Our cities are constantly changing and developing in response to the needs of the population and the surrounding world. Climate and sustainability concerns are currently driving a transformation of the urban environment towards local green energy production and new concepts such as energy positive districts. At the same time, the fight for space in the urban areas requires cities to consider new concepts of urban design. Designing for multi-functionality is one way to make technical buildings contribute in more than one way to the city.

Bratislava and Copenhagen invite students of architecture, urban design or similar disciplines to create inspiring and innovative concepts for multi-functional technical buildings, containing some of the green energy production enabling our cities to become sustainable while also contributing to a liveable city for all.

The competition aims at gathering a variety of inspiring concepts for combining technical buildings with other city functions, notably because technical buildings present a special challenge for its integration into the surrounding urban environment. Compared to others, some characteristic features of technical buildings, including noise, vehicle access, and safety distances, make it difficult to link other activities to the building.

The concepts should therefore demonstrate how energy infrastructure can offer tangible, positive experiences in our daily urban life, combining the need for locally produced renewable energy with the need for other city elements. Space for local energy production buildings is needed in new and existing neighbourhoods. By aiming for multi-functionality, we can help ensure that new buildings contribute to the city in a variety of ways and perhaps even become a new landmark lending the district a positive identity.

The competition task is to create a solution for a building housing large heat pumps such as those used for producing local district heating. A concept should first be developed for a specific site in Bratislava or Copenhagen but then developed further to become a conceptual prototype that can inspire numerous cities although the task work takes its conceptual starting point in specific sites in Bratislava or Copenhagen.

The three best concepts will be awarded a cash prize, tickets to the UIA World Congress of Architects 2023 in Copenhagen from 2-6 July 2023, and an opportunity to visit the World Capital of Architecture 2023.

Registration for the competition must take place no later than 13th of February, 2023 and the deadline for sending in submissions is 1st of May, 2023.

Help us design the cities of tomorrow today!

Take your chance and register now!