How to win architecture competition? | FITT Future Headquarter by YAC

In this article, we continue our series on Competitions.archi, presenting a collection of articles on different architectural competitions. Today, we will be featuring the winner of the FITT Future Headquarter by Young Architects Competitions.

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We are glad that we have the opportunity to take part in an international competition of this scale. Earlier in such competitions we managed to take 2nd and third places. The realization that we took 1st place with so many strong participants is very inspiring! Moreover, most of the projects are executed at a very high level.

Team:

Our team of participants is a group of architects of 6 people. We are the significant part of the large design institute ARENA, which has gathered specialists from the most remote corners of Russia and neighboring countries. Here we can implement the most ambitious projects, adopting the experience of senior mentors, and form our own unique style.

Choosing a competition:

In our opinion, despite the tight work schedule and deadlines, an architect should always find time to develop and participate in such competitions. So, when we had free time, we began to look for a competition where we could give freedom to our creativity and ideas. In this case, the choice was simple as we like designing public buildings, because they allow us to interact with form and context. At the same time, the context and initial provisions of the competition were very interesting – to create a balance between the technology of nature and a comfortable human working environment.

Plot and surrounding area:

There is no urbanized environment around and the object can be self-sufficient and unique. There were several main limitations that we should have paid attention to: noise and dirty production from the neighboring site, high groundwater and height restriction (no more than two floors) as well. There is no influence of context on architectural decisions. Based on these indicators, we tried to create the most comfortable technological form of the building, the appearance of which was similar to the company code. We tried to extend the volume of the building to the length of the elongated plot, while creating elements of landscaping and courtyards in the words of the existing context, including using the roof of the building.

First sketches, initial ideas

Our design institute includes 6 architectural workshops. The competition was attended by 1 workshop, which includes architects specializing in the development of the concept. First, a team of 4 architects was formed. The first stage is a detailed study of the technical task of the competition by one of the participants, the leader. Next, the team gathers at a table with printed materials of the contest assignment, pencils and paper, and the creative process of discussing and designing the idea of the contest begins. The leading architect of the workshop can take part in the discussion. We also use self-experience, study architecture trends at the moment, searching for examples such as the new apple headquarters, various google campuses, SberBanks, etc. After the meeting, several options for the development of the project idea are born, which are implemented by the team already in digital form with the help of the Revit program and visual representation (Enscape plugin). The design institute consists of related departments (designers, engineers, technologists, visualizers, the department of the master plan and others), from which participants can consult during the project. This makes it possible to take into account the whole range of building design issues at the concept stage. Usually, within the standard time, we make dozens of variants of a three-dimensional composition. Initially, we proceed from a single form of the building, which we gradually deform and change to meet the objectives of the competition.

Design is based on seven principles: functionalism, individuality, innovative technologies, sustainable architecture, high energy efficiency, health and ecology as a reflection of mental and physical stimulus.

Based on the parameters of the task, there were few options based on the limited time.

Next, we tried to take as a basis a simple and at the same time ideal circle shape, and then adapted it to the site.

Half of the oval was raised to create a courtyard space and apply an identity to it.

The exploited roof works as an element of landscaping for the creation of recreation and work areas.

Next, the oval was deformed to provide the necessary area and recognition of FITT.

An attempt to integrate the logo into the designs.

Having studied in detail the functional saturation of the building, we structured the connections of functions and formed 5 main centers. The second level was raised, freeing up space for the formation of landscaping with recreation areas and co-working.

Attempts to warp and play with the volume of the building.

In parallel with the form, the internal structure of the building and planning solutions are being worked out. These tasks are divided between people: the visual part, planning solutions, design, text part, and so on. After approval by all architects of the architectural variant, the 3d model is transferred to the visualization department. There, in conjunction with architects, visualizers work out the visualization of the project using 3ds Max and Vray for rendering and Photoshop for postproduction.

Structure

Shaping is based on the interaction of the main technological processes occurring in the building, taking into account the identity of the fitt company.

The five main functional centers of the new office are distributed along the longitudinal axis of the site: a welcoming square with a logo, an executive area, a universal arena, multifunctional workspaces with a restaurant, and residences. All main areas have independent entrances. The main entrance group is located in the representative part of the building. The three zones have landscaped courtyards, which ensures integration with nature and natural lighting of the working areas.

The main executive area includes the company’s museum/showroom and laboratories on the second floor. Next is the main arena of the office – a universal space with an amphitheater for various events: presentations, seminars, motivational sessions. The arena is located between the guest and work space of the office with convenient access for guests and employees. Covering over the arena due to automated slats has the ability to pass or block natural light. The arena is surrounded by a complex of engineering facilities for a full range of entertainment and conference technologies.

The next block includes a restaurant and multifunctional rooms on the second floor. The restaurant is surrounded by a quiet courtyard. Due to the sliding stained glass windows, the dining room of the restaurant can be extended to the courtyard with water and landscaping for a comfortable lunch on nature.

The functional range is completed by a residence and fitness in the depth of the plot. The fitness area has access to the internal courtyard. On the second floor, along the outer perimeter, there are residential rooms for employees and guests with panoramic views on the surrounding.

The second level of the building combines these functional areas with a single floor plane, forming a universal flexible working space with a set of different multifunctional rooms and platforms: closed rooms with high sound insulation for concentrated work and open lounge areas for communication. You can work anywhere – at your own desk, in collaboration areas, in well-equipped and transformable meeting rooms. The flexibility of the space is provided by transformable transparent partitions. This concept allows you to adapt the planning structure to different scenarios and organizational processes in the company.

Along the central axis of the building, typical technical and household areas are dispersed, including bathrooms, utility rooms, canteens, and technical rooms.

Design

The nature of activity, values and ideals are spread in the form and interior of the building, emphasizing the innovative industrial style of the company. All finishing materials are made mainly of light polymers and metal to increase the amount of natural light. Navigation through the complex is carried out by color graphics on the floor in the form of dynamic projections. Acoustic comfort is achieved due to the special acoustic ceiling perforation on the entire floor. The design is built on rationality, minimalism, efficiency and environmental friendliness.

The facade of the building is made of energy-efficient stained glass glazing, which provides high illumination indicators of the office space.

Energy efficiency

The project is based on the principles of sustainable architecture. The building is powered by renewable energy sources. On the roof, a zone is allocated for the location of solar panels that provide the building with renewable electricity. The internal climate is supported by a centralized system with heat recovery and geothermal energy. Also, courtyards-create favorable conditions for natural air convection and are adapted for collecting rainwater for its subsequent use in the domestic processes of the building’s life.

Landscaping

Such shaping makes it possible to use the territory of the site as efficiently as possible, creating well-maintained quiet, closed and open areas with green spaces and reservoirs. The shape of the building with an overhanging second floor made it possible to conveniently place parking spaces along the inner passage and create a comfortable, shaded environment for recreation and rest. A key element of the landscaping is a formed pedestrian network of canals-pipes that cut through the surface of the water as an allegory of the company’s technological innovations and the motifs of the historically established famous water channels. The interaction image of technology and nature is designed to inspire and encourage employees to new achievements of the company in the field of high-tech advanced solutions.

What would we advise teams that decide on such a challenge.

Learn to listen to each other carefully. Try to notice the right ideas and develop them. The thoughts of each participant are important.
When forming the idea of the contest, it is not necessary to try to follow the entire TOR. Perhaps you can come up with more interesting and bold ideas that will overcome some limitations. It is enough to see something very unusual and original that can surprise everyone. It’s always there, it just takes time to search.
Immediately you need to pay attention to the tablets and their composition, which you must provide. It is important to do only what you show, use your time effectively.
We often return to the options that we created at the beginning, having gone a long way to search.
Distribution of tasks by type of work: tablets and their layout, plans, visualizations, diagrams, text.
It seems to us that in the concept it is possible to move away a little from the design features and eng. restrictions in favor of project expression.
Only the most successful views should be placed on the tablet. There is no task to show a lot of work. It is important to convey the idea of the project as simply as possible.
It is always necessary to design from the general to the particular. Don’t spend a lot of time on details that no one will see.