Color in Architecture

AkzoNobel, the leading multinational corporation in powder coating for metal architectural components, and Archisearch.gr, invite young professionals up to the age of 40 and architecture students in the final year of their studies, to an open architecture competition:

We ask the participants to choose a specific building or a building typology in the Greek city they consider to fall within the problem stated (for instance, a polykatoikia, an office building, a school, a leisure facility etc.), and design a new façade that engages issues of sustainability and aesthetics.

The design research for the new façade will introduce a metal structure coated with color, supplemented by other coated metal elements (cladding or infill panels, doors, windows etc.). The argument should address issues of sustainability and convince that the new structure creates a suitable environment (sun protection, eco-friendly materials and coating), both for the building inhabitants as well as for the public at large.

We encourage the participants to form collaborations with architects, environmental engineers, facade engineers and artists; that way, the design research will be more comprehensive.

Furthermore, we ask the participants to prefer colors from the vast AKZO NOBEL inventory, as well as materials of the competition sponsors Alumil and Guardian Glass.

Is there a way to invent a combined attack on this double front? Energy performance upgrade through redesigning the image of the city? Can we, as scientists of the human environment, contribute to a new façade vocabulary, that will reflect the need for functional as well as aesthetically stimulating façades?

Can the architects, engineers and urban designers suggest innovative ideas for existing buildings, and improve their performance? At the same time, will they deliver an articulate architectural discourse employing new materials and colors?

Ariadni Vozani Architect, Assistant Professor at the NTUA School of Architecture

Nikos Ktenas Architect

Stavros Martinos Editor in Chief, ARCHISEARCH.gr

Per Nimer Akzonobel / Design Manager

Dimitris Potiropoulos Architect

Kostas Poulopoulos Architect / Curator

Rena Sakellaridou Architect, MArch, PhD, Professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

JULY

3 Competition announcement

10-24 Q&A on the competition brief and objectives

24 Answers to the questions of the participants

OCTOBER

9 Deadline for entries

20 Validation and confirmation of entries

NOVEMBER

3-4 Jury meeting, evaluation of entries

27-30 Commentary on the entries by members of the Jury in a public conference and presentation of print catalog. The conference venue will be announced in September.