Breathe Free competition – aasarchitecture

As cities continue to grow and industrialize, half of the world’s population sees itself occupying urban environments. Around 9 out of 10 people frequently breathe in dangerous levels of polluted air. Air pollution also kills an estimate of 4 million every year.

WHO reports that by 2030 the air will become so poisonous that having an oxygen kit will become a need. People are generally advised to stay indoors and to not indulge in outdoor activities. With increasing rate, it won’t be hard to imagine a possibility where people will seek refuge inside their hermetically sealed climate.

Outdoor activities will start to spill indoor. Inward looking spaces will become crowded. Barely would anyone choose to interact beyond the confines of an artificial climate. Where does this leave the public spaces of the city?

Challenge
Public spaces provide a critical space for residents to breathe and be active. Beyond a place of interaction and community coalition, it enriches a city fabric. Beneficial for mental well-being, it also provides a sense of security. But the increased rate of pollution is slowly making it – a dysfunctional entity.

It’s about time that we reclaim and rethink the public space. Brief is to design a small scale recreational space for the local community where they are able to breathe air, free from pollutants and can engage in outdoor public activity. Source and images Courtesy of competitions.uni. http://competitions.uni.xyz

Timeline
Launch: February 15, 2020
Registration Ends: 7th Sep 2020
Submission Deadline: 22nd Sep 2020
Result Announcement: 19th Nov 2020