Introduction
As society deals with multiple ongoing wars, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the heightening challenges of climate change, this competition poses that now is the time to reflect on the positive aspects of humanity and its achievements.
The second edition of the Pavilion Of Humanity: First Contact ideas competition tasked participants with designing a structure encapsulating the best and brightest of our species in a way that, should we ever be visited by extraterrestrial lifeforms, would appropriately communicate the achievements of human civilization in a single space, constructed on a site chosen by the participants located anywhere on Earth.
Much like the Pioneer Plaques, placed aboard the 1972 NASA Pioneer 10 and 1973 Pioneer 11 spacecraft, were intended to communicate a pictorial history of humanity, the Pavilion of Humanity is meant to represent the human race through architecture.
Buildner teamed up with a fantastic jury panel with seasoned experiences in exhibition or pavilion design or in topics related to this event: Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham are founders of Tokyo-based Klein Dytham architecture (KDa), a multi-disciplinary design practice known for architecture, interiors, public spaces and installations; Bartosz Haduch is an architect, academic teacher, and publicist, who runs the interdisciplinary collective NArchitekTURA; Sebastian Letz is a Partner at Milla & Partner, in Germany; David Telerman is founder of Paris-based studio Atelier David Telerman; and Kenrick Wong runs OOA - Orient Occident Atelier, a Cambodian architectural studio which focuses on discovering, researching and utilizing the interdependence of “objects” and connections with surrounding space as design inspirations.
Buildner and its jury panel would like to thank all participating teams for their submissions.
We sincerely thank our jury panel
for their time and expertise
Gonca Arik
Senior Associate Tabanlıoğlu Architects
Turkey
Xuanru Chen
architect at ZJJZ Atelier
China
Bartosz Haduch
NArchitekTURA
Poland
Sebastian Letz
Partner at Milla & Partner
Germany
Astrid Klein
founder of Klein Dytham architecture (KDa)
Japan
Mark Dytham
founder of Klein Dytham architecture (KDa)
Japan
Kenrick Wong
Orient Occident Atelier
Hong Kong
Peter Walker
Director at Cumulus Studio
Australia
David Telerman
Founder of studio Atelier David Telerman
France
1st Prize Winner +
Student Award
Student Award
Arrival
It was my first competition; it was a good exercise, and I also had to pay the rent.
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Jury feedback summary
Arrival is a pavilion built at the Acropolis, in Athens, a prime example of the use of order, proportion and geometry used in architecture and among the most significant models of such referenced in the millenia since its construction. The proposal for a pavilion ‘floats’ a new rooftop of white linen fabric and polycarbonate plates, a comparison to spaceship, above the existing ruins using helium balloons. According to the authors: “it is not just a tribute to the timeless importance of proportion and geometry in human history, but also an invitation to engage in a universal dialogue with other civilizations, transcending barriers through the eloquent language of mathematics and aesthetics.”
To highlight the continuation of humanity it might have been more expressive, if both parts were covered by one single roof. Where the Parthenon is firmly grounded by the laws of gravity, the roof of the new pavilion levitates in the air in hopes to connect better to the Universe. Rather than tying down the floating roof with simple terrestrial ropes, a more 'magical' solution like Mag-Lev would have been more appropriate.
Astrid Klein / Buildner guest jury
founder of Klein Dytham architecture (KDa), Japan
The pavilion develops a welcoming gesture to greet visitors. Through the parallel connection and simultaneous juxtaposition of the new building with the Parthenon, a very unique story of humanity is told - and this solely by architectural means.
Sebastian Letz / Buildner guest jury
Partner at Milla & Partner, Germany
Arrival was the most surprising entry: the juxtaposition of floating and flowing ephemeral elements contrasting with the weight and history of the Parthenon was something delightfully unexpected. Although its impermanence didn't fulfill the brief in my mind, it deserved a commendation!
Mark Dytham / Buildner guest jury
founder of Klein Dytham architecture (KDa), Japan
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The single-sheet submission makes use of a simple grid layout of primarily black and white drawings. An introductory axonometric generally explains the concept, however the presentation is severely lacking in descriptive annotation, and general spatial annotation such as grid lines or basic dimensions. For a project that weighs so heavily on proportions and geometry, the submission would benefit from clearly communicating these points.
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7/10 Linework
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7/10 Quality of drawings
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6/10 Balance of color
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6/10 Layout
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7/10 Hierarchy
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4/10 Annotation
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6/10 Text
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8/10 Clarity of story
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7/10 Clarity of diagrams
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6/10 Quality of overall presentation
Enter an open architecture competition now
Troll’s Tongue Observation Platform
2nd Prize Winner +
Sustainability Award
Sustainability Award
The mile
It is a good opportunity to express yourself freely.
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Jury feedback summary
The Mile expands on the tradition of ancient Romans who, when marching, placed a marker every 1000 paces to register distance and direction. The proposal is for a 1480 meter long monument whereby each two steps represent 100 years, and therefore its entirety represents some 100,000 years, representing the history of humanity beginning with the moment it is assumed that humans departed Africa to begin colonizing the world. The author proposes erecting a series of 30-foot tall corten steel plates to represent significant milestones in human history along this linear path.
The project is a clear signpost in the open landscape. It is a spatial installation in the spirit of land art, and its integral part is light and shadow. It may bring to mind many works of art, from the oeuvre of Stanley Kubrick to Richard Serra's sculptures. It is based on the contrast between openness and closure, simplicity and complexity, built and natural matter.
Bartosz Haduch / Buildner guest jury
NArchitekTURA, Poland
The project convinces with a reduced use of materials that should be well and easy to separate and recycle. In case of weathering, the material use seems to be unproblematic for the surrounding environment.
Sebastian Letz / Buildner guest jury
Partner at Milla & Partner, Germany
The proportions and juxtaposition of the plate colonnades are bold, leaving spaces between for people to think until they walk to the next plate…The use of columns as the major symbol is a good choice as it is the most ordinary structure of escaping from the gravity of the Earth.
Kenrick Wong / Buildner guest jury
Orient Occident Atelier, Hong Kong
The Mile is a very simple and clear idea, representing a slice of time and humanity. Interestingly, this project wasn’t a building and said so much with less. They say three things placed in a straight line proves intelligent life exists - so this takes that to another level. I like the way the sun interacts with the proposal, almost like a sun-dial of life.
Mark Dytham / Buildner guest jury
founder of Klein Dytham architecture (KDa), Japan
The concept behind The Mile is timeless and inherently sustainable. The proposal seems to sit lightly on the ground, so as to minimally impact the natural surroundings. The use of Corten steel makes for a long lifespan devoid of maintenance. And once built, this proposal relies on no other energy than people coming to visit by foot.
Astrid Klein / Buildner guest jury
founder of Klein Dytham architecture (KDa), Japan
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The presentation is quite beautiful and communicates well the laborious experience of visiting what amounts to a series of printed timeline milestones, stretched across a lengthy distance.
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9/10 Linework
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9/10 Quality of drawings
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10/10 Balance of color
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9/10 Layout
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9/10 Hierarchy
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7/10 Annotation
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7/10 Text
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9/10 Clarity of story
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9/10 Clarity of diagrams
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9/10 Quality of overall presentation
3rd Prize Winner
The Last Library of Humanity
Participation in architectural competitions allows individuals to enhance their skills, acquire new knowledge, and expand their perspective, gaining unique and valuable experience. There is great value in observing and connecting with other human beings, a process that occurs in a distinct way during such competitions. They facilitate deeper analysis and understanding of various approaches and work ethics. Competitions also enable dialogue with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
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Poland
Jury feedback summary
The Last Library of Humanity is located on a volcanic island near to the equator, chosen for access to the primary construction material - basalt - and geographically for its likelihood to be a sort of ideal water-based landing point for extraterrestrial visitors. The fundamental building block of this library is the cube, which can be aggregated infinitely in any direction. Within each cube is embedded a scroll engraved with information about humanity in binary code. Adjacent cubes represent content with direct linkages, for example details about RNA and details about neuronal networks, and the cubes aggregate to form rooms representative of libraries of connected information.
A flexible repository of knowledge developed from a simple basic module. The serial use of the module creates a place of communication that is both minimalist and transcendent.
Sebastian Letz / Buildner guest jury
Partner at Milla & Partner, Germany
It is a project that, using simple, universal and clear means, forms and materials, creates a unique space full of meanings, impressions and open to different interpretations. It is a concept that connects the past, present and future using modular elements that allow for various space arrangements and content changes (e.g. depending on the development of technology, language and means of expression). The simplest geometric forms (from the micro to macro scale) contrast with the surrounding nature.
Bartosz Haduch / Buildner guest jury
NArchitekTURA, Poland
The visualization of the design is impeccable and the idea of storing and conveying information convincing. Although I would expect to see more “architecture design” to play in the process of first contact, so that it would be less like a big hard-drive.
Xuanru Chen / Buildner guest jury
architect at ZJJZ Atelier, China
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The quality of the rendered imagery as well as the linework is advanced and precise. The concept of a fundamental building block aggregated to form walls and enclosed spaces is also clear.
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9/10 Linework
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10/10 Quality of drawings
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8/10 Balance of color
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8/10 Layout
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9/10 Hierarchy
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8/10 Annotation
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7/10 Text
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8/10 Clarity of story
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9/10 Clarity of diagrams
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8/10 Quality of overall presentation
Honorable mentions
Shortlisted projects
Pavilion Of Humanity: First Contact
Carleton University, Canada's Capital University
+2 points Buildner University Rankings!
Canada Paideia Pavilion
Errare humanum est
The upward trend
The mile
Pavilion of Alzheimer's Patients
HUMANITY GRAVE
Essence of Emotion Pavilion
WE ARE IN 639Hz
Legacy of Language
IMPRINT OF HISTORY
Sub-Zero
Roots of Progress
Evolving Volumes
The Convergence Pavilion
Infinite Echoes: Humanity's Reflection
Counter-Cultural Contact
The Last Library of Humanity
Civilization Barrier
Humanity Synapse
Be the Sky
Under limitless construction- a story of humanity
the creature that invents itself
Archive of Humanity
The Compass to Humanity
The Eternal Age
In the middle
The Fourth Dimension
The [rebuilt] Pavilion of Unity
THE GEOMETRIC CODE OF HUMANITY
FLOW SHELTER
Arrival
