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 winners of the Happy Homes France Competition by Arch-Sharing.
The primary objective of this series is to delve into the design process behind each winning project. We are eager to learn from architects and designers about their journey to victory in these competitions. How did they secure their win? We are curious to explore their creative path, from the initial concept and early blueprints to the final comprehensive plan. Additionally, we want to understand the choices they had to make along the way, including the solutions they discarded. Most importantly, we aim to uncover the grand idea behind each project. To achieve this, we will request sketches, drafts, and detailed descriptions, enabling us to fully grasp their techniques and the processes that led to their award-winning designs.
This article forms part of the Architecture Competitions Yearbook 2020, where you can find more captivating stories and inspiring projects similar to the one highlighted below.
At the beginning of any competition, there is always a phase of discovery for the site and of the program. In this case, the site was very vast, and we needed to keep a tight thought process and organize the structure of our project, to keep a clear goal. Our leitmotif was to follow the context and extract a strong concept which would be familiar to most people. This project takes place in a rural environment and the first task was to list all our references to the countryside and agricultural activities by using visual support: To do this, we gathered all the images of our memory and imagination which were linked to this type of landscaping. The Specification requires a replicable building everywhere in France in a rural setting. Our images of reference quickly brought us to the archetype of an agricultural shed. The general design of the agricultural shed is modern and efficient in its shape and its construction, so it was perfect for replication and the budget constraints. In addition, the bioclimatic construction was a requirement of the specification and important to our personal convictions, so the materiality took an important part in the project. It was again the collective imaginary picture of an agricultural setting that brought us to our concept: The agricultural shed protects the harvest and particularly the bales of hay which appear like the ideal building block for the construction. Not expensive, the bales of hay will be used in the project as part of the wall, as an insulation element within the wood structure.
To go further along the same idea, we raised the question of the use of the bale of hay: How much could it be an integral part of the project? The bale of hay could be a desk, a chair, a podium, litter for the animals, a base for gardening…it has numerous functions and is present on several different scales in our project. From the field to the insulation to the furniture, the bale of hay is the common thread. We also wanted a readable architecture, understandable from the outside, therefore we made the choice to integrate the bales of hay as a visible element through the polycarbonate façade. This bias allowed us to add an eco-pedagogic dimension to the project. To best explain the concept and technicity of our project, we began to work on the layout of the planchet A1 way before the final “rendu”. This preparation allowed us to save time and to preserve quality in the production of our documents for a better understanding of our ideas by the jury.
We made a conscious choice for the explanation text to insist on the imaginary concept of the project rather than the technical aspect of the building: “Picture a vast field of wheat with long straight furrows leading to a stand alone shed filled with last summer’s harvest. The straw is plentiful and well secured… It is around this collective imagined scene that our project began.”
“In any competition there are about 200 to 300 participants, and everyone are trying to win. Naturally, your project will not be the only one well thought. But the way you presented it can tip the scales. Graphic design is very important to win a competition, the graphism allows you to best communicate your ideas. What we have learned is that the board must be a clever mix of graphic, technical, schematic, explanatory documents … from the broadest to the most detailed.
Time management is essential for the success of a project. Don’t hesitate to make a schedule at the beginning of the competition in order to set goals and stay motivated!
Finally, we spent time asking ourselves questions of materiality according to the budget. Because finally, to built the project, you have to get into the budget. Take the time to find the materials that will be in harmony with your concept, your personal convictions, and the finances. “
Authors: Emmanuel Melin Pauline Dupart Nolwenn Keromnes from France
If you would like to ready more case studies like the one above please check our annual publication
Architecture Competitions Yearbook.
