TerraViva Competitions launches Rural Housing, a new architecture contest that aims to define new ways of living in the Italian countryside through the adaptive reuse of traditional “Cascina”. 

Prizes up to 10.000€ will be awarded to the winners selected by an international jury panel composed by, among others, Danilo Sironi (One Works), Coraly Mazzucchelli (Eckersley O’callaghan), Philip Kolevsohn (ATOMAA), Franca Carassai (Campbell Cadey).

Brief

Located in northern Italy, the Po Valley is a vast geographical area that extends from Piedmont to Lombardy, reaching Veneto and Emilia Romagna up to the Adriatic Sea. The region, characterised by a mostly flat rural landscape, is crossed by numerous important rivers including the Po, the Adige and the Ticino. Often referred to as "the cradle of Italian agriculture" due to its rich farming tradition, this area has been shaped over centuries by human activity.

The northern plains represent not only a major source of economic livelihood, but also an environmental and cultural heritage of great importance for Italy. In fact, in terms of architectural legacy, one of the most characteristic treasures that outstands in the area are the famous farmhouses called "Cascine".

These typical historical complexes are a significant and fascinating part of the country's rural inheritance. Scattered throughout Lombardy, they represent a centuries-old tradition of life and work linked to the countryside. The genesis of these peculiar buildings begins between 1400 and 1500, ending in the early twentieth century. Although many of them have not withstood the passage of time, others have survived until today, such as the case of Cascina Lossano.

Prizes & Mentions

1st Prize: 5.000€

2nd Prize: 2.000€

3rd Prize: 1.000€

4 Golden Mentions: 500€ each

10 Honourable Mentions

30 Finalists

Guidelines

Rural Housing encourages participants to be creative and to imagine a complete transformation of the disused Cascina with the ambition of enhancing its most characteristic features while proposing new contemporary interior spaces.

The transformation of this historic complex into contemporary homes immersed in the landscape will determine a new beginning for this Lombard farmhouse. It will be required to pay special attention to details and a particular sensitivity to determine which elements to preserve and which not.

At the same time, a contemporary vision, appropriate to today's way of life, is fundamental in the definition of the design concept. Which project decisions would you make to achieve the transformation of these existing structures into comfortable and functional residential units?

The concept known as “adaptive reuse” is increasingly being used not only as a premise to promote a more sustainable architecture by recycling existing structures and materials, but also as a way to preserve the unique character and heritage of a place, contributing to the overall cultural identity of a community. The challenge is to transform Cascina Lossano into a new housing complex capable of serving the needs of the present while respecting the history of its past.

Requested Material

Competitors have to submit two A1 panels (59,4 x 84,1 cm) landscape oriented + a brief text describing the proposal (up to 250 words). Panels must contain all the necessary graphic information to explain the project in the best way possible (title, diagrams, sketches, 3D visualizations, plans and sections, collages, model photos, etc.). All kinds of graphic representations will be accepted.

Jury

Simona Galateo| #S11 (Milan, Italy)

Philip Kolevsohn| ATOMAA (Cape Town, South Africa)

Maria Virginia Theilig| FAPyD (Rosario, Argentina)

Octavio Montestruque Bisso | Andes (Lima, Perú)

Coraly Mazzucchelli | Eckersley O’callaghan (Paris, France)

Danilo Sironi| One Works (Milan, Italy)

Franca Carassai | Campbell Cadey (London, United Kingdom)

Yuri Rocco| METROGRAMMA (Rome, Italy)

Schedule

Competition Opening on May 23rd

69€ “Early” Registration from May 23rd to July 21st

89€ “Standard” Registration from July 21st to August 25th

109€ “Late” Registration from August 25th to September 22nd

Submission Deadline on September 22nd

Results Announcement on October 16th 2023

Download full brief here.

Requirements & Eligibility

The competition is open to students, architects, designers, urbanists, engineers, artists, makers, activists and anyone interested in the fields of design and architecture. 

Participants can join the competition either individually or with a team.

For more information, visit the competition's website.

Top image courtesy of TerraViva Competitions.

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