• "Redlines: The Zoning of Exclusion" by Priscilla Cuadra and Rebecca Soja
• "Urban Utopia: A Culture to Be Preserved" by Shreejit Modak
• "Harnessing Vulnerabilities: Resource Management Strategies for Enduring Livability" by Tamanna Tiku

The AIA|DC Urban Design Committee (UD DC) is a platform for ideas and advocacy that promotes livable, equitable and sustainable communities in the nation’s capital. We thank all of those who participated and contributed such compelling work this year. The winner was awarded a $750 prize, free registration to the next AIA|DC Urban Design Competition, and publication in the committee’s annual journal. The AIA|DC Urban Design Committee Annual Competition will be continued this year, and we invite all to participate. Follow us on social media (Urban Design Committee DC) for future updates.

All images courtesy of AIA|DC Urban Design Committee

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