Course syllabus for Architectural competitions

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-13 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameArkitekttävlingar
  • CodeACE420
  • Credits10 Credits
  • OwnerMPARC
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyArchitecture
  • ThemeArchitectural design project 7.5 c
  • DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 05133
  • Maximum participants26 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)
  • Minimum participants8
  • Open for exchange studentsYes
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0123 Written and oral assignments 10 c
Grading: TH		 10 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Aim

The aim of this course intends to develop individual skills and readiness for independent participation in architectural competitions. The course will provide insights, reflections, and discussions on the history of architectural competitions and provide an overview of current types and conditions of the architectural competitions in different national contexts through several lectures also on competition strategies by experienced architects and jury members. The course comprises exercises in graphical and oral presentation techniques as well as information on the preparation of video visualization and computer animation.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

Knowledge and understanding
  • Demonstrate awareness of the formal procedures, conditions and different characters, cultures, and situations of competitions in a historical and contemporary international perspective conceived as a unique profile and feature of the profession.
Competence and skills
  • independently conduct an interpretation of a common exercise brief or alternatively a professional advanced competition brief and produce the appropriate delivery of requested material such as poster presentation with appropriate drawings, illustrations, and models as a preparation for practical activities in the profession.
  • design an architectural proposal from a holistic perspective, dealing with complex contexts and regarding existing values and demands from different user’s perspectives and in relation to sustainable development.
  • systematically apply knowledge and understanding of physical, technical and process principles in design.
Judgement and approach
  • articulate a well-grounded opinion and a critical interpretation on and approach towards the cultural values and societal role of architectural competitions as a tool for developing the professional profile of the architect and for fostering innovation and urban architectural qualities as well as to identify and potentially apply valid and successful state of the art design strategies in professional competition situations.

Content

The content of the course will start with lectures ‘On the Architectural Competition’ and presentation of Wernstedt Student Competition Brief. Site analysis will follow this phase and continue with the architectural design of the competion proposal. Model work, drawings and illustrations are considered of crucial importance.

A series of lectures on competitions in architecture accomplish the exercise. The course aims to prepare the students for a situation where the work is carried out without assistance during the competition. Feedback will be given afterwards to the delivered proposals. A well executed project is therefore a good reference in your professional portfolio.

Organisation

The Wernstedt sketch origins from a donation from Professor Melchior Wernstedt (1886-1973). Thanks to his funding, Chalmers can arrange an accurate architectural competition with a program, a jury and a prize sum to the winner(s).

The competition is open to all students registered in the MPARC course Architectural Competitions, at Chalmers Architecture ACE. Each entry may be submitted by either one or by maximum two students. Only complete entries delivered in time will be evaluated. The competition is a student exercise only. The programme has no relation to the actual needs or demands.

The program is unique for every year. It has usually been a small or medium size building on a lot in Gothenburg. Previous students have worked with tasks as a new auditorium on Götaplatsen, a kindergarten in Slottsskogen, a space for waiting by the river, a wedding chapel at Saltholmen and many other hypothetic commissions.

For earlier results see www.chalmers.se search Wernstedt Student-Competition

Studio space and carpentry are used for physical or digital materials.

Literature

Available for consultation in A-biblioteket
  • Andersson, J. E., Bloxham-Zettersten, G., and Rönn, M. (eds.) (2016), Architectural Competitions as Institution and Process. Stockholm, Sweden: Kulturlandskapet I The Royal Institute of Technology.
  • 'Architectural Competitions' (2009) Nordic Journal of Architectural Research No 2/3, 2009.
  • Andersson, J. E., Rönn, M. & Bloxham-Zettersten, G., Eds. (2013). Architectural Competitions – Histories and Practice. Stockholm, Rio kultur kooperativ.
  • Arkitekttävlingar 2007-2010, (2010) Sveriges Arkitekter (Swedish Association of Architects)
  • CONDITIONS/NO (2010): ‘The Future of Competitions’, issue #7/2010
  • Dreams and comp(L)eted projects - 130 years of Finnish Architectural Competitions, (2006) SAFA exhibition
  • Europan 10 Result Book Sweden x 4 Result book, (2010) Stockholm, E. Wingquist & A. Johansson, eds.
  • Gromark, S. (2012). "Bakåtblickar - Framtidsvyer / Looking Backwards - Looking Forwards" in Torsvall, J., P. Kraft, H. Mattsson, E. Wingquist and A. Johansson. EuroPanic - Europan Sweden – a thousand new ideas for our cities / Europan Sverige – tusen nya idéer för våra städer. Stockholm, Europan Sweden / Europan Sverige c/o Sveriges Arkitekter pp: 76-80.
  • Hagelqvist, S. (2010). Arkitekttävlingen som föreställning: den svenska arkitekttävlingens ideologiska, institutionella och professionella villkor under 1900-talets första hälft, Stockholm, axl books. [diss.]
  • Kazemian, R, M Rönn & J E Svensson (2007). Arkitekturtävlingar - erfarenheter från Finland, Stockholm, Axl Books.
  • Lipstadt, Hélène, (1989), The Experimental Tradition: Essays on Competitions in Architecture, Princeton Architectural Press.
  • Prinz, Frederik and Uffelen, Chris Van (2011). Competition Architecture Braun Publishing AG, Berlin
  • Rönn, M, R Kazemian & J E Andersson, Eds. (2011). The Architectural Competition: Research Enquiries and Experiences. Stockholm, Axl Books.
  • Svensson, Charlotte (2008). Arkitekttävlingar, om konsten att hitta en vinnare, Stockholm: TRITA-ARK Akademisk Licentiatavhandling 2008:3, KTH.
  • Torsvall, J., P. Kraft, H. Mattsson, E. Wingquist and A. Johansson. (2012). EuroPanic - Europan Sweden – a thousand new ideas for our cities / Europan Sverige – tusen nya idéer för våra städer. Stockholm, Europan Sweden / Europan Sverige c/o Sveriges Arkitekter
  • Tostrup, Elisabeth, (1999), Architecture and Rhetoric. Text and Design in Architectural Competitions, Andreas Papadakis Publisher.
  • Waern, Rasmus, (1996), Tävlingarnas tid. Arkitekttävlingarnas betydelse i borgerlighetens Sverige. Chalmers arkitektur [diss.]

Examination including compulsory elements

Completed delivery of a valid competition entry to the Wernstedt Sketch or other relevant student or professional international competition like Europan during the course period, examined and passed by the jury, together with presence at the debriefing seminar when competition results are publicly announced, as well as taking active part in 80% of all lectures. The grading is based on the final hand-ins, the final project presentation, and comments from the jury.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.