Urban Zoo Coworking Design Challenge - International Architecture design competition

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: The Urban Zoo Coworking Design Challenge ‪‎architecture‬ ‪design competition, organised by Bee Breeders, is‬ now opened for entries inviting all worldwide to participate.

Organised by Bee Breeders, Architecture Design Competition titled Urban Zoo Coworking Design Challenge has been resently opened for entries inviting all worldwide to participate.

Urban Zoo Coworking is looking to become the a internationally-recognised brand, known for promoting tomorrow’s concept of a dynamic and flexible workplace that focuses on sustainable, ergonomic design. Launching first in Riga, Urban Zoo Coworking has plans to quickly expand, opening coworking spaces in Scandinavia and then across Western Europe.

For the Urban Zoo Coworking Design Challenge, competition participants are tasked with designing the interior concept for a new chain of co-working spaces set to launch their first location in the heart of Latvia’s capital city, Riga.

One of the biggest appeals of starting your own business is escaping from the rat race and the urban jungle, and giving yourself the freedom to work where and when you want. The evolution of the job market has made it more possible than ever for individuals to work remotely, setting up their laptops in coffee shops around the world in search of a more flexible work environment.

However, with little structure and no accountability, remote workers quickly started searching for more effective workspace, hence the creation of coworking spaces. Coworking spaces provides a professional yet relaxed environment; one that is open to collaboration with other similarly-minded individuals, but still provides complete autonomy and flexibility.
The focus of the Urban Zoo is to provide quality over quantity in terms of their co-working space, in an effort to distinguish it from traditional office layouts. The purpose of the space is to invoke creative thinking and collaboration with other like-minded individuals, therefore an element of play should be incorporated into the designs, either as a dedicated area or throughout the space. That being said, there are some criteria that should be included: a closed, soundproof meeting room that can accommodate up to 6 people; 1 soundproof “telephone booth”; a kitchen and a zone to take a break.

The most important criteria is a clear and comprehensive understanding of an ergonomic layout that maximises the number of available workspaces while still being comfortable and welcoming.

For this competition, participants will be able to select from two different layouts to work with, however it is vital that the submitted designs can be adapted and are applicable to multiple locations and are suitable for both proposed example layouts.

Bee Breeders offers four registration categories for you to choose from:

• Students
• Companies
• Architectural Designers / Enthusiasts
• Licensed Architects

THE COMPETITION SITE

For this competition, participants are allowed to select from two different apartment layouts to work with, however it is vital that the submitted designs can be adapted and are applicable to multiple locations and are suitable for both proposed example layouts (layout plans and 3d models are available on the official website).

Submission requirements:

• Participants are required to upload 4 x A2 landscape-orientated presentation boards (must not exceed 5mb per jpg) with sketches, renderings, plans, sections, elevations, diagrams, and/or other presentation tools to explain their proposal.
• No video files are accepted.
• All information provided in writing must be in English.
• All submissions must be uploaded via the beebreeders.com upload panel.

Only 1 proposal per registration is permitted.

Design proposals can be developed individually or by teams (4 team members maximum).

Registration period close on 08 February, 2019, but you can submit your project until 19 February, 2019, (11:59pm GMT+0).

Consultative jury will select 40 shortlisted from all submitted entries, after that core jury panel will evaluate the 9 finalists and select the top 3 winning projects and 6 honorable mentions.

The winners will be announced on 01 March, 2019.

Entry fee cost US $120, instead for a students US $80.

Competition is open to all. No professional qualification is required.

Bee Breeders will award a total of US $5,000 in prize money to competition winners as follows:

• 1st Prize US $3,000
• 2nd Prize US $1,500
• 3rd Prize US $500

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

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