Urban Realities - 3 day Urban Design Challenge

We were very proud to have been a sponsor of this progressive initiative. Run by a group called OUTR (Office of Urban Transformations Research) - a not-for-profit organisation that exists within the School of Architecture and Design at RMIT University, this project was backed by a wealth of Melbourne heavies including The City of Melbourne, VicUrban and LendLease.

Urban/Realities: Landscape Urbanism 3 Day Design Challenge is a international landscape design competition that sees teams take on an urban landscape project from planning to implementation in only 72 hours. Based on a successful competition in Israel last year, the Melbourne version just complete had 10 teams each with their own individual space located within the Docklands precinct.

The aim of the challenge was to bring together creative minds both nationally and internationally to compete in an action packed and hands on competition responding to this year’s State of Design festival theme “design that moves.” Teams lived on location and were given a site, a brief, and limited budget to create their public space project.

Each team had 3 days to complete the task required. Mini challenges  and prizes were awarded long the way giving teams the chance to earn bonus time and bonus materials.

This is certainly one of the most innovative projects we have been involved with and its history is fascinating reading.

For more information including stage by stage photos for each of the teams we ask that you peruse their website for team briefs and photos - www.urbanreality.org. The winning team judged by a panel of local and international guests awarded the $20,000 first prize to Site 9, team 4 'Dirty Bouy, with a high commendation going to Site 5 Urban Stitch. Public opinion has the power to retain some if not all of the structures permanently, so it will be interesting to see which ones remain beyond August 2011.

For more information, go to www.urbanreality.org.