Living Steel Launches Second International Architecture Competition for Sustainable Housing...
Brussels, Belgium 2 October 2006: Living Steel, a worldwide programme to stimulate innovation in the design and construction of housing, today announced its second International Architecture Competition focused on the development of sustainable housing. Architects from around the world are invited to accept the challenge of developing new urban housing by expressing their interest to participate in the competition.

With a total prize fund of €300,000, the competition is one of the largest architectural design initiatives in the world. Competition finalists will be invited to design new concepts for residential buildings in Brazil, China and the United Kingdom. The winning submission for each location will receive a €50,000 prize and a contract to complete their designs. The remaining short listed finalists will each receive a €10,000 honorarium.

Speaking about the initiative on World Architecture Day, Scott Chubbs, Living Steel Programme Director said, "The growth of cities has placed unprecedented pressure on society to rapidly address increasing population densities and the consequent impact on local environments, economies and quality of life. In this context, the Living Steel competition presents architects with a unique opportunity to bring their vision for effective and affordable housing to life".

He continued, "We want this competition to inspire architects to adopt a fresh and innovative approach to the use of steel in design, construction, building use and its eventual re-use.”

Earlier this year, two architecture firms were successful in the first Living Steel competition to construct housing designs in very different parts of the world. UK based firm, Piercy Conner Architects and Designers, and Dutch company, architectenbureau cepezed, are now working in Kolkata, India and Warsaw, Poland, respectively.

“For competition entrants, this initiative presents an important opportunity to showcase innovative thinking in the context of sustainable development", said jury chairman Glenn Murcutt.

Mr Murcutt is joined on the jury by Charles Correa, Jamie Lerner, Andrew Ogorzalek, James Berry and Nicholas de Monchaux.

The Living Steel International Architecture Competition meets the criteria of the International Union of Architects and complies with architectural competition standards adopted by UNESCO.

Architects may submit their expressions of interest through the Living Steel website until 12 January 2007. Architectural firms of all sizes, scope and geographic locations are encouraged to apply. Further competition details are available on the Living Steel website at www.livingsteel.org