Volume Zero has announced the winners of its Women’s Pavilion 2021 Architecture Competition. Using architecture as a medium of change, participants had to design a Women’s Community Pavilion that is built for 75 users and offers multi-functional spaces for women of different ages. A community pavilion would provide women with many valuable resources in today’s society. In this competition, we aim to promote the use of architectural design as a social change tool.
FIRST PLACE – The Urban Ring/ Woman condition on the public space by Elisabeth Sulmont- Valentin Ranc- Vincent Manzini (France)
Every woman is unique and gender could not be reduced to one unit. Likewise women’s pavilion could not be reduced to a single architectural object. Women are everywhere. They travel all day long throughout our cities, whether to work to grab their kids at school or get groceries.
It is estimated in Paris a woman will spend one hour per day on public transportation However they remain invisible in public sources mainly occupied by man, for many reasons fear of aggression, lack of public lighting, unadapted public equipment. We chose to face this problem, give urban space to women, by implanting the pavilions along the main transportation axis, near metro station on public squares. Paris is used as a scene to illustrate this strategy.
SECOND PLACE – “AANCHAL”/ Mother’s lap / The cloth draped over an Indian woman by Ambika Lambah (India)
Sanganer, a Rajasthani town in India, boasts of a rich tradition of textile printing. Among the vibrant mustard fields and other naturally cultivated fabric dyes, lies this intervention. The Women’s Pavilion is moulded by the needs of the women and children in the local context, providing a safe haven to not only work, learn and flourish, but use the opportunity to generate revenue via the visitor shop and exhibition spaces.
Establishing a dialogue with its context, the rammed earth, and framed roof structure is inspired by the existing fabric hanging systems seen throughout this town. The interior spaces, take you through the various stages of creating a Sanganer cloth, from the block-printing studio to the central courtyard that houses the fabric dyeing process, all the way to the exterior that takes pride in showcasing these creations. The colours of the fabric change with the hues of the season, creating a dynamic conversation with its users.
THIRD PLACE – Turning Point by Li Huan – Zhang Yanyan – Sun Dejian (China)
In the modem era of rapid civilization women around the world have made significant progress in the growing economy, but there are still a large number of women trapped in the shackles of domestic violence and gender inequality. The building is located at the junction of the axis of the Haji Ali Mosque and the axes of the road where one will see the wall of the building on the way to the mosque which records the history of the struggle of women who came before us.
The overall building gradually fades into the grass, reflecting the main nature of the mosque, and the placement of stones to define the relationship between the whole site two heavy walls both enclose the space and express the trend of the building forward, focusing the overall theme on the mosque, implying that women will also continue to work towards the goal. Source and images Courtesy of Volume Zero.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
- noWe talk by Bruna Gregorini Cordeiro – Valentina Renis (Italy)
- Lighthouse by Kanyapak Kaewkeaw – Hathaikarn Ratnusak – Methawin Isarat (Thailand)
- Lighthouse of Women by Li Linsong – Li Chao – Xing Qian (China)
- The Chronolion by Kyal Sin Moe – Su Su Sint – Moe Theingi (Myanmar)
- The weavers’ pavilion by
Jordan Livings – Brenda Izen (Canada) - Shadari Athrey – Carol Romel Anthony – Gayathri Achuthankutty (India)
Samarthya - Women Power by Kristin Gerges (United States)
- Strength Behind Veils by Xinxin Lin (China)
- Women in the Pavilion by Han Meng – Li Ye – Huang Zijin (China)
- Laura Sottosanti- (Spain)
