ARQ and SCA have launched the 25th edition of the Architecture Prize for students from across the country

The Clarín SCA National Award for students celebrates its anniversary 25th edition. For this reason, the competition, which traditionally ended around the holidays, was postponed until the beginning of the year. The awards ceremony will take place on February 26th and the jury’s decision will be announced on March 6th.

The reason for this change is to avoid compromising the presentation of the works the classic and sophisticated deliveries that the chairs have at the end of the year. This way, interested students can spend the time necessary to perfect their proposals.

The competition, organized by Clarín’s ARQ magazine and the Central Society of Architects, is aimed at students – almost professionals – for training Participation in competitions. This practice, highly valued by the architectural community, offers the opportunity to explore rare subjects, gain access to tasks that rarely occur in normal professional practice and, in addition, allows us to select the best architectural proposals for the construction and renewal of the fabric of our cities.

On the other hand, the competition aims to ensure that these future architects, in addition to gaining public recognition, also start participating the conversation about architecture, environment and city. Over time, each edition of the Prize has become a kind of framework that reflects the concerns of architects and, at the same time, the evolution of teaching in schools across the country.

The prize was created in 2001 from an agreement between Carlos Lebrero – the then president of the SCA – and the undersigned general editor of ARQ as an extension of The workshopa section that has appeared in the “Architecture” supplement since 1991. In it, teachers select the best work, which ARQ then distributes together with the students’ statements in the magazine and on the Internet – in the “New Talents” section.

They had the first bases Advice by Juan Molina y Vedia, then Matías Gigli, among others, worked with him; and for many years Carolina Day and Marta García Falcó were responsible for its adaptation and updating.

They formed the jury renowned architects: from Clorindo Testa or Carmen Córdova to Roberto Frangella (who was the most voted by the participants) through Justo Solsona, Pussi Rivarola, María Teresa Egozcue, Josefa Santos, Álvaro Arrese, Emilio Rivoira, Mariví Besonias, Fernando Jaime, Bárbara Berson, Pablo Phatouos, Esteban Urdampilleta and many others.

Every issue has passed different nuancesboth in terms of the topics addressed and in terms of the – increasingly federal – origin of the works.

The winning project was in the first edition a residential complex nestled in the gorges of the Paraná River. Clorindo Testa, a member of the jury at the time, adjusted his glasses, separated the jury and no one had any doubts. The image that illustrated the cover of the supplement was the photo of the model, accompanied by the title: Landscape Houses.

Then came more suggestions: a half-buried structurea cultural center in the large empty parking lot between Paraguay and Azcuénaga – where the back walls of several bland UBA buildings can be seen – social housing projects for various regions of the country and even a base in Antarctica.

In each of these issues, the publication featured the traditional “family photo” of the winners who won the cover.

Over time, we found that this space for students – both the workshop and the award – fulfilled one of its goals: becoming a launching platform professional life. An example is Andrés Schulman, the first publisher in El Taller, who years later was one of the protagonists of the reconstruction and technological modernization of the Teatro Colón.

Others like Ariel Pradelli, Alejandro Beltramone, Sergio Ronzoni, Gastón Flores and Carla Beccelli published in the first seasons and then went on to have great careers. Pradelli is now head of architecture at FADU UBA; Beltramone renovated the flag monument in Rosario; Ronzoni took with him nothing less than the entire Usina del Arte documentation; Flores was responsible for the Metropolitan Design Center and the redesign of the CPAU headquarters, and Beccelli was Rafael Viñoly’s right-hand man on projects such as Acqua and Carrasco Airport.

More here: Ludmila Crippa, now a member of Crippa Alonso, is the author of one of the buildings in Villa Olímpica; Agostina Sambataro, co-author of the Teatro Coliseo reforms; and both Ana Smud, Bárbara Berson and Pablo Phatouros They continue to appear regularly Win awards such as those from CAPBA, ARQ FADEA or contribute your knowledge in faculty workshops, conferences, seminars or other related events.

In the last edition, Candela Crisafulli, from the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning of La Plata, won first prize with her proposal a center for environmental interpretation and dissemination in Santa Fe.

The second prize also dealt with environmental issues: its authors from the National University of Córdoba planned Bahía Blanca an algae machine that can retain CO₂ with great efficiency.

The third prize, also for students from Córdoba, was awarded a park to clean up soil and water pollution.

In addition to the notable emphasis on productive and sustainable projects, this edition has reinforced its strength Federal characterwith a large participation from schools from all over the country.

As every year, the current rules are written in accordance with the FADEA Competition Rules (Argentine Federation of Architectural Entities) is the entity that unites all institutions of national architecture.

It must be submitted in digital form by then 4 sheets In A2 format (420 Ideas and basics of the project.

The invitation is given. Architecture students from national, public or private faculties who have taken or are taking one of the courses can take part. last two levels of the race in 2024 and 2025; as well as those students who have completed the course but have not yet earned the degree.

If you have any questions, Carolina Day and Marta García Falcó are available to help and advise you at Premioclarin@gmail.com. All that remains is to ask the group of students to prepare and send in their sheets Join this conversation so necessary that we want to create a better living space and a better future together.