Manni Group and YAC - Young Architects Competitions launch Xi’An Train Station, a competition of ideas to design a new rail terminal that will define the meeting point between East and West in the city where the famous Terracotta Army was found. A cash prize of €25,000 will be awarded to the winning projects selected by an internationally-renowned jury featuring: Dong Gong (Vector Architects), Ben van Berkel (UNstudio), Antonio Cruz (Cruz y Ortiz Arquitectos), Volkwin Marg (GMP Architekten), Patrik Schumacher (Zaha Hadid Architects), Stefano Boeri, and many other distinguished professionals. The competition is promoted by Manni Group with the participation of ROCKWOOL, Renolit, Dow and Tata Steel as sponsors.
China.
It is not just a geographical horizon. It is an oneiric horizon too. China is a country of legends and ancient mysteries and spirits. While Rome was tracing the first signs of Western civilization, in the East the third dynasty of a thousand-year-old empire was declining.
For centuries, the city of Xi’An has been the heart of the East and the residence of thirteen emperors’ dynasties. It has been a firm and stark heart pulsating with ruins and restorations, splendors and following declines. For 3,500 years, this heart has been expanding and contracting according to the rhythm of the events of the Middle Kingdom.
Xi’An is majestic and evasive. To this date, it is a wealth of treasures and sublime contradictions. Here, ancient and contemporary elements seem to compete for the soul of the city. In Xi’An stone dragons provide counterpoint to neon signs and paper lanterns guard the thresholds of glass skyscrapers.
Xi’An is tireless and adaptable to the needs of the times. By 2030, this city will experience an expansion of more than 17km2. This is the outcome of a measure that has been implemented by the central government of Beijing. It aims at maintaining the city as the hub of the relationships between China and the Western world.
In this context, Manni Group and YAC srl are pleased to present Xi’An Train Station.
A new rail terminal will define the meeting point between East and West. It will be located at the end of the Silk Road. For centuries, generations of geographers and merchants had considered this place the most remote destination. This new rail terminal will be at the crossroads of the old and the new, the Yin and the Yang of the opposite poles that generate the future of human society on a daily basis.
Here, millions of roads will intersect. Millions of journeys will start and end. Millions of lives, expectations and hopes will meet in the frantic and unaware atmosphere of travel-related places. This is because a station is more than a simple railroad platform, travelling is more than an experience. After all, the journey is the most real and genuine metaphor for the human condition.
YAC has always upheld a high standard of quality for its winning projects, which is reflected in the competition juries. Past years' juries have included well-known architectural talent such as Rossana Hu (Neri&Hu), Fuensanta Nieto (Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos), Daniel Libeskind (Studio Libeskind), and Manuel Aires Mateus (Aires Mateus), among many others. This competition's jury is no exception, with many big names and prominent firms represented.
JURY
- Dong Gong I Vector Architects
- Ben van Berkel I UNS
- Antonio Cruz I Cruz y Ortiz Arquitectos
- Volkwin Marg I GMP Architekten
- Patrik Schmacher I Zaha Hadid Architects
- Fresa Francesco | piuarch
- Enrico Frizzera I Manni Group
- Giovanni De Niederhausern I Head of Architecture Pininfarina
- Marcello Cai (Cai Xichun) I Chic Group
- Sun Jin I Xi’an International Community Fashion Town Construction and Development Co., Ltd
- Stefano Boeri I Stefano Boeri Architetti
- Alberto Mercati I Dow
- Luca Gottardi I Renolit
- Bernard Plancade I ROCKWOOL
PRIZES
1st PRIZE €10,000
2nd PRIZE €6,000
3rd PRIZE €3,000
MENTION - Dow; It will be awarded to the projects that specifically focus on the building’s energy performance €2,000
MENTION - Renolit; it will be awarded to the projects that include extremely valuable architectural solutions regarding the design of flat roofs 2,000 €
MENTION - ROCKWOOL; it will be award to the projects that focus on the building’s life cycle 2,000 €
10 HONORABLE MENTIONS
30 FINALISTS
CALENDAR
23/09/2019 “early bird” registration – start
20/10/2019 (h 11.59 pm GMT) “early bird” registration – end
21/10/2019 “standard” registration – start
17/11/2019 (h 11.59 pm GMT) “standard” registration – end
Title
Open Call for Design of New Xi’An Train StationType
Competition Announcement (Ideas)Organizers
Registration Deadline
December 15, 2019 12:00 AMSubmission Deadline
December 19, 2019 12:00 AMPrice
€ 60
18/11/2019 “late” registration – start
15/12/2019 (h 11.59 pm GMT) “late” registration – end
19/12/2019 (h 12.00 pm – midday - GMT) material submission deadline
More information on www.youngarchitectscompetitions.com
Contact us at yac@yac-ltd.com
Download the information related to this competition here.
