Florida Foundation For Architecture

Florida Foundation for Architecture

4th Annual Design Competition 2011

CSH/FL

Case Study Housing for Florida:

Sustainable by Necessity

With the goal to re-define the notion of the ‘Florida House’ for the 21st century, the Florida Foundation for Architecture is embarking on a design competition program to explore the concept of integrating affordability and sustainability in the design of single family infill housing for neighborhoods and communities throughout Florida.

In recent years, the collapse of housing markets caused by the banking and sub-prime mortgage crisis has been at the heart of prolonged global economic recession. While the whole matter may be surrounded by conditions over which few of us have any control, the Foundation is determined to develop a point of view and to do some organized thinking which might come to a practical end. In our view, a collective effort that brings the energy and ingenuity of the architectural profession to the forefront is essential to economic recovery. With this in mind, we attempt to arrive at an answer in terms of design solutions from young architects and emerging professionals from around the State of Florida.

Through this program, we propose to begin immediately the study, planning, design, and actual construction of up to three ‘Case Study’ houses to address the unique conditions associated with living in the Sunshine State. It is the goal of the Foundation to have the top three design solutions from this competition constructed and promoted as prototypes for sustainable and affordable living in 21st Century Florida. Therefore each entrant must formulate their design ideas to produce a house that can be duplicated for use on infill lots in any Florida neighborhood, and at a reasonable construction cost. These conditions will require entrants to consider in their designs the unique history, culture, and environment of Florida, specifically addressing the parameters of affordability, sustainability, neighborhood integration, and community investment. While entrants are free to choose the building materials and construction techniques they consider best suited for the purpose of each home, sustainable design principles must be integrated into the design solutions. Specific focus must be given toward designing for Florida’s unique environment, where sustainability is driven by necessity due to limitations of local resources and the severity of the climate.

As we begin to comprehend the lessons that we have learned about ourselves over the past few years, we realize that the ways in which our society has reacted to changing times will be reflected in the way we house ourselves going forward. Our goal is for this program to be understood as an attempt to shape the direction for housing design in the ‘new normal’ of 21st Century Florida’s economic and social context. By providing both a vehicle and a voice for the creative and critical thinking of Florida’s young architects, we hope to yield results that will benefit all of Florida.

Eligibility Requirements: Competition entrants must be Emerging Professionals in the State of Florida. Emerging Professionals are defined as Architecture Students in any of the Florida Schools of Architecture, Associate AIA Members, or AIA Member Architects licensed less than 10 yrs.

Note: Full participation in this competition qualifies for IDP Supplemental Education credit per current NCARB guidelines, with the validation of a Mentor. For more information on the current NCARB requirements for Supplemental Education, visit www.ncarb.org.

The Submission:

Phase 1 shall be a digital submission of no less than 6 slides in PDF format. The slides shall provide enough information to convey the design concept, but at a minimum, the slides shall have a 200 word (max.) design narrative, the floor plan (at a minimum of 1/8” or 1/4” scale), exterior elevations, or at least two exterior renderings showing all sides, and a minimum of one interior rendering and a building section. All slides and graphic presentation materials are to remain anonymous – no logos, individual names or other forms of identification of the entrants shall appear in the presentation format. Failure to comply with this requirement will be grounds for disqualification of the entry. The jury will determine the number of submissions that will be selected to proceed to Phase 2.

Phase 2 will require at least one team member or the single entrant to be present at the 2011 AIA Florida Convention at the Grand Naples Resort hotel in Naples, FL. At the convention, the finalists will each present their project to the attendees. They must bring one 20” by 30”, vertically oriented board to be used to present their project during a session of the convention. The slides provided in Phase 1 will also be available for the presentation but no new information may be added during Phase 2. The top three winners will be announced at the end of the convention session. All competition participants are encouraged to enter their submission into the 2012 AIA Florida Design Awards Program.

The Prizes: The Foundation will offer prizes of $1500, $1250, and $1000 for the top three designs.

The Jury, composed of housing professionals, university professors and practicing architects will select the finalists. Phase 1 judging will take place prior to the 2011 AIA Florida Convention where the finalists will be selected to continue on to Phase 2.

The Program:

The minimum programmatic requirements for the home are as follows:

· 1,500 square foot maximum conditioned area (air conditioned space)

· living/ dining space

· kitchen

· three bedrooms

· two bathrooms

· utility/laundry space

· optional garage/ carport - may be attached or a separate structure

· sustainable features must be incorporated into the solution

· elements of “universal design” are encouraged

· Design for typical lot dimensions of at least 30 feet wide and 130 feet deep, with 5 foot side yard setbacks and 10 foot front & rear setbacks.

· A realistic cost per square foot budget analysis demonstrating that the entrant’s design can conceivably be constructed within a $60 to $70 per square foot cost range. Land cost is to be excluded from the budget analysis.

· Utilization of sustainable construction materials, methods and details must be incorporated.

· Utilization of LEED for Homes criteria is recommended but not required.

Timeline

February 11, 2011 Competition announcement

April 27, 2011 Entry deadline to register

June 15, 2011 Deadline to upload submissions to web site on or before 12:00 midnight

June 25, 2011 Jury convenes to select finalists

July 1, 2011 Finalists notified

July 30, 2011 Presentation at AIA Florida Convention

Entries will be accepted from both individuals and teams. A $25 entry fee will be required to secure all entries.

The Foundation may use the designs from this competition as the basis for the publication of a competition book and for actual construction of the units should the possibility arise.

When making a submission, the individual or group agrees to permit the FFA to publish the work. The winners will receive credit for their design in publications and other collateral material associated with this program and will be acknowledged if the units are constructed as a part of any other Foundation or AIA program. The Foundation will maintain shared publication rights to any and all competition submissions for marketing and print purposes.

Detailed competition information and registration forms can be found on the AIA Florida website (www.aiafla.org).

The Florida Foundation for Architecture is a non-profit organization that exists to advocate the value of architecture to audiences beyond the profession.

The Foundation is affiliated with the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Florida).