Cottages at Cannontown Design Competition

Athens Land Trust Challenge
 
Cottages at Cannontown

ALT has received a grant intended to assist in the development of a failed subdivision as an affordable housing community. To identify the best possible creative ideas and solutions, ALT is offering a design challenge, with architectural and site standards & criteria provided as guides to participants in the challenge. The goal is to make the neighborhood a model of what good affordable housing can be: a place that is not known as “affordable” based on poor design, cheap materials, and neglected properties, but one that is an asset to our community because of the quality design, excellent location, desirable features, great neighbors and affordability. The project will provide a rare opportunity for affordable housing in a rapidly-gentrifying area. There is a great deal of pressure on in-town neighborhoods near the university from investors wishing to create properties for student rentals. This project would counter this by including a neighborhood with a number of homeowners.
 
Object/Subprogram

The Athens Land Trust Challenge is to create architectural designs for one to four housing types that would be affordable and energy-efficient while working within the site’s existing constraints.

Entries for this competition will be assessed by a jury comprised of the Athens Land Trust Board and homeowners
To ensure that the street remains inclusive and adaptable in the long term as the needs of the community change, all homes should include Universal Design Standards wherever possible.

Eligibility

The competition is open to all architectural designers who can demonstrate that they have prior design experience in the construction of houses of this scale.

Selected designers and architects will receive a nominal award of $1,000 for their designs. Selected designs will be seen through completion and will be showcased on the ALT’s website and may be cited by selected participants.

Judging

The jury will be made up of the Athens Land Trust board and ALT homeowners. The board includes members of the design community and the local community. The Athens Land Trust board reserves the right to refuse entries.

Submission Requirements

• Entries received by post must arrive at or before November 14, 2011, failing which they will not be considered.  One designer can submit a maximum of 3 designs.
• Entries must comprise of the following:
• Up to three 11x17 pages or boards of designs . As per the Objective, the initial proposals are not required to be detailed technical/construction drawings as candidates will have opportunities to develop their design subsequent to selection. The intent is to demonstrate an ability to design and implement high quality design in a context with many constraints. With this in mind, what follows is a brief explanation of what the designer should allude to in these boards:
• Plans: includes site information while conveying interior and exterior spatial organization, programmatic relationships, site design considerations, landscaping and other relevant details. The scale of these drawings should be ascribed and legible so the assessors can understand how the plans fit into the existing spaces.
• Additional diagrams/perspectives/axonometrics/collages/ sections: at the discretion of the designer as appropriate to describe the concepts, strategies, and how the design engages in the local context.  
• Preliminary Earthcraft checklist that shows all prerequisites met along with expected point totals in each credit category.
• Cost Estimate to demonstrate ability to build within the $97,000 limit.
• An electronic version of the design submitted via an online drop box or large file delivery service. Up to 500 words may accompany the designs to provide further explanation.
• A short portfolio of work demonstrating previous work, and that the candidates meet the eligibility criteria; i.e. they must have seen a building project through to completion. This does not have to be cumbersome or exhaustive but should demonstrate to the judging panel your ability to design, detail and implement residential buildings. Where possible this should also demonstrate any previous experience of innovative, modern, sustainable, affordable housing projects. Please bear in mind that this portfolio will be part of the initial assessment where the designer will not be present, and so it should be understandable in this context. Also, it is important to note that if you are selected you will have the opportunity to present your experience, philosophy and proposals in more detail.
• A Curriculum Vitae
• 3 references relevant to your professional experience

Post selection requirements:

• Initial sketch proposals will be collaboratively reviewed with community members.
• Development of spatial and technical drawings that have sufficient information for the buildings to be taken to site and constructed. This will include:
• Plans, Sections and Elevations
• Construction Details that describe the building envelope and extend from roof to foundation, clearly illustrating material assemblies, critical components and joints, structural considerations, details related to building openings, and other key aspects of the design.
• Detailed Earthcraft homes checklist
• Detailed cost estimate
• Designers must agree to be available for revisions and clarifications for a period of at least 1 year.

Download the design competition specifications (large file, 71 MB)

For more information about any of our programs or how you can help out, please contact the Athens Land Trust. Phone: (706) 613-0122

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