Gathering innovative, sustainable architectural designs for social housing that enable a reduction in energy consumption is the objective of the National Competition of Architectural Ideas for Energy Efficiency in Social Housing, launched this Monday (15) by the German governmental cooperation agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Applications are open until April 26.
Organized by the IAB/DF, with support from the National Secretariat of Housing and the Brazilian Association of COHABs, the competition targets architecture firms and architects employed by construction companies, contractors, and housing authorities, who are registered with the Council of Architecture and Urbanism of Brazil (CAU).
Proposals must incorporate the housing prerequisites of the Casa Verde e Amarela Program, as outlined in the competition notice. Additionally, the housing units must be adaptable and replicable across different regions and contexts, adjusting to various climates while maintaining energy efficiency without increasing costs.
Awards
Three winning proposals will be selected for first place. Each will receive R$ 20,000 and sign a R$ 113,300 contract with GIZ to implement the projects on land provided by the Brazilian Association of COHABs (ABC). Three other projects will also be selected, receiving R$ 20,000 each.
According to GIZ project director Arnd Helmk, concerns over housing quality have intensified with the COVID-19 pandemic. "A quality home helps keep its inhabitants healthy and is fundamental to the well-being of people, who have begun spending much more time at home. At the same time, we must address climate issues. This is why a housing policy focused on sustainability is so important," he said.
Meanwhile, the president of the Brazilian Association of COHABs, Maria do Carmo Lopez, emphasized that modern and sustainable designs must consider the comfort of the population through measures such as improving natural lighting and ventilation. "We have the opportunity to look at social housing design not only through production costs, but through its lifecycle costs, ensuring this housing continues to offer comfort to its residents. Everyone wins with this type of proposal," she added.
Registration Process
Competition registration will take place in two stages. From March 16 to April 24, interested parties must register their participation. Architectural project submissions must then be sent between May 12 and 14. Following the evaluation by advisory and judging committees, the final results are scheduled to be announced on May 24, with official ratification on June 2 after the appeal period.
Access the competition notice and all information here.
This article was written by Romullo Baratto. The translation is powered by AI.
