KITESURF SCHOOL LENÇÓIS MARANHENSES

We are facing a miracle, a real miracle, a unique landscape and changeable with every season.This landscape is born of two rivers, Parnaíba and Preguiças. They drag sand and sediment from the interior of the continent to the Atlantic Ocean, this sediment are deposited on the 70 kilometres of coastline. Durin dry season, above all, in the months of October and November, the north-east wind transports the sand up to 48 kilometresin land from the earth, sculpting crescent-shaped dunes that reach 39 metres height and extend as far as the eye can see.

Under bird ́s eye view, this place, with the name “Lencços Maranhenses”, refers to the “Sabanas de Maranha” o “Maranha sheets”. Every Year, when the rainy season comes, between Junary and June new gaps are born. In July they reach their highest level. The also become interconenected when rivers cross the dunes, for example, the Black river.

It may seem like a desert landscape, but between dunes and water we can find two small communities, of about 90 people, who very their routines with the seasons: during the dry season, they are dedicated to breeding of animals and cultivation and with the rains they travel to the coast to dedicate themselves to fishing.

PROGRAM

he Kitesurf School Lençóis Maranhenses competition presents a space where you can experience the relationship between sport, nature and human beings.

The project should highlight the uniqueness of the place and become a space where there is a respect for the landscape, culture and atmosphere of the place. This last point is important as the place arrives tourists from Europe or America constantly interested in knowing the place and in fact it is such an inaccessible place that it is normal to make small camping in the area. That is why this kitesurfing school has to allow itinerant accommodation of people but without excessive contamination of the place.

Therefore, the proposed building should consider combining all these options. Tourists who arrive share experiences with the nature. A unique and unforgettable experience to get to know this amazing place.

In these bases, the designer himself will define the m2 of each area, according to the unique idea he proposes. All ideas proposed will be valid. The project may be on earth, in the sky, buried or flying. It can be developed at the choice of the designer; it can be a compact module or be a dispersion of small buildings that solve the problem.

The competition programme proposes the following spaces, which can be expanded, simplified and manipulated by the contestant as it sees fit but justified:

– Personal area. Area dedicated to the work of 2 or 3 people who will put visitors first, give them kitesurfing instructions or the necessary material to practice the sports.

– Food and rest area. This area can be shared, linked or even the same as the rest area if you want. It will be small accommodations for up to 10 people who come to practice the sport and want to have this experience more than 1 day.

– Toilet area. The minimum and indispensable unit needed to do so. Bathroom, shower and toilet. It is not intended to place a battery of small toilets as the minimum possible impact and the minimum ecological footprint possible are required.

-Storage area: All material needed for sports must be stored. This warehouse may be indoors or outdoors, covered or not. Depends on the idea of the designer.

As mentioned above, the surface of the proposal is free and these spaces can be closed, opened or semi-open depending on the intentions of each project, and can be set to any dimension of the enclave. Hence, there are no restrictions that can influence the decisions each participant makes.

The freedom of the project is absolute, this contest proposes that the participant research the landscape and the different forms of intervention in it. Study boundaries, scales, views, cross-looking, horizons, accesses. It’s the keys to follow.

* Participants can suggest new areas not proposed in this document, as well as eliminate or combine some of those already mentioned.

ELIGIBILITY

All students and architects or related professions anywhere in the world can participate in the contest. Participation can be individual or in groups, being eight (8) the maximum number of members. Team members can be from all disciplines (artists, philosophers, photographers, etc.), without being necessary, although advisable, the presence of an architect or architecture student. It is allowed that members are from different universities and countries.

The price of registration is the price that each participating team much pay, regardless of the number of members.In case that one team or participant wants to submit more than one proposal for the same competition must register twice (or as many as want to present projects) paying the appropriate fee each time.

Under no circumstances should the participation of any juror, or anyone how have a professional relationship with any of the jury will be accepted.

PRIZES

The amount of 5,000 € will be distributed as follows:

First Prize3.500 € (1.500 € + 2.000 €Programs MArch Valencia *)

Second prize1000 €

Third Prize500 €

10 Honourable MentionsNo economic prize

>>>Go to the competition’s website <<<