Barkman concrete design competition
Concrete is familiar and grey. But concrete has amazing properties! Every year Barkman Concrete Ltd. honours pre-cast design proposals of students that challenge and celebrate the material. The Barkman concrete design competition is unique among faculty-wide design competitions since it promotes communication between industry, educators and students.
The call for entries aims at establishing prizes (total money of $3000) generously donated by Barkman Concrete Ltd. as part of their Scholarship Fund for students in the Faculty / Department of Landscape Architecture.
2021-2022 competition
Contest task
The task is to design, lay out, and detail geometric shapes and/or systems for a new product line at Barkman Concrete. Whether you create pattern in the arrangement of the concrete elements, or put pattern directly on them, or both, it’s all about pattern! You must integrate your pattern among three concrete products:
- Paver units (multiple, fully dimensioned sizes)
- Wall units
- One or more site furnishings (a bench, for example)
The unit(s)
- can be a dry-cast or wet-cast product(s)
- needs to be of a weight between 1300 to 1500 pounds so that it can be installed by the equipment of a contractor (1 cubic foot concrete weighs 145 pounds)
- needs to easily slide out of the formwork form
- needs to be functional and aesthetically pleasing
- needs to be applicable to a variety of locations and their designs
The winning design will be chosen based on the plausibility and creativity in how to create and shape concrete patterns in an intriguing, makeable and affordable way.
2020-2021 competition
Contest task
The task is to design, layout, and detail steps or stairs to the sunken patio on the northside of the Architecture 2 Building. Barkman Concrete Ltd. is expecting compelling ideas for an inviting spatial solution that includes areas to sit, learn, linger, relax etc. outside of room 121B. Room 121B is a studio space and has two doors that open to the rear patio which slopes upwards 2.50m, in between existing concrete walls. You are encouraged to experiment with features (wood, plants etc.) to compliment the stairs.
The unit(s):
- can be a dry-cast or wet-cast product(s)
- needs to be of a weight between 1300 to 1500 pounds so that it can be installed by the equipment of a contractor (1 cubic foot concrete weighs 145 pounds)
- needs to easily slide out of the formwork form
- needs to be functional and aesthetically pleasing
- needs to be assembled to overcome a difference in height of 2.50m
- needs to be applicable to other locations and their design
The winning design will be chosen based on the plausibility and creativity in how to create a space and shape steps in an intriguing, makeable and affordable way.
