ECCO 2014

International Architecture, Landscape & Design Competition

The development in nature-protected areas has been always a subject of constant discussion. In one side it is considered to establish limitations to human activities in natural areas in order to preserve the environment, while in the other side it is proposed a development that stimulates education and tourism.
The ecological aspect is constantly confronted by a lack of human flow control. It is under this reason that “Ecco” is born; the need for an integrate research that stimulates participants towards a different approach of sustainable design.

Place
La Maddalena is an extraordinary archipelago consisting of 7 main islands and more than 60 little ones, located in the North-East of Sardinia. Considered one of the most amazing places in Italy, La Maddalena is characterized by its unique landscapes full of Mediterranean culture and nature. The unique combination of rocks and blue water make this place one of the most attractive points in Europe, receiving every year thousands of visitors. This is a land of history where not only important characters such as Giuseppe Garibaldi lived in, but also was an strategic point during World War II in which the American army established their military camps within the peculiar landscape of the island. The island conserves all these antique constructions where people are able to visit them and involve to the place. La Maddalena had its peak point during 18th century, city characterized by buildings in Genovese style. During summer the population grows up to 300%, being tourism the main economic source.
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Contest
The topic for the contest is sustainable design in nature-protected areas. The Project consists in designing an information module for the Parco Nazionale di La Maddalena. The territory of the Parco Nazionale di La Maddalena is characterized by its unique natural elements. Human activity has a great impact to the zone especially during summer season.
Being tourism and human activity in the zone a great factor, it is necessary to offer information and the basic services. The design must include the following: restrooms, tourist information, sell points, etc. The design must be adapted to the natural aspect and landscape of the zone. The maximum measurements are 2.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 meters. (b/h/d). The module most be designed considering the following aspects:
Ability to displace it from one place to another, Facility to built it up, Self-energy system, use of eco-sustainable materials, use flexibility (during summer/winter season), and economic viability. The participant must develop a design before february 7 of 2014 that may be present a variety of design for each specific use. There are no further restrictions for the project, but contestants must include in their project a sanitary system solution. The contestants are free to determine the location of the module in all the territory of the island. ecco

Contestants
The contestants must be students or graduates from the faculties of Architecture, Industrial Design, Urban Planning, and Landscape. The age limit to be able to participate is 26 years-old as at 31 december 2013. You can participate individually or in groups of two people. In the case of contesting as a group, it is necessary that both team members fulfill all the contest requirements.

Registration
The registration process for Ecco contests must be done in the website www.gaiainstitute.com. The registration fees are the following:
50 euros- before November 15th
65 euros- 16th November- 17th December
75 euros- 18th December- 31 January 2014.

 Consignation
The due date for consigning the project is February 7th 2014, all projects must be sent electronically.
Contents: three A3 format boards (.pdf ).
A project description attached in a A4 format (.pdf ). All project boards must include in the lower right side the number assigned to each participant at the moment of the registration. It is forbidden to put personal detail of the contestant (name, surname, and so on).

Jury

The jury consists of five members:
Gregory Marinic (New York, USA). Director and co-founder of D3, Gregory is Director of Interior Architecture and Assistant Professor of Architecture at the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture of the University of Houston. His previous teaching experience includes design studios and directed research at Pratt Institute, City University of New York, and Universidad de Monterrey. He is principal of Arquipelago, a New York and Houston-based interdisciplinary practice in architecture, interiors, and branding focusing on site-specificity, materials innovation, and regionalism. Arquipelago has been awarded by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, AIA, AIA-IFRAA, Socio-Design Foundation, and ACSA; and widely exhibited in the United States and internationally. Prior to independent practice, Gregory worked in the New York and London offices of Rafael Viñoly Architects. He holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography-Urban Planning from Ohio University. He has been published in the International Journal of Architectural Research (MIT Press), Design Issues (MIT Press), Design Principles and Practices, International Journal of the Arts in Society, and various ACSA and DAMDI publications. Gregory serves as Associate Director of AIA Forward journal. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Architecture at Texas A&M University where his research focuses on utopianism and diasporas. 

Giuseppe Angelo Spinetti (La Maddalena, Italy). Director & Founder of GAIA Institute in La Maddalena, Italy. He obtained his bachelor degree in Architecture at University of Florence in 1999. Since 2002 he has been collaborating in different projects regarding architecture, urbanism & landscape. Within these projects outstand his collaboration in the development of CNR quarters in Florence as well as the new scientific center of the University of Florence. From 2007 to 2009 he was professor at the Architecture School of University of Monterrey (UDEM) and at ITESM (Instituto Tecnólogico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey) in Mexico. In 2009 he collaborated with the University of Alghero in Italy. From 2010 to 2012 he worked as project director at La Maddalena’s National Park where he mainly developed landscape and project restoration. Since 2009 organizes and directs the GAIA Architecture  & Landscape workshop at La Maddalena Italy, in collaboration with international universities. 

Daniela Frogheri (Nuoro, Italy). Resides between Monterrey (Mexico) and Barcelona (Spain). Her professional career is based in projects, teaching & research. Her approach for the last years has been international, by developing research in artificial intelligences, social systems, and development of digital applied design. She has as well been involved in architecture and urbanism in many different ways; scenography, graphics, expositions etc.  Since 2010 she has been involved as co-founder in an inter-disciplinary program titled “Nodolab” that seeks throughout research in the structure of generating content.  She as well has been collaborating with different studios around the world; Guallart Architects, Municipality of Barcelone (Spain), Gijón Arquitectura in Motril (Spain), Populos Tenore Nugoresu, Nuoro (Italy), Mind Browser and Believe Media en Los Angeles (USA). As mentor she collaborates with different international universities; IAAC, UNAM, ITD, UAQ. She has held several expositions in different countries. She is now professor at Centro Roberto Garza Sada Design Center (CRGS) at Universidad de Monterrey, Mexico.
Studies: Graduated in Engineering & Architecture, University of Cagliari, Cagliari Italy. Master in Genetic Architecture, BIO-Digtial, ESARQ, UIC Barcelone, Spain. Master in Advanced Architecture, Digital Tectonics & elf-sufficient, IAAC, UPC Barcelone, Spain. Ph.D Visual Communication in Arquitecture & Design- ETSAB, UPC Barcelone, Spain

Antonello Naseddu (La Maddalena, Italy). Obtained a bachelor degree in Architecture with concentration in Urbanism at University of Florence, Italy. He is member of the AIAPP (Italian Association of Architecture & Landscape) and of IFLA ( International Federation of Landscape Architects).
During his career he has been involved in designing low impact structures, landscape  & urban design, planification, and research.
He has collaborated with the Conservatory of Sardinia’s Coasts, where he has directly contributed with several projects of conserving the natural patrimony in Sardinia. He presently works in China as a Senior Landscape Architect projecting public landscape spaces.
He is founder and president of Coast (Coastal Action Strategies), Association that develops research regarding the conservation of natural zones and landscape.

Nicolas Zuñiga (Monterrey, Mexico). Is an architect graduated from the University of Monterrey (UDEM-2009) who just after a few months of graduation started his own architecture and interior design firm. In 2009 he collaborated with the organization of the first edition of the GAIA International Architecture Workshop held at La Maddalena National Park-Italy. In 2011 he started his Master in Urban and Regional Planning at UCLA with a concentration in Design and Development. He graduated two years after but during one of these two years, Nicolas worked at the City of Los Angeles Department of Urban Planning under the direction of Thomas Rothmann and concentrating in drafting new land use ordinances. Soon after attaining his degree, Nicolas wanted switched to the private sector, and started working at LENA Group, a small real estate development firm. LENA is currently working on the predevelopment stage of a revitalization project in downtown Los Angeles.

Projects will be graded pondering the following points: Design and Inovation - 15 points
Use of technology and Materials - 15 points
Sustaintability y re-use - 15 points
Economic factors and factibility - 10 points
Versatility and Use - 10 points
Problem solving (ability to present different solutions) 15 points

8. Prizes
1st Prize. 1.000 Euros or a Gaia Institute Course (free selection) at La Maddalena, Italia. Duration: 3 weeks. Includes housing. (maximum value coupon 1400 euros). Project publication.
2nd Prize. 500 Euros or a Gaia Institute Course (free selection) at La Maddalena, Italia. Duration: 1 week. Includes housing. (maximum value coupon 650 euros)