Editors’ Choice
2020 Skyscraper Competition

Lukas Kaufmann
Germany

Payam was the only person I’ve met who witnessed a time before the great war, before … peace.

I had seen him often, sitting in the sky bar and glancing over Berlin. One day, he was asked to hold a lecture at one of the auditoriums here. Of course, I was curious about what he would have to say, after living and working in an Omnicontinental Treehouse for such a long time. Since I just had been drafted and moved to Berlin from Barcelona, I didn’t know a lot of people in the building yet, so I eagerly joined the class. The room was filled with people from all over the world, while he silently stood there in front of us, slightly leaning on his cane.

He was born 2013 in Beirut, studied architecture and biochemistry in Teheran and Nairobi.

After the Third World War (2028-2030) mankind finally got to its senses and started working together as a unit. All the money that has been spent on military and other unnecessary, unsustainable things was slowly being invested in the global unification and collaboration towards a common goal. Solving a shared problem, that has long become more than just an imminent thread, has helped to produce more and more open-minded, well educated human beings – generation for generation.

Mr. Zaarhoon told us that he had not been drafted – like me or most of the other persons in the room. He applied for the position. Within the first couple of years after completion, each of the six Omnicontinental Treehouses had to fill their spaces with thoughtfully elected men and women from all nations on earth. So when you were from a relatively small country, you had good chances, he said. Read the rest of this entry »

Editors’ Choice
2020 Skyscraper Competition

Chien-Hsun Chen, Tzu-Jung Chin
Taiwan

Path For The Cultivators
Buddhismscraper is a skyscraper located above the crater. The crater has formed a lake after years of rainwater accumulation. The skyscraper is a Dzi bead building made of meteorite and Dzi created an ancient civilization. Dzi is a sacred relic worshipped by the Buddhists, and it is passed down from generation to generation as a relic for the Buddha. Buddhismscraper is a place of practice for Buddhists, it’s also a place of cultivating for Buddhists. Furthermore, learning and practice is an important course for Buddhists and hence this skyscraper is designed for cultivators to reach the highest level through trials and spiritual practice. Read the rest of this entry »

Editors’ Choice
2020 Skyscraper Competition

Gary Esposito, Ryan Barney
United States

Developments in implementation and safety have led serious proponents of realistic energy solutions to conclude that nuclear energy remains our most promising carbon-free resource. This proposal is speculation on architectural design as a fundamental component of future nuclear systems. Using a recognizable infrastructural icon as the starting point, we propose adopting the cooling tower as a misunderstood entity, adapting it as a symbol for environmental security by reorienting public perception. We propose reimagining specific energy, social, and economic cycles through an integrated architectural argument, centered around an urban ‘Generation 4’ nuclear power plant. Using a mixed-use program including an oncological research facility, Gen-4 hitchhikes off 21st-century innovations in nuclear technology, asserting its role as civic symbol and economic entity to fuel research into human longevity, biologically and environmentally—Architecture as Cure. Situated at the site of an earlier nuclear plant proposal adjacent to New York City, Gen-4 proposes the skyscraper as a 21st-century symbol of evolution, reorienting public perception, standing with Promethean conviction against fear and ignorance.  Read the rest of this entry »

Editors’ Choice
2020 Skyscraper Competition

HeeYong Jung, Hye Rim Kim, Hyuneun Cho, Sihun Han
South Korea

Introduction
The Earth is like a living organism in that it is a self-healing system that can recover from the damages that were done to it from external forces. Much like how injured skin is able to heal itself and develop new flesh, the Earth is able to restore itself to perform its existing functions, even after it has been damaged by natural disasters and destructive human activities.

As we enter the 21st century, the speed of human development is exceeding the speed of the Earth’s self-recovery function due to population growth. As the scale of human activity expands, its negative impact on the Earth is increasing exponentially. Human activities that did not take into account the global environment has sharply intensified pollution, and there exists a vicious cycle in which humans are damaged by the polluted environment in return. If this continues, nature’s self-healing system will eventually collapse and become irreparable. Read the rest of this entry »

Editors’ Choice
2020 Skyscraper Competition

Haitong Chen, Peizhe Fang, Yechi Zhang
United States

Peak oil is the theorized point in time when the maximum rate of extraction of petroleum is reached, after which it is expected to enter terminal decline. At the time of post-peak oil.  We found that there are more and more Abandoned Oil rigs around Louisiana coastal line. Currently, the research told us just in this area there are 176 large oil platforms and 3000 more small oil rigs.

The expected effects of post-oil: peak oil and sea level rises, results in a series of incidents such as Oil Rigs Desertion, and bio-habitat loss. There are four different programs designed for offshore, mid-seas, and high seas oil rigs.

Our design focuses on the deserted Oil Rig Networks, we transform the original rigs into vertical bio-habitats, which aims to exert instant response to the oil spill, offer shelter to different types of species, and create public recreational programs. The proposal can be designed into four different programs that adapt to three different types of oil rigs. Read the rest of this entry »

Editors’ Choice
2020 Skyscraper Competition

Alireza Rezvani, Aref Kiantash, Hamid Vaeezadeh
Iran

Problems

• The increase in buildings’ occupancy area and the decrease of green spaces in cities.
• Creating green space in high-rise buildings.
• The growth of population and the necessity for high-rise construction.
• Use of clean energies and a decrease in the use of fossil energies.
• Saving rain and snow water.
• Protection against environmental pollutions.
• Stability, permanence, and strength.
• Increasing the upper levels of towers for better view and light.
• Flexibility and expandability.

Concept And Ideas

• Decreasing the occupancy area using an inverted pyramid.
• Increasing the roof area to establish solar panels using an inverted pyramid.
• Increasing the roof area for collecting rainwaters using an inverted pyramid.
• The possibility to create green space in heights using an inverted pyramid.
• Expandability by using triangle, square and hexagon patterns using an inverted pyramid.
• Increased stability using an inverted pyramid.
• The increase of residential units in upper levels using an inverted pyramid.
• Better view to ground and sky using inverted pyramid.
• The tent cover that opens in emergencies (air pollution such as sandstorms) and protects the city.

Read the rest of this entry »

WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED ON MAY 5, 2021

eVolo Magazine is pleased to invite architects, students, engineers, designers, and artists from around the globe to take part in the 2021 Skyscraper Competition. Established in 2006, the annual Skyscraper Competition is one of the world’s most prestigious awards for high-rise architecture. It recognizes outstanding ideas that redefine skyscraper design through the implementation of novel technologies, materials, programs, aesthetics, and spatial organizations; along with studies on globalization, flexibility, adaptability, and the digital revolution. It is a forum that examines the relationship between the skyscraper and the natural world, the skyscraper and the community, and the skyscraper and the city.

The participants should take into consideration the advances in technology, the exploration of sustainable systems, and the establishment of new urban and architectural methods to solve economic, social, and cultural problems of the contemporary city including the scarcity of natural resources and infrastructure and the exponential increase of inhabitants, pollution, economic division, and unplanned urban sprawl.

The competition is an investigation of the public and private space and the role of the individual and the collective in the creation of a dynamic and adaptive vertical community. It is also a response to the exploration and adaptation of new habitats and territories based on a dynamic equilibrium between man and nature – a new kind of responsive and adaptive design capable of intelligent growth through the self-regulation of its own systems.

There are no restrictions in regards to site, program, or size. The objective is to provide maximum freedom to the participants to engage the project without constraints in the most creative way. What is a skyscraper in the 21st century? What are the historical, contextual, social, urban, and environmental responsibilities of these mega-structures?

eVolo Magazine is committed to continuing stimulating the imagination of designers around the world – thinkers that initiate a new architectural discourse of economic, environmental, intellectual, and perceptual responsibility that could ultimately modify what we understand as a contemporary skyscraper, its impact on urban planning and on the improvement of our way of life.

REGISTRATION

Architects, students, engineers, and designers are invited to participate in the competition. We encourage you to have multidisciplinary teams.

• Participants must register by January 26, 2021.
• Early Registration: USD $95 until November 17, 2020.
• Late Registration: USD $135 from November 18, 2020 to January 26, 2021.
• One registration = One project.
• Participants may submit various projects but must register each entry.
• There is no limit as to the number of participants per team. Individual entries are accepted.
• After your registration has been approved, eVolo will send the registration number (within 24 hours) which will be necessary to include in the submission boards.

SCHEDULE

• July 15, 2020 – Competition announcement and registration opens.
• November 17, 2020 – Early registration deadline
• January 26, 2021 – Late registration deadline
• February 9, 2021 – Project submission deadline (23:59 hours US Eastern Time)
• April 27, 2021 – Winners’ announcement

-> REGISTER YOUR TEAM

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

This is a digital competition and no hardcopies are necessary. Entrants must submit their proposal no later than February 9, 2021 (23:59 hours US Eastern Time) via email to skyscraper2021@evolo.us. 

The project submission must contain the following files:

1. Two boards with the project information including plans, sections, and perspectives. Participants are encouraged to submit all the information they consider necessary to explain their proposal. These boards should be 24″(h) X 48″(w) in HORIZONTAL format. The resolution of the boards must be 150 dpi, RGB mode and saved as JPG files. The upper right corner of each board must contain the participation number. There should not be any marks or any other form of identification. The files must be named after the registration number followed by the board number. For example: 0101-1.jpg and 0101-2.jpg.
2. A DOC file containing the project statement (600 words max). This file must be named after the registration number followed by the word “statement”. For example: 0101-statement.doc.
3. A DOC file containing the entrants’ personal information, including name, profession, address, and email. This file must be named after the registration number followed by the word “info”. For example: 0101-info.doc.
   All the files must be placed in a ZIP folder named after your registration number. For example: 0101.zip
4. If your files are larger than 20MB you can submit your entry using a file sharing service like wetransfer or Google Drive to skyscraper2021@evolo.us

JURY

Koray Duman [Principal, Büro Koray Duman]
Reza Najafian [Principal, ReNa Design]
Arto Ollila [Partner, Aarti Ollila Ristola]
Eric Parry [Principal, Eric Parry Architects]
Isa Ye [Founder, designverse. Founder, Young Bird Plan]

REGULATIONS

1. This is an anonymous competition and the registration number is the only means of identification.
2. The official language of the competition is English.
3. The registration fee is non-refundable.
4. Contacting the Jury is prohibited.
5. eVolo Magazine, as the competition organizer, reserves the right to modify the competition schedule if deemed necessary.
6. Participants retain all copyrights of their designs. eVolo Magazine is granted permission to publish in print and digital publications all projects submitted to the competition.
7. Entrants will be disqualified if any of the competition rules are not considered.
8. Participation assumes acceptance of the regulations.

AWARDS

1st place – $5000 USD
2nd place – $2000 USD
3rd place – $1000 USD

Winners, honorable mentions, and selected projects will be published in the forthcoming book EVOLO SKYSCRAPERS 4 to be released in 2021.

-> REGISTER YOUR TEAM

Winners and special mentions will be published by eVolo and several international print publications including the forthcoming book EVOLO SKYSCRAPERS 4. In addition, the results are covered by the most important online architecture and design publications and general media such as The Huffington Post and The Wall Street Journal.

Previous winners have been featured in the following print publications:

ABC Magazine – Czech Republic, About:Blank Magazine – Portugal, Aeroflot – Russia, Architect Builder – India, Architecture and Culture – South Korea, Architecture Design Art – Pakistan, Architektura Murator – Poland, AT Architecture Technique – China, Archiworld – South Korea, AWM – The Netherlands, Azure – Canada, B-1 – Thailand, Bauwelt – Germany, Blueprint – United Kingdom, BusinessWeek– USA, C3 – South Korea, CAAOH – Ukraine, Casamica – Italy, Casas y Mas – Mexico, Concept – South Korea, Courier Mail – Australia, Discover Magazine – USA, Donga – South Korea, Enlace – Mexico, Focus – Canada/Italy, Future Arquitecturas – Spain, Geolino Extra – Germany, Grazia Casa – Italy, Kijk – The Netherlands, L’Installatore Italiano – Italy, L’Arca – Italy, L’Uomo Vogue – Italy, La Razon – Spain, Le Courier de l’ Architecte – France, Le Fourquet – Mexico, Mark Magazine – The Netherlands, Maxim – USA, Mercedes Benz Magazine – Germany, Mladina – Slovenia, Modulo – Italy, Modulor – Switzerland, NAN – Spain, Natur + Kosmos – Germany, New Scientist – United Kingdom, Oculus – USA, Of Arch – Italy, Pasajes de Arquitectura – Spain, Peak Magazine – Singapore, Popular Mechanics – USA/Russia, Popular Science – USA, Puls Biznesu – Poland, Quo– China/Spain, Rogue Magazine – Philippines, RUM – Sweden, Salt Magazine – The Netherlands, Science et Vie – France, Sciences et Avenir– France, Shanghai Morning Post – China, Space – South Korea, Spade – Canada, Spazio Casa – Italy, Specifier Magazine – Australia, SMW Magazine – Taiwan, Stafette – Germany, Tall Buildings – Russia, Tatlin – Russia, The Broker – The Netherlands, The Outlook Magazine – China, The New York Times – USA, The Wall Street Journal – USA, Time Style and Design – USA, Travel and Leisure – USA, Vida Simples Magazine – Brazil, Vogue – Australia/USA, Vox Design – Poland, Wettbewerbe Aktuell – Germany, Wired – USA/Italy, Woongjin – South Korea, World Architecture – China

FAQ

Who can participate in the competition?
Everyone is invited to participate, including students and professionals from any country worldwide.

Can we submit more than one entry?
Yes, but each project must be registered individually.

Can we submit printed boards?
No, this is a digital competition and all submissions must be in digital format as outlined in the competition brief.

Is there a specific height requirement for the skyscraper?
There is no specific height requirement.

Is there a specific program requirement?
No, participants have complete freedom to establish their own program, site and conceptual agenda.

Editors’ Choice
2020 Skyscraper Competition

Ginfung Yong , Anca Ruxandra Florina Trimbaciu, Ali Irfan Bin Shazali, Alina Marinescu, Dominic Street, Franci Tafilaj, Raussell-Vince Mendigo, Jinkun Shen
United Kingdom

As years go by, we become more aware of the changes we need to make, as a society, in order to try and slow down or stagnate the damage we have done to our planet.

Consumerism and demand for cheaper, easy-replaceable goods have led us to produce more and more plastics and, implicitly waste, every year. However, unlike other materials, which can be reused or can enter a different lifecycle, plastics generally end up in landfills. Most of the Western plastic waste has been exported off to countries in Asia, which leads to rivers there becoming increasingly polluted. This is happening especially in areas of high-density population, in underdeveloped countries where the necessary recycling infrastructure is not provided. The plastic waste in rivers eventually ends up in open seas and oceans, which has built up in time into the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an area in the Pacific Ocean where over 80,000 tonnes of plastic float.

Therefore, solutions to implement recycling into circular economy models are needed. The Vrysi (Greek βρύση – meaning tap) prototype is designed to be positioned in estuary environments (the tidal mouth of a large river; where the tide meets the stream). The prototype expands on the concept of the ‘Ocean interceptor’, created by The Ocean Cleanup Group and, as the name states, intercepts and stops waste from flowing past it and into the ocean and transforms it into products that can benefit the community. Due to its strategic location, the vertical village is ‘turning off the tap’ on ocean pollution right at the source. Read the rest of this entry »

Editors’ Choice
2020 Skyscraper Competition

Yuanxi Zhang, Na Xie, Henan Wang
China, Japan

At present, the scarcity of freshwater resources is becoming increasingly serious, and it has become a global environmental problem. 97.5% of the total water resources in the world are saltwater resources such as seawater. Data show that more than 70% of the world ’s population lives within 70 km from the seaside. Therefore, desalination is considered to be the most practical method to continuously provide a source of fresh water. Compared to the other two commonly used methods of freshwater withdrawal-underground water withdrawal and remote water diversion, the energy consumption for seawater desalination is low, and raw water resources are abundant.

This project is located in the northern part of the East China Sea, next to Shanghai. China is a country with a severe drought and water shortage. China’s total freshwater resources are less than 2.800 billion cubic meters, accounting for 6% of global water resources, second only to Brazil, Russia, and Canada, ranking fourth in the world. However, China’s population accounts for more than 18% of the world’s total, and its per capita water resources are only 2,300 cubic meters, which is only a quarter of the world average. It is one of the countries with the world’s most per capita water resources. Shanghai’s 6340.5 square kilometers carry a population of 24.278 million. According to the standard of extreme water shortage per capita water resources below 500 cubic meters, Shanghai is in the extreme water shortage zone. How to find a more adequate and sustainable source of freshwater is a problem that must be addressed in urban development. Read the rest of this entry »

Editors’ Choice
2020 Skyscraper Competition

Xie Xiaolu, Zhai Xuetong, Kong Haodong, Zhang Yiping
China

According to statistics from the United Nations, there will be 3 billion people live in slums with poor living conditions by 2030. They live in slums, sharing only 10% of urban wealth, facing hunger, disease, and death, without way and passion to change their fate. After the study of slums, we believe that simply improving the living environment of slums cannot fundamentally solve this problem, unless the social system and class solidification can be profoundly reformed.

Class solidification, people avoid but have to admit, it is inevitable in social development. Generally, people always think poverty is due to laziness, but in fact, poverty is a kind of misfortune. Forced to live, the poor have to choose to go to work earlier rather than to receive longer education; to consume the production than to accumulate capital; to search for places with low land prices, were gathering the poor and further limits their development, to make them lack the courage and endurance to change their status. These factors are reciprocal causation, making the class barrier like an invisible wall, isolating the communication between people of different classes.

Sao Bernardo Du Camp, a place in southeastern Brazil, South America, where the gap between rich and poor is among the widest in the world. Slums in Brazil are like “weeds” that grow on this “paradise on earth.” Wherever there is open space, there are they. A narrow street, between the mansion and the slum, completely separate the fate of the two sides. This program aims to break down the invisible “wall” between the classes with a visible building “wall”. People living here can be trained in skills, and access to relatively comfortable and inexpensive living spaces-providing a cushion of time for people trying to improve themselves to accumulate capital, which is helpful for them to integrate into society and survive independently. Read the rest of this entry »