Corus receives record interest for student architect award
05 Mar 2007
Over 655 individuals and teams have registered their intent to enter final designs into the 2007 Corus Architectural Student Awards – the largest number since the inaugural competition 19 years ago.
Throwing down the gauntlet to students, the 2007 competition tasks them with the challenge of designing a creative housing solution using steel that will benefit a community living in an area either threatened by unpredictable water levels, or permanently on water.
Steve Thompson, Senior Architect Corus Construction and judging panel member comments: “Climate change and its affect on rising sea levels is an issue of global concern and, given overwhelming response to this year’s competition, one to which the future generation of architects are keen to make a genuine contribution. Corus is committed to supporting architects throughout their careers, and this award provides a creative vehicle for a future generation of designers to learn about the use of steel in sustainable developments.”
Widely recognised by the UK academic community as one of the foremost undergraduate awards, the reputation of Corus’ Architectural Student Award is now firmly established on the international stage. This year’s competition attracted unprecedented world-wide interest with 50 per cent of entries coming from students at international universities.
Final submissions for the competition could consider any number of possible solutions; a permanent dwelling that allows a diverse range of people to co-exist with an unpredictable water level; or a flexible, demountable temporary shelter that could easily be adapted to provide disaster relief for a location anywhere in the world. However, regardless of the form, the community should aim to tread lightly on the earth and at least have zero impact on the environment and, despite the ever-present threat of flood, water conservation should also be a primary concern.
Steve Thompson explains: “Steel is an inherently flexible, strong and long lasting material, and has been at the forefront of architectural and engineering innovation throughout modern history – evolving along with human needs. Steel is 100% recyclable, and can be re-used many times without any loss of quality, in that sense it is also a supremely sustainable material, one which is well suited to current concerns and the need to consider the environmental impact of buildings, their materials, design and future use”.
With a total prize fund of £5000, the deadline for final entries is 4.30pm on Friday 18 May 2007. The winning entries will be announced at the Awards Ceremony taking place on Thursday 12 July 2007 at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London, alongside an exhibition of commended work.
