In today’s busy world everyone falls for the allure vision of dropping everything and escaping to a remote paradise. Such daydreaming is usually followed with a fall back to reality as we tend to find comfort in the known and predictable. But what if we could have both, without the need to compromise one or the other?

Samaná, an enchanting peninsula in the Dominican Republic, combines wild beaches and whale watching with a diverse cosmopolitan scene. What was once a hiding spot for pirates became a haven for tourists who fell so much in love with what they saw that they decided to stay for good, expanding the cultural heritage of the area.

The OFF GRID FARM Architectural Competition by Samana Group invites participants to conceptualize and design innovative off-grid farming solutions that encompass the company’s holistic and sustainable approach to living that values self-reliance and minimal environmental impact.

The Dominican Republic and its challenges

The Dominican Republic is the second largest country in the Caribbean and one of its most diverse island countries rich in history, culture and the natural environment. Given the challenges of an island country, the Dominican Republic has been successful in investing in its infrastructure while promoting trade and tourism to become the most visited country in the region. Combining the hospitality of the Dominican people, the vibrant and historical capital of Santo Domingo, world-famous beaches and four major mountain ranges, the Dominican Republic is an exciting and progressive country for both business and leisure.

However, due to its location, the country faces various challenges, particularly in remote areas like the Samana Peninsula. Lack of access to essential utilities such as electricity and water, coupled with limited agricultural infrastructure, underscores the pressing need for innovative solutions to foster sustainable development and improve livelihoods.

Off-grid farming

Off grid farming represents a pioneering approach to agricultural production, emphasizing self-reliance and minimal environmental impact. By harnessing renewable energy sources and implementing efficient water management systems, off-grid farms can thrive even in the most remote locations, offering a blueprint for sustainable living and community resilience.

Samana Group

Samana Group is a real estate services company and landowner in the Samana Peninsula. The projects stand out by addressing 3 typical issues for development in exotic tourism destinations: lack of urban master planning, no lifestyle design and low quality of infrastructure. The uniqueness of our approach lies in the focus on affordable luxury and sustainability, while providing the experience of living in an untouched nature environment.

Design challenge

The design challenge of the OFF GRID FARM competition by Samana Group revolves around conceptualizing and realizing an off-grid farm that transcends conventional norms. Participants are tasked with creating a self-sustaining farming ecosystem that integrates renewable energy sources, innovative water management techniques, and sustainable agricultural practices to ensure long-term viability and resilience. Emphasizing community resilience and environmental stewardship, the competition encourages the use of local materials and promotes economic development while supporting a transition towards sustainable living. By pioneering solutions that address the unique challenges of remote living, participants have the opportunity to shape a more resilient and sustainable future for the Samana Peninsula and beyond.

This architecture competition is exclusively for architecture students and young architects, and seeks to design a pioneering, self-sufficient farming and addresses the challenges that Samana faces nowadays (limited access to electricity, water scarcity, and agricultural constraints).

Schedule & Fee

Early Birds Registration: March 25 - April 28 / 99$ |students 79*

Regular Registration: April 29 -  May  26 / 129$ |students 99*

Late Registration: May 27  - July 07 / 139$ |students 129*

Submission Deadline: July 07

Finalist Announcement: July  22

Results Announcement: August 26

Jury

Ryohei Koike – BIG

Cosimo Scotucci – MVRDV

Ludwik Kaizerbrecht – GENSLER

Oscar Torrejón –  LUIS VIDAL+ARQUITECTOS

Magdalena Wojtal – SAMANA GROUP

Pedro Catrain – SENATOR OF SAMANA PROVINCE

Prizes

1st prize: 3,000 $, winning certificate, publication in social media, promotional materials published on sandbox.archi website, a copy of  Architecture Competitions Yearbook 

2nd prize: 2,000 $, 2nd place certificate, publication in social media, promotional materials published on sandbox.archi website, a copy of  Architecture Competitions Yearbook 

3rd prize: 1,000 $, 3rd place certificate, publication in social media, promotional materials published on sandbox.archi website, a copy of  Architecture Competitions Yearbook

7 Honorable mentions: Honorable mention certificates, publication

20 finalists: Finalists certificates, publication

Projects announced in the final 20 will be additionally published on the Samana Group Website and the Group’s listings.

Special awards

Samana Group Award

The Samana Group Construction team will select one project to be developed at the site. 

Prize Details:

- opportunity to work with Samana Group on project development

- 7-day stay for 2 persons (1 room) at the Hacienda Cocuyo in Monte Rojo, Dominican Republic including breakfast, concierge VIP and airport transfer (flight not included)

Audience award: The prize will be awarded to the project that collects the highest number of votes through the Samana Group website.

Prize Details:

- 7-day stay for 2 persons (1 room) at the Hacienda Cocuyo in Monte Rojo, Dominican Republic including breakfast, concierge VIP and airport transfer (flight not included)

- prize to be collected within 12 months from the prize announcement.

All awards will be followed with publications on social media platforms and the website of the competition. The interviews with the winners will be promoted on competitions.archi and different architectural platforms. All participants will receive a Participation e-Certificate.

Learn more details from the competition's website. 

Top image courtesy of sandbox.

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