Louis Kahn on Frank Lloyd WrightIn conceptual architecture, the finished building as product is less important than the ideas guiding them, ideas represented primarily by texts, diagrams, or art installations. - from Wikipedia (and, in this case at least, we agree!)
It doesn't work, it doesn't have to work. Wright had the shape conceived long before he knew what was going into it. I claim that is where architecture starts, with the concept.
The Unbuilt Facade Award is intended to honor an unbuilt facade system or system element, whether intended for a new or existing building application, or as a purely conceptual work. The work may include a research component, but is not fundamentally a pure research project (See the Outstanding Facade Research Award category for this type of work). This award recognizes and honors unbuilt works of particular merit (conceived and documented in 2023 or later). Notwithstanding the above quotes, qualified entries include not only purely conceptual works, but also developed facade designs up to and including prototypes, mockups, and system testing, but with no current intention for final facade construction.
Submissions for the Outstanding Unbuilt Facade category will be evaluated in the overarching context of innovation and sustainability, which may include diverse considerations ranging from design concepts to intended project delivery strategies, supply chain management and lifecycle performance attributes.
In addition to the General Assessment Criteria, the hierarchy of consideration for the Unbuilt Facade Award award will be:
10% — Clarity (narrative and graphic representation)
25% — Durability
25% — Utility
25% — Beauty
15% — The extent to which collaboration and collaborative processes among the project team can be demonstrated to have played a definitive role in outstanding project outcomes.
Eligibility: Conceptual work and documentation must have been completed in 2023 or later.
Before beginning your submission, please review the following:
Ready to submit a project for consideration? Please complete the online submission form by the deadline!