Introduction
Buildner is thrilled to announce the results of its Sansusī Sound Sculpture international competition. This competition, organized in collaboration with the Sansusī Music Festival in Latvia, celebrates a unique blend of musical styles and a vibrant community atmosphere.
The Sansusī Music Festival, set against Latvia’s stunning natural, forested backdrop, is renowned for its fusion of classical chamber music and the energetic vibe of a rock festival. It has evolved from a local event into a cherished cultural phenomenon, offering a diverse range of performances from orchestral to contemporary.
Building on the success of the first architectural competition with Sansusī, which resulted in the construction of a food court at the venue, Buildner launched this second competition to enhance the festival’s infrastructure. This initiative emphasizes sustainability, creativity, and community engagement.
A central feature of the festival is the Musician Standoffs, where performers engage in spontaneous and witty duels, adding a distinctive element to the event. Buildner invited architects, designers, and visionaries to design a wooden, sculpture-like stage that also functions as a musical instrument. The goal was to create a stage that embodies the innovative spirit of the Musician Standoffs and enhances the festival’s acoustic experience, exploring how architectural forms can produce sound and serve as both visual and auditory landmarks for Sansusī.
Winning designs will have the opportunity to become key features of future festivals. Buildner, together with a regional jury, reviewed the submissions. The jury included Paula Gāgane, an architect and editor of the Latvian creative industries platform Fold; Uldis Trapencieris, technical director for the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra; Armands Siliņš-Bergmanis, an opera singer and board member of Sansusī; Ivars Veinbergs, an architect at NRJA (No Rules Just Architecture); Oskars Kotello, an architect and co-founder of MERU arhitekti; and Marija Katrina Dambe, a sustainable architect and founder of NOMAD architects.
Buildner and its jury extend their gratitude to all participants and congratulate the winners. We eagerly anticipate seeing these innovative ideas come to life!
We sincerely thank our jury panel
for their time and expertise
Paula Gāgane
Architect, editor of the creative industries platform Fold.
Latvia
Uldis Trapencieris
Tehnical director at Latvian National Symphony orchestra, founder of concert hall TJZK
Latvia
Armands Siliņš-Bergmanis
Opera singer and board member of association Sansusī
Latvia
Ivars Veinbergs
Architect at the NRJA
Latvia
Oskars Kotello
Architect and co-founder of MERU arhitekti
Latvia
Marija Katrina Dambe
Architect and founder of NOMAD architects
Latvia
1st Prize Winner +
Buildner Sustainability Award
Buildner Sustainability Award
Xylon Phone
We are very interested in participating in architecture competitions, as they provide an opportunity to engage with unique projects and unfamiliar contexts. These competitions offer challenges that promote both personal and professional growth.
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The Xylon Phone is an immersive design project that celebrates the intersection of art, music, and cultural expression. Inspired by ancestral rituals, the installation invites participants to gather around two faceted, ten-sided polygonal stages set within a forest. These stages, resembling lanterns, are covered in translucent fabric that casts dynamic shadows as performances unfold inside.
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The proposal features four unique panels filled with intricate line drawings, immediately drawing in the viewer with their whimsical and personalized style, character, and color choices. Rather than resembling a typical construction set, the instructions use a unique presentation style that aligns with the overall creative approach.
2nd Prize Winner
VELLUM - breeze stage pavilion
Competitions serve as a platform for us to explore fresh ideas, challenge ourselves, and experiment with cutting-edge design concepts. They grant us the freedom to think creatively and approach problems in unconventional ways, which fosters a culture of innovation within our team. This environment also enables us to continuously refine our skills as we engage with diverse design briefs and problem-solving scenarios, offering a sense of growth and development. Moreover, competitions provide an opportunity to inspire others and, in turn, increase our visibility and recognition within the architectural community and beyond. This exposure can significantly enhance our presence and reputation, amplifying our impact on the field. In essence, participating in architecture competitions resonates with our commitment to innovation, collaboration, social responsibility, and historical preservation. It empowers us to stretch the boundaries of our creativity, advance professionally, expand our professional network, gain acknowledgment, and contribute positively to our society.
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Vellum is a modular wooden installation designed to enhance festival experiences through its aesthetic and functional qualities. Constructed from prefabricated, fireproof, and moisture-resistant MDF panels, the design maximizes material efficiency while minimizing waste. Its modular approach allows for quick assembly, disassembly, and flexible use, accommodating various festival needs, including stages and bar areas.
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The proposal is skillfully crafted, drawing the viewer in with its attention to detail and distinctive style, character, and color choices. The excellent drawings and renderings are complemented by straightforward diagrams, all arranged in a clear layout with a strong hierarchy. The use of numerous human figures effectively conveys scale and the spatial experience.
3rd Prize Winner
Symphony in the Forest
I hope to keep my mind active and spark inspiration by participating in engaging architectural competitions. Of course, I also aim to discover potential opportunities through these competitions.
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Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The project utilizes a varied layout that, while clear, could benefit from greater consistency. The two main renderings provide similar information, and introducing a second, more detailed perspective or a view from within the structure would enhance the presentation. Though construction details are included, they lack clarity, with no annotations for materials, dimensions, or fixations.
Buildner Student Award
The Pine Cone
This is my first architecture competition. I participated because I think it's a great opportunity to test creativity and skills while also learning something new, especially when you find a project that resonates with you. I highly recommend participating to all students. Competitions are an important platform for professionals, but I believe that students, in particular, would benefit the most. You will learn things that aren't taught in school.
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The Pine Cone is a dynamic and youthful setting for the Sansusi Music Festival's Musician Standoffs, designed for easy assembly and disassembly without screws or nails. Featuring two stages, a bar, and versatile seating, its flexible layout can be integrated into the forest without harming nature. The two layout options create unique experiences: one places stages opposite each other for an engaging musical battle, while the other offers amphitheater-style seating with easy bar access.
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The project makes use of a layout that is clear though could benefit from greater consistency, so that a reader can easily identify informatio. The introductory text is lengthy and lacks hierarchy, which makes it harder to digest. Dividing it into sections with subtitles and bolded key points would improve clarity and make key ideas stand out. The imagery would also benefit from more detailed annotations to explain design concepts, materials, and dimensions.
"Symphony in the Forest" is an interactive installation inspired by traditional Latvian musical instruments, blending nature and music. Its design mimics a large musical instrument, featuring two interconnected stages. The surrounding trees shape the structure, while audience members engage with the installation by striking strings and metal plates using levers. Read more Performers can also interact through foot pedals, with strings stretched between the stages offering unique musical expressions. The sloping roof captures rainwater, producing melodies as it drips onto the strings. The base acts as a resonator, amplifying the sounds. Tiered "horn" structures provide seating, bars, and storage, creating an immersive, harmonious experience between music, performance, and the natural environment. A very creative and inspiring proposal for an integrated sound sculpture. A simple and visually impressive roof solution for the stages. The principle of playable stages and seating is attractive and bold. The most exciting of the concepts, featuring an interesting sound tool, a 360-degree stage, and a stage as an experience. It's refreshing to see a different approach to the stage concept, as well as the thoughtful solution of 'stage as an instrument.' The umbrella-shaped roof blends seamlessly into the natural landscape and reduces the heavy character of the stage. The functional solutions are less bold—many spectators are arranged in a way that only one of the stages is clearly visible, making it difficult to experience parallel performances. It is not entirely clear whether the musical elements can be played from the stage once the audience is seated. The proposal is complex and challenging to implement, but strong from a creative perspective. The construction could take a lot of time. The proposal seems difficult to realize; further detailed 'design for assembly' work from the author would be needed to convince about the stage’s feasibility.