Foreword

Kemeri National Park in western Latvia was established in 1997 to protect 380 square kilometers of land that includes forests, lakes, natural mineral springs and marshlands. The Great Kemeri Bog is a popular destination within the park, where visitors come to walk along several kilometers of existing boardwalks, allowing them to discover the many unique aspects of this vast expanse of wetlands, its collection of wildlife, and its variety of plant species. The protection of this land is managed by the Latvia Nature Conservation Agency, a partner organization in this design competition that expressed interest in constructing the winning proposal.

Competition participants were asked to deliver design proposals for a buildable observation structure situated along the boardwalk system, that would allow visitors new ways to view and experience the Great Kemeri Bog. While there were no dimensional requirements or height limitations prescribed, the recommended budget for the project was US $50k. Programmatic requirements included wheelchair accessibility for the disabled, as well as the use of construction materials that are easily maintainable and durable, considering the bog’s humid environment. The competition also challenged submissions to rethink the current boardwalk infrastructure for its replacement by a modular, more accessible design. The jury evaluated entries based on their constructability, accessibility, sensitivity to the environment, and the potential for the designs to provide Kemeri National Park with a new architectural landmark.

The entries proposed a wide range of ideas, with a variety of structural materials and forms. Modularity was integral in many of the submissions, as was ease of construction with minimal disturbance to the protected natural site. Several of the projects proposed enclosed or semi-concealed observation spaces in consideration of the bog’s wildlife. While most submissions included a system of ramps to permit elevated views, some experimented with the use of mirrors or periscope lenses, and others with the integration of manual lifts.

Each of the winning entries is deemed to be constructable, with the potential to become an important architectural landmark and to perform as a new observation point for the Great Kemari Bog. The high quality of the winning projects as well as the honorable mentions reflects the outstanding level of work submitted. Bee Breeders would like to thank all entrants for their participation.

COMPETITION ORGANISERS
Kemeri 
National Park
Observation Tower
Official partner
Kemeri 
National Park
Observation Tower

1st Prize Winner

Project name

Funambulist Landscape

We think here we have the opportunity to be more radical, to show the source of our way of thinking in a free environment. Competitions represent an alternative not only to improve yourself but to go further and make demands of yourself.

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Authors Ernesto Urquízar Quesada, María Cervantes Lardón,
Country Spain

2nd Prize Winner

Project name

Eye Tower

Participating in architecture vision competitions gives us a chance to explore further in various international projects. It also enhances our knowledge in assimilating and learning the new culture and development. Simultaneously, it’s an opportunity to explore and express the new concepts that we have not attempted on our daily basis projects.

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Authors Nathira Haja,
Country Malaysia

3rd Prize Winner +
BB STUDENT AWARD

Project name

Black Box

The site was very interesting at the first time too. And a good idea for the concept which came at the very beginning gave us the motivation to participate.

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Authors Hunor Albert Szántó, Fanni Zita Salamin,
Country Hungary
+126 points Buildner University Rankings

THE ACCESSIBLE TOWER AWARD

Project name

The Dark Hut

Participating in an architectural competition is an excellent exercise in conception and imagination capacities. It is an opportunity for personal growth. It allows you to compare yourself with new topics and, regardless of the results, it gives you the opportunity to compare your work with the work done by other people, offering you excellent food for thought and self-criticism cues. And last, but not least, an important reason that pushes us to participate in architecture competitions is that it allows us to meet and keep in touch despite the distance.

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Authors Angelo Ancarola, Antonio Mastria, Salvatore Possidente Del Monte, Luigi Simone
Country Italy

Honorable Mentions

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Project name

In The Midst

University FH Muenster
Authors Clemens Berresheim, Alex Kirschstein,
Country Germany
+72 points Buildner University Rankings
Project name

Kemeri: Three Turn Tower

Authors Katsuya Fukushima, Hiroko Tominaga, Benjamin Sykes Thompson,
Country Japan
Project name

The Camouflage

Authors Himawan Prakoso, Arief Singgih Wibowo, Nur Arsad Eko Pramono, Ardyana Fahmiadi
Country Indonesia
Project name

Sensu Tower

Authors Masato Endo, Shigeru Yoshino, Tomohiko Watabe, Natsumi Nihei
Country Japan
Project name

Take a peek Tower

Authors Joana Correia, Guillaume Boitier,
Country France
Project name

Four-Leaf Clover

Authors Simon Bolt,
Country Switzerland

Shortlisted projects

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View Palace

Ricardo Leon

United States

TRANSITION

Aurelio Cossar

Dante Ausili

Sofía Giancarelli

Alejandrina Langhi

Facultad de Arquitectura, Planeamiento y Diseño ( UNR)

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
Argentina

Coiled - observation wrapped with landscape

Roman Montoto

United States

the vertical stream

Aaron Ramírez montero

Costa Rica

The reflection of Kemeri

Mauricio Léniz

Bernardita Léniz

Felipe Zelada

Chile

Shadows of Kemeri

Juan pablo Badía

Francisco de borja Valdés

Francisca Yunis

Chile

THE WOODPECKER PICKER UPPER

Zulda Arroyo

Canada

Framing The Landscape

Chris Wong

United Kingdom

FIVE SENSES OF LANDSCAPE

Shun Adachi

Miu Tanaka

Japan

Y TOWER

Shuyi Huang

Guanjie Yao

Yuan Tian

Xiaoya Zhang

China

STORKWAY, OBSERVATION TOWER - A NEW LANDMARK FOR KEMERI PARK

Marco Zavagno

United Kingdom

Linear not Vertical

Yuling Cheng

Yizheng Chen

Taiwan

Sky Loop

Raffaele Palmieri

Manuel Zucchi

United Kingdom

Nature symposium

Dimitri Azzarà

Kazuki Hasegawa

Hiroto Otaki

Atsushi Sakuramoto

Japan

In The Midst

Clemens Berresheim

Alex Kirschstein

Germany

Sky Rising Pathway

Julien Gomes

Sandra Pinto

oggo studio architects

Portugal

Black Box

Hunor Albert Szántó

Fanni Zita Salamin

Budapest University of Technology and Economics

+126 points Buildner University Rankings!
Hungary

Woodenline

Pablo Martínez rodríguez

Camila Coya dotta

Uruguay

Periscopic Dell

Kyle Mahoney

United States

Take a peek Tower

Joana Correia

Guillaume Boitier

France

DOUBLE SPIRAL RAMP

Keisuke Kobayashi

Japan

The view catcher

Paul Jones

Northumbria University

United Kingdom

See without being seen

Ferzilet leti Numani

Jade Apack

France

Landscape promenade

Mauro Sullam

Lorenzo Micucci

Italy

The Kemeri Observatory

Steve Pribyl

United States

The Camouflage

Himawan Prakoso

Arief Singgih Wibowo

Nur Arsad Eko Pramono

Ardyana Fahmiadi

Indonesia

SPIRAL TOWER

Jan Storm

Czech Republic

The Nest Tower

António pedro Sousa

Luxembourg

Sensu Tower

Masato Endo

Shigeru Yoshino

Tomohiko Watabe

Natsumi Nihei

Japan

Enrico Baudoino

Italy

the nest tower

Flavio Cucina

Sara Angellotti

Francesca Rubiu

Germany

KEMERI NATURAL TOWER

Mateusz Binkowski

Joanna Targowicz

Poland

Kemeri: Three Turn Tower

Katsuya Fukushima

Hiroko Tominaga

Benjamin Sykes Thompson

Japan

The Guardian of Kemeri

Michele Del grosso

Italy

Funambulist Landscape

Ernesto Urquízar Quesada

María Cervantes Lardón

Spain

Eye Tower

Nathira Haja

Malaysia

Tria

Süleyman can Çinkılıç

Cemil hamdi Okumuş

Turkey

Four-Leaf Clover

Simon Bolt

Switzerland

Elysian

Yahia Ahmed

United Arab Emirates

Pinnacle

Arthur Campling

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING LTH

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
Sweden

The Dark Hut

Angelo Ancarola

Antonio Mastria

Salvatore Possidente Del Monte

Luigi Simone

Italy

THIS IS (NOT) A TOWER

Christian Ruiz abello

Chile