09/02: "Concours" or Competitions
Category: Week 14 to 16: Paris
Posted by: troachadmin
Europe is known for its excellent contemporary design. Is one of the reasons for this the pervasive, perhaps required, use of design competitions for major public commissions?
Many many cities that I have visited use the method of a design competition for major projects, and the larger cities seem to have several design competitions in various stages at one time.
I have not studied the process in any detail, but the few that I have run across seem to have a couple of layers of competition. The first is open to anyone and everyone - and submissions often remain anonymous. The finalists (maybe three to five teams) are given some money to develop conceptual or schematic designs. The energy poured into the design development is impressive. The city provides detailed dossiers, including programmatic and functional requirements, historic and archaeological findings, urban context, etc. Many of these projects are for urban sites, in historic buildings or complexes, where their redevelopment will have a major impact on the city.
Recent competitions include the following:
Nantes: Grands musée d'art de Nantes, design of L’agence Stanton – Williams won
Paris: Les Halles, international competition held in 2006-2007; design of Patrick Berger et Jacques Anziutti won
Competitions currently in progress:
Saintes: Site of former Hospital Saint-Louis
Rennes: Conversion of the now vacant Couvent des Jacobins into a Centre de Congrès (convention center) This competition is by invitation only, and has been held only after four years of intense research into the history and feasibility of a "centre de congrès" at this site.
Click on "Read More" for images of Saintes and Rennes project sites.
Saintes: Site of former Hospital Saint-Louis is centrally located in this town of 27,000 people, on a prominent hilltop overlooking the historic center. Its history goes back to Roman times, and it is highly likely that the forum was located on this hillside. The site has been vacant for many years, since a new modern hospital was built outside town-center. L'Eglise (church) Saint-Eutrope in the background is not part of the former hospital site; it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the nomination "Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France" for its 11th century crypt, a much visited pilgrimage site.
Rennes: The Couvent des Jacobins is located next to old Rennes and is also a site with a complex history. Church in background is not part of site.
Rennes, the Couvent des Jacobins: The existing complex hides many mysteries, and its many physical changes over the years makes it difficult to establish the relative importance of the remaining historic fabric and which elements should be restored and highlighted, versus which elements should be removed, or which elements leave room for interpretation.
Many many cities that I have visited use the method of a design competition for major projects, and the larger cities seem to have several design competitions in various stages at one time.
I have not studied the process in any detail, but the few that I have run across seem to have a couple of layers of competition. The first is open to anyone and everyone - and submissions often remain anonymous. The finalists (maybe three to five teams) are given some money to develop conceptual or schematic designs. The energy poured into the design development is impressive. The city provides detailed dossiers, including programmatic and functional requirements, historic and archaeological findings, urban context, etc. Many of these projects are for urban sites, in historic buildings or complexes, where their redevelopment will have a major impact on the city.
Recent competitions include the following:
Nantes: Grands musée d'art de Nantes, design of L’agence Stanton – Williams won
Paris: Les Halles, international competition held in 2006-2007; design of Patrick Berger et Jacques Anziutti won
Competitions currently in progress:
Saintes: Site of former Hospital Saint-Louis
Rennes: Conversion of the now vacant Couvent des Jacobins into a Centre de Congrès (convention center) This competition is by invitation only, and has been held only after four years of intense research into the history and feasibility of a "centre de congrès" at this site.
Click on "Read More" for images of Saintes and Rennes project sites.
Saintes: Site of former Hospital Saint-Louis is centrally located in this town of 27,000 people, on a prominent hilltop overlooking the historic center. Its history goes back to Roman times, and it is highly likely that the forum was located on this hillside. The site has been vacant for many years, since a new modern hospital was built outside town-center. L'Eglise (church) Saint-Eutrope in the background is not part of the former hospital site; it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the nomination "Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France" for its 11th century crypt, a much visited pilgrimage site.
Rennes: The Couvent des Jacobins is located next to old Rennes and is also a site with a complex history. Church in background is not part of site.
Rennes, the Couvent des Jacobins: The existing complex hides many mysteries, and its many physical changes over the years makes it difficult to establish the relative importance of the remaining historic fabric and which elements should be restored and highlighted, versus which elements should be removed, or which elements leave room for interpretation.
