Home > News > Meanwhile > Competition, Rovaniemi

Competition, Rovaniemi

Competition: Aurora Borealis Arctic Observatory

ROVANIEMI (FI) - From the beginning, Man has been fascinated by Earth's mysteries. What makes a fire burn? What lies awake at the bottom of the ocean? Which mountain peaks reach highest to the heavens?

For many generations, the Northern Lights were one of nature's greatest mysteries. Why did the sky turn green and yellow and purple in various regions of the Earth, at specific times of the year, while other places, other skies, remained entirely unchanged?

Every year, thousands of tourists travel to Rovaniemi, Finland, to see the Northern Lights. Located in the icy curls of the Arctic Circle, this is the capital of Finnish Lapland.

The weather conditions here can be so extreme that designing for a place like this can be different from doing it in any other region of the world. During the winter temperatures can reach -30°C (-22°F), the sun is gone for most of the season, and there is snowfall 183 days a year, on average. In the summer, on the opposite end of the spectrum, Rovaniemi experiences 24 hours of sunlight, known around the world as 'the midnight sun'.

Proposal

From ArchMedium we would like to propose a project that will help us rediscover our primitive instincts. We want to create a bond again with Mother Nature.

What we want to create is a Northern Lights observatory located in one of the most extreme latitudes inhabited by Man, surrounded by lush, endless forests and nature in its purest form.

This is much more than just a service to the city: there will be a Finnish spa, a full astronomical observatory, and all the most charming accommodations in food, beverage, and lodging.

Eligibility

This competition is public and open to all undergraduate, graduate, masters, and PhD students, as well as to young professionals with less than five years of experience in architecture and other related fields—engineering, urban planning, interior design, industrial design, etc.

In order to be eligible, all members of the team must meet at least one of the criteria mentioned above on the day the competition begins. The members of the team must be able to provide documentation to prove their student or young professional status.

Teams can be formed by just one member or up to six. Members of a team don't necessarily have to be students at the same university or live in the same country.

It is not necessary that all members of a team are architecture specialists. Having a photographer, artist, philosopher, etc., on a team can help to see the project in a new way, thus enriching the final result. However, it is recommended that at least one member of the team has some experience in architecture.

Under no circumstances will members of the jury, members of the organization, or persons with a direct personal or professional relationship with members of the jury or the organization be allowed to participate in this competition.

For more information and to register visit: www.archmedium.com

Thursday | 26 January | 2012 | Finland | ArchMedium