Lunawood Urban Challenge 2021 called for all architecture and design students to re-imagine and redesign urban environment with Lunawood Thermowood. The competition received a total of 204 design proposals from 44 countries. The three winning designs along with the three honorable mentions, challenged the current perception of modern wood architecture. The skillful designs bring a soothing touch of nature to an urban environment, where it no longer exists.
The competition was divided into three equal categories: Architecture, Landscaping and Interior. Eeach of the winners was rewarded with a cash prize of € 5,000.
The jury also awarded three designs that demonstrate a creative and professional approach with an honorable mention.
ARCHITECTURE CATEGORY WINNERS
Flow
by Rebeka Karboníková and Patrik Nociar
Slovakia
The facade of the ’Flow’ elegantly combines the lightness of narrow Lunawood battens with organic movement, creating an interesting impression for the old post office located in Rimavska Sobota, Slovakia. Rebeka Karboníková and Patrik Nociar found the post office in their hometown looking unpleasant and chose the building as the starting point for their design in Lunawood Urban Challenge. The square where the post office is located also required refurbishment in order to reach its full potential. The name ’Flow’ tells what the building is all about. ”Because the building is used for creating and maintaining connection between people, our design represents conversation and information flowing like a wave.”, says Rebeka and Patrik. Lunawood profiles create warmth and a touch of nature on the facade of the post building.
“Post offices are one of the most important buildings in towns and cities. It is sad to see some of those buildings degrading although people using them every day. In our hometown, post office is unpleasant looking building, and it needs renewal. The building is part of town square, which is also deteriorated, and we are convinced it did not show its full potential. Because building is used for maintaining contact between people, our design represents flowing information, flowing conversation, which is spreading like a wave. Thus, facade seems like it moves, like it flows.
The building and the renewed town square will provide adequate place for such important building with place for public gatherings.
It also provides relaxing place for people passing by.”
LANDSCAPE CATEGORY
WINNERS
Meet me at the River
Mikolaj Chmiel, Filip Piasecki, Oskar Maly
United Kingdom/Poland
Mikolaj Chmiel, Filip Piasecki and Oskar Maly chose the abandoned river bank next to a car park as the basis for their deisgn proposal. The abandoned area, they say, has a lot of untapped potential and they were inspired by open social spaces and how such places influence communities. The relation of industrial typology and the shear architecture that wood offers, were the main focus for them. The group was able to bring the place of their choice to life with their design which professionally combines an old red-brick building with various Lunawood Thermowood profiles.
“River Don – meandring between XIXth and XXth century Sheffield buildings, links a formerly industrial, now more and more appreciated, Kelham Island with the centre of the city ‘built on seven hills’. As more and more people find Kelham attractive, it has become a desirable place to visit. Near the bridge over the river a neglected river bank with a car park next to it caught our attention. Inspired by open social spaces and how they influence the community we thought to redesign this site and use its potential.
We separated the scheme into two distinct areas – an open air social space exposed to the river and greenery and an enclosed dining space hosting different local food vendors. The main theme we focused on was the relation of industrial typology with the shear architecture that wood offers.”
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Eco Filling
Artur Gala
Poland
Arthur Galan’s Eco Filling design proposal brings to life a gray courtyard in southern Poland in Gliwice. The plan is named after the architect’s idea of placing environmentally friendly materials in precisely these yards. The end result is a combination of environmental friendliness, healthy living and community spirit. The proposal aims to encourage people to use more wood as a material and to increase people’s environmental awareness. The walls finished with Lunawood panels create a warm and inviting atmosphere in the courtyard and an interesting contrast between the old residential building. The wooden shutters act as an ecological way to protect the apartments from sun and heat.
The Proper Graffiti School
Ewa Andrzejuk, Agnieszka Konopka, Aleksandra Marek, Marlena Woźniak
Poland
The place originally designed by Oskar and Zofia Hansen was intended as a place for residents get together and spend time. Over the years, however, the place has become run-down, so ’The proper Graffiti School’s’ objective is to create a user-friendly place where residents can relax and enjoy their freetime. The cement blocks are partially covered with Lunawood thermowood. Various plants suitable for the area were added to the plan to create a more natural feel in this design proposal by Ewa Andrzejuk, Agnieszka Konopka, Aleksandra Marek and Marlena Woźniak.
Lamell
Sandra Schillinger, Natalie Grossman
Germany
Schillinger and Grossman noticed a considerable amount of empty, unused space between existing buildings as they toured Munich. As Munich is one of the big cities suffering from a housing problem, the work was inspired by the challenging situation. Sandra and Natalie decided to design Lamella, a space that connects existing buildings. The whole interior has an interesting lamellar structure, that creates wooden shapes that can be used as shelfs, benches and beds.
INTERIOR CATEGORY WINNERS
Wood & Travertine
Maria Laura Polselli
Italy
Maria Laura Polsell’s ‘Wood and Travertine’ combines Nordic wood and Italian urban culture. This combination takes place in an abandoned factory that gets new life in the plan. The fictional “Wood & Travertine” lounge bar is located in the heart of Pigneto, the cultural center of Roman nightlife and independent film production. A place where people can meet, socialize and discuss the latest trends in the art and film industry. The combination of the travertine frame and Lunawood walls and ceilings works beautifully.
“Situated in an abandoned factory in Rome, the Lounge bar “Wood and Travertine” wishes to combine the nordic tradition of wooden buildings with the local culture. This is underlined by the materials and function hosted. In fact, the design emphasizes a jointed use of wood and Travertine, the white and porous marble present in historical buildings and archaeological remain . The former is used for the false ceiling and the panelling of the sanitary block, the latter for the floor, the furniture and the exterior. Therefore, our Lounge bar aims to be the place where people meet to drink, socialize and discuss the latest trends in art and cinema.”
