Architecture Competition Toronto Affordable Housing Challenge Green and Student Award winners – TU DELFT

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Green and Student Award winners of our “Toronto Affordable Housing Challenge” competition – Bjarne Van Der Drift, Gerjan Agterhuis and Casper Bovy from Netherlands!

Bjarne Van Der Drift, Gerjan Agterhuis and Casper Bovy from Netherlands

We are three young enthusiasts from the Netherlands who started our academic careers back in 2015. The three of us met upon joining the bachelor (undergraduate) program Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences at the Delft University of Technology. Despite our different interests (dwelling, public building, urbanism, etc.), we all continued our studies on the Architecture master’s track. Therefore, we always remained in touch with each other throughout our time at university, often as sparring partners to challenge our architectural projects and learn from each other’s experiences. As graduate students, we were very sympathetic towards the idea of being able to accumulate our knowledge and skills in this competition entry to conclude our time as students.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been involved?

We have all completed a variety of projects throughout our studies and work experiences in architecture practice, so there is no particular field in which we specialize as a team. We like to approach every project in a new and unique way since we are not bound to a core set of ideas or design principles. Through this analytical approach, we are able to push our own imagination and increase the number of fields in which we can find crossovers with architecture and other domains of spatial design.

This all-round approach taught us to think beyond site conditions, material conditions, and demographic conditions. We like to conduct an extensive analysis in order to spot the missing link and build our narrative. This made us come up with the idea of a more holistic concept of sustainability for our proposal. Sustainability is therefore not solely the result of designing for a low carbon footprint, but also used as an overarching model for enhancing the spatial qualities in the city, focusing on themes that transcend the scale of a building, such as livability, mobility, and equality.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

The role of the architect is becoming increasingly ambiguous. While they used to be the expert craftsmen, the role is now more of a strategist leveraging between skills as a concept generator, artist, urban planner, and manager. We acknowledge that this flexibility is demanded from us by modern day society and its current spatial challenges, but simultaneously argue that the expert craftsman is not dead. We critically discuss modern trends and address the threats of tomorrow but are still dependent on our unique skills as architects to come up with creative solutions. Without this craftsman approach, finding solutions is best left to civil engineers who rely on exactitudes, yet struggle to address anything that does not fit within their existing perception and experience. Engineers may fail to spot new synergies, the ‘1+1=3 scenarios’, whereas solutions by the hand of a skilled architect address multiple issues at once and result in meaningful spatial design for everybody, even with limited resources.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Entering an architecture competition is the ultimate way to get your unique design approach and concepts challenged by a broad range of professionals from the field of spatial design. It is vital to always reflect on your work, and for us there is no better way than to have a skilled jury review your ideas. Moreover, a competition trains you to communicate your architectural ideas as efficiently as possible, since there is a limited availability of space and time to make your plan come to life. Developing this essential skill is something that you can only do by practicing it again and again.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

We believe that it is important to formulate your objectives. You can take part in a competition for many reasons, but it is good to consider what you hope to gain from it before registration. If you are looking to make the transition from being a student towards becoming a practicing architect, it is definitely a bonus to take part in a competition. If you will be working in a team, be prepared to have many meaningful discussions, which will not only help to reinforce the concept of your plan but will also further shape your ideas and perception on architecture.

Open architecture competitions

  • Closest Deadline first
  • Project competitions first
    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions first
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
ideas COMPETITION
Beyond Isolation: Senior Housing
Senior living. Edition#2

Reimagine senior living spaces

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

Remind me
Jun 08
Sep 08
Nov 02
project COMPETITION
The Legendary Highway 14 Tower

Design an iconic tower for De Smet, South Dakota, USA

Prize: MONETARY AWARD + CONSTRUCTION
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

Remind me
Jun 09
Sep 12
Nov 03
project COMPETITION
Iceland Beer Spa

Design a beer spa in Iceland's captivating landscape

Prize: MONETARY AWARD + CONSTRUCTION
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

Remind me
Jun 14
Sep 14
Nov 08
ideas COMPETITION
The Architect's Chair
Edition #1

Take a seat and make a statement!

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

Remind me
Jun 06
Sep 06
Nov 01

Reccuring architecture competitions

ideas COMPETITION
MICROHOME
Small living, huge impact! Edition #6

Design a new concept of small-scale home

Prize: MONETARY AWARD + PUBLICATION IN MAGAZINE
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

Remind me
Feb 16
Apr 18
Jun 16
ideas COMPETITION
Silent contest
For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
The Last Nuclear Bomb Memorial
Edition #3

Design a memorial that speaks to the cause of ending all nuclear weapons programs

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

Remind me
Jun 26
Sep 03
Nov 05
ideas COMPETITION
Silent contest
For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Museum of Emotions
Edition #3

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Mar 17
May 19
Jul 21
Run repeatedly
Virtual Home
Edition #2

Shape the future of digital living environments

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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May 02
Jul 04
Sep 06
Register now
Run repeatedly
Pavilion Of Humanity: First Contact
Edition #2

How would you represent the best that humanity has to offer through architecture?

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

Remind me
Mar 27
May 25
Jul 24
Register now
Run repeatedly
Silent contest
For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Architectural Visualization Award
Edition #2

Present your best work and submit your favorite architectural visualization

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Mar 23
May 25
Jul 27
Register now
Run repeatedly
Los Angeles Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series #16

Design affordable housing solutions in Los Angeles

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Jun 07
Sep 07
Nov 01
Register now

Creativity gym Short term competitions for you to exercise your creativity

T-SHIRT DRAWING COMPETITION
The Architect's T-shirt
Edition #19

Design THE architect's t-shirt!

Prize: 3,000 €
Eligibility: open to all

registration deadlines

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May 31
Jun 30
Jul 31
Register now
ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO COMPETITION
THE BUILDNER'S ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO COMPETITION
Edition #4

Submit your online portfolio!

Prize: 5,000 €
Eligibility: open to all

registration deadlines

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Jun 30
Jul 31
Aug 31
Register now

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Competition results

Hong Kong 
Pixel Homes

Hong Kong Pixel Homes

Affordable Housing Series #2
MICROHOME

MICROHOME

Small living, huge impact! Edition #4

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