Coexist: Rethinking Zoos , Barcelona/ Spanien

Coexist: Rethinking Zoos

Introduction
Future of zoos will be decided in the next few years. We are facing radical changes in the concept. Over the decades we have been proved that animal captivity, in most cases in terrible conditions, has affected badly their quality of life and their expected lifetime. The raison d’être and the welfare of the more than 3.5 million animals that they contain around the world are increasingly questioned.

These places, emerged between the eighteenth and nineteenth century, deeply linked to colonialism and the discovery of new worlds, must evolve adapting to the new needs. The question is how to do so.

A change of direction
Over time, zoos mission has evolved, from being just collections of animals, a symbol of power and greatness of many empires, almost exclusively for the enjoyment of the population, to fulfill other objectives. This evolution goes hand in hand with a growing scientific interest and greater possibilities for research and study.

This growing respect for the animals around us means that more and more people are working to look after and maximize animal welfare.

Challenge
Archstorming is calling for proposals to create an infrastructure that rethinks the zoo concept and gives it a twist, this time thinking about animals and their conservation over the exhibition to humans.

The project is located in the current Zoo of Barcelona. The animal species that will be located in the zoo, as well as their distribution, will be at the discretion of the participant. In the same way, the reuse or elimination of the current infrastructures of the Barcelona Zoo will also be optional.

The Archstorming team encourages all contestants to demonstrate that there are other ways to build zoos nowadays.

We should take into consideration that zoos must:
- EDUCATE: allowing animals to be observed in order to understand more about them as we can help their conservation.
- INVESTIGATE: study about the nutritional needs of animals, their reproductive cycles, their ethology, their possible diseases and cures ...
- CONTRIBUTE IN THE CONSERVATION OF DIFFERENT SPECIES: thanks to the study of animals we know better what their needs are and how to attack the problems that affect them.

Elegibility
Any architecture student or actual architect can participate in COEXIST: RETHINKING ZOOS, regardless of their nationality. Likewise, people from other disciplines can also participate, such as philosophers, sociologists, photographers, etc. Not being necessary the presence of an architect in the team, although it is recommended.

Schedule
Early Registration opens (40 EUR/team*) – January 15th, 2018
Early Registration closes (40 EUR/team*) – February 14th, 2018

Regular Registration opens (60 EUR/team*) – February 15th, 2018
Regular Registration closes (60 EUR/team*) – March 14th, 2018

Advanced Registration opens (80 EUR/team*) – March 15th, 2018

Submission Deadline – April 2018
Winners announced – May 3rd, 2018

* + 21% VAT

Awards
First Prize: 4.000 EUR + Certificate
Second Prize: 1.000 EUR + Certificate
Third Prize: 500 EUR + Certificate
People‘s Choice Award: 200 EUR + Certificate
10 Honorable Mentions

Jury
– Jan Nowell: Arterial Design, Melbourne (Australia)
– Robert Watson: Watson architecture+design, Melbourne (Australia)
– Bas Ten Brinke: 70F, Almere (Netherlands)
– Iredale / Pedersen / Hook: Iredale Pedersen Hook, Perth (Australia)
– Mario Carreño | Pietra Sartori: Carreño Sartori Arquitectos, Santiago, Chile

More information at
www.archstorming.com