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Open Competitions

Riyadh

Dream Villas

YAC invites architects to write a new chapter of living at the edge of Riyadh’s desert by designing two immeasurably valuable architectural interventions. Two living accommodations at the edge of Riyadh’s desert.

Dream Villas

The cave, the hut, the palace. Throughout history, there have been countless facets of living. Yet, giving shape to human dwellings is always an ongoing task. This is because there is one possible house for each individual and because ultimately the house is the most effective map of our individuality.

The house is the membrane between the public context and the private space. It is the most personal belonging one could ever own. The house is about us, our dear ones, our habits and our passions.

For years, architecture has been leveling out according to standards and functions. Now, in the current society which has been hurt and changed by the pandemic, the concept of living is at the center of the design once again. Having to live in social isolation for a long time aroused new needs, aspirations and necessities, even in the most well-to-do contexts.

The house, especially the villa, returned to being the ultimate refuge for people owning it. It is the place where to enjoy nature, which is often too rare in the city. It is the place where to live the widest range of experiences (living, working, practicing sport, having a good time, being taken care of). The countryside is preferred to the city. Here, the possibility to isolate is considered more valuable than reachability.

In the moment of greatest debate about the new paradigms of living, after Desert Accommodation’s suggestions, YAC goes back to Riyadh’s sands with Riyadh Dream Villas. This is the competition aiming at designing two luxury residences situated in the Al Wasil community.

The villa has always been an extraordinarily effective architectural archetype.

Disputed between artificial space and natural landscape, the villa has always been an extraordinarily effective architectural archetype. It has always stood for the most noble concept of dwelling and often materialized the dream house of those who have to give shape to it.

Luxury, post-pandemic aspirations and breathtaking landscape are just some of the pillars of Riyadh Dream Villas. Such competition will invite architects to write a new chapter of living at the edge of Riyadh’s desert by designing two immeasurably valuable architectural interventions. Moreover, they will give their contribution to the ongoing and constant transformation of the most essential architectural typology: the dwelling.

Yac thanks all the architects who will take part in this challenge.

Winners

First Prize

Daffonchio Architects

Enrico Maria Daffonchio, Ayesha Cachalia, Robert Dos Santos

Daffonchio Architects

Second Prize

.1 Lab

Man Kit Cheung , Chau Kit Yip

.1 Lab

Third Prize

FUN

Zekun Qin, Yolande Wang, Peiyao Yu, Weiqi Xie

FUN

Gold Mention

NEODIGMA

Stefano Vitale, Ludovica Marconi

NEODIGMA

Gold Mention

Whitespace Design

Utkan Yonter, Sara Olmez

Whitespace Design

Jury

Each jury is nominated with utmost care and is composed by professionals of the highest repute whose activity is consistent with the theme of the competition.

Partners

YAC thanks all the people who have been engaged in organizing the competition by sharing time, materials and resources to make the experience of architects unique.

Sou Fujimoto ArchitectsUNS StudioBjarke Ingles GroupSnohettaFoster and PartnersMiralles Tagliabue EMBT

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