Application Deadline: 28th February 2021

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition is a design contest open to students and young architects with aims to discover new talents and to adopt sustainable architecture models for humanitarian purpose to improve life conditions in developing countries. Prestigious prizes are provided for winners, selected by an international jury made up of pregistous firms and institutions.

The challenge of the competition is to design a women’s house that aims to promote gender equality as a key factor in rural development. The architecture must be a space dedicated to hosting activities which focus on education, raising awareness, and developing the village in the name of equality.

Theme

The objective of the architecture competition is the creation of a “Women’s House” within a symbolic and environmentally friendly structure that is inspired by local traditions. A space in which associations and members of society will be able to meet and discuss the topics of equality and human rights, guaranteeing involvement and emancipation of the female community in favour of the region’s social, economic, and political development. Gender equality is, in fact, not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary condition for a prosperous world. Ensuring that everyone has equal access to education, medical care, and employment, as well as a presence in decision making processes, will promote a sustainable economy that benefits society and humanity as a whole.

Today, in Sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania, and western Asia, due to financial, political, and cultural issues, young women are often prevented from being able to attend primary and secondary school. In North Africa, women hold less than one fifth of all paid jobs in non-agricultural sectors and in only 46 countries do women hold more than 30% of parliamentary seats.

Precisely because gender equality is crucial to the future of new generations, it is number five on the list of “Sustainable Development Goals” established by the United Nations for the purpose of eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence, safeguarding the rights of all genders, and providing social protection services, thus guaranteeing female participation at all levels of decision making.

Therefore, to promote this issue and safeguard women’s rights, the theme of the competition is a “Women’s House” which must integrate itself with the surrounding environmental and cultural context and promote the values of gender equality, reinterpreting them from the perspective of ecological and sustainable architecture that can be self-constructed with the local community.

Awards

Cash prize + Internship at Kengo Kuma + Construction + Adoption at National model

1st Prize

5.000 €
Construction
Internship at Kengo Kuma
Ministerial adoption as a national model project
Sharing with UN Women and Africa Union
Exhibition & Events
Publication on the official book & magazines
Certificate

2nd Prize

1.000 €
Internship at Miralles Tagliabue EMBT
Sharing with partners
Exhibition & Events
Publication on the official book & magazines
Certificate

3rd Prize

500 €
Internship at SBGA
Sharing with partners
Exhibition & Events
Publication on the official book & magazines
Certificate

2 Honorables Mentions

Chosen by Kengo Kuma & organization

100 €
Sharing with partners
Exhibition & Events
Publication on the book
Certificate

5 Special Mentions

Sharing with partners
Exhibition & Events
Publication on the book
Certificate

20 Finalists
20 Top 50

Exhibition & Events
Publication on the book
Certificate

All awarded projects will be published in the competition’s official book, in the official website of the winning projects , in social networks of the competition. All project will be transmitted to all media partners, international architectural websites and magazines. All projects will be shared with international, national and local institutions and associations. Prints, events and exhibitions of the awarded projects.

Calendar

Early registrations : 16th Jan – 28th Febr 2021
Normal registrations : 1st March – 28th March 2021
Late registrations : 29th March – 30th Apr 2021
FAQ answer deadline : 8th May 2021
Submissione Deadline: 30th May2021
Jury evalution : 13-20th June2021
Results announcement : 27th June 2021

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Kaira Looro 2021 – Women’s House Architecture Competition