Hastings has called for blue sky design ideas for the redevelopment of the cultural heart of the city, acting as a vessel for connectedness, evolution, and an enabler of social, cultural and economic growth.
The competition closes January 27, 2012, and is being implemented by the Hastings District Council. The outcomes of the design competition will be used as a primary vehicle for consultation and ultimately presented to Council for consideration as part of the Draft 2012/22 Long Term Plan.
1st prize: $8,000.00
2nd prize: $3,000.00
3rd prize: $2,000.00
Student prize: $1,500.00
This competition represents Stage 1 (Idea Generation Competition) of a 2 Stage design process. The Detailed Design Process (Stage 2) is conditional upon the outcomes of the Long-Term Community Plan consultation process, and of course requires resolution by the Council to commit to the project in the 2012/22 Long Term Plan.
The competition is open to tertiary students and design professionals ("including but not limited to: architects, landscape architects, urban designers, planners and industrial designers").
The project is budgeted at $8.5 million, and will be assessed on weighted criteria including Mana whenua and cultural connectedness, architecture urban design and landscape integration and connection, sustainability and green technology, integration of Public Art with the Site, and Financial considerations.
These categories are specifically (well) represented on the assessors panel which includes local Councillors, community representatives, landscape architect Georgina Thow, Auckland University's Andrew Barry, and architect Kerstin Thompson.
The Brief is rather nicely put together, and by all means thorough, so this seems like a promising prospect, which is rare that it should go to open competition. The competition is also anonymous which is fantastic.
Register online here for access to a full spec & document package, and download the Brief here.
Check out the website for a range of important information here, Questions are due by November 28, so get working!
The Competition is supported by NZILA and NZIA, so if you're a member with those Institutions you should probably check in with their additional Guidelines, otherwise get cracking.