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.
2024-2025 competition
Contest task
The task is to design an erosion control system that will demonstrate how this technology can be applied on the Prairies and expand the aesthetic and technical possibilities for designers. The principal material must be precast concrete, but other materials can be incorporated into the system.
The erosion control system needs to:
- dissipate erosive surface runoff and armour shorelines against wave and ice action;
- interlock to create a structurally stable surface that will remain in place under these forces;
- be suitable for local (Winnipeg) soil, slope, and precipitation conditions;
- be transported and installed without specialized equipment;
- be attractive and complementary to natural areas and watercourses;
- be fabricable with equipment and methods like those used at Barkman Concrete;
offer variety in applications; - be modular and integrate easily with other paving products and systems.
The winning design will be chosen based on the feasibility, creativity and usefulness demonstrated in the design.
Winners:
1st place - Interceptor
Eva Hagel MacPherson
Emily Hill
Dae Williams
2nd place - Riparian Jigsaw
Changtai Li
Adam Griffiths
Yuxin Xie
3rd place - Terra-Pod
Micah Davison
Paige Michalyshen
Emilio Daza-Blais
2023-2024 competition
Contest task
The task is to design a new permeable paving system that will demonstrate how this technology can be applied in Winnipeg and expand the aesthetic and technical possibilities for designers. The jury will be seeking compelling ideas for a permeable paving system that is flexible, attractive, and easy to integrate.
The permeable paver system needs to:
- allow for the collection and detention of stormwater below the paver surface;
- be suitable for local (Winnipeg) soil and precipitation conditions;
- interlock to create a structurally stable surface usable by pedestrians and bicycles;
- be a dry-cast concrete paving unit product, fabricable with equipment and methods like those used at Barkman Concrete;
- be modular and integrate easily with other paving products and systems;
- consider the needs of people using wheelchairs and with other mobility challenges;
- offer variety in applications and patterns;
- be functional and aesthetically pleasing.
The winning design will be chosen based on the feasibility, creativity and usefulness demonstrated in the design.
Winners:
1st place – Meta - 60
Boru Ali
Brandan Gatz
2nd place – Clover
Teegan Gillich
Johannah Javier
Zach Pankratz
3rd place –Quarter Wave
Thomas Brown
Kiana Baul
Busola Ayoola
2022-2023 competition
Contest task
The task is to design a new segmental retaining wall product that will expand the aesthetic and technical possibilities for designers. Barkman Concrete Ltd. is expecting compelling ideas for a precast wall system that is flexible, attractive, and easy to integrate with other products.
The wall system needs to:
• be a dry-cast product, fabricable with Barkman’s equipment and methods;
• be modular and integrate with at least one other Barkman hardscape product;
• be functional and aesthetically pleasing.
The winning design will be chosen based on the feasibility, creativity and usefulness demonstrated in the design.
Winners:
1st Place – Ribstone
Michael Fitzpatrick
Maryam Ghorbani
2nd place –Fast-in + Zavie
Brock Dueck
Sari Halldorson Haines
Makena Hughes
Adrianna Anastacio
RJ Asuncion
Vanessa Dos Santos
2021-2022 competition
Contest task
This year’s competition task was to design, lay out, and detail geometric shapes or systems into a pattern for a new concrete product line of pavers, wall units and furniture.
Winners
1st Place – BOLD Simplicity
Danielle Dubois
Holly Friesen
2nd place – The Onion
Jia Garcia
Myles O’Toole
Victor Sarzynski
3rd place – Influx
Jen Bergen
Conrad Jabo
Brandon Nacionales
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.
Winners:
1st Place
Emma Dicks
Matthew Glowacki
Bryce Stovin
2nd place
Nabil Basri
Aaron Bomback
Laurel Cowley
3rd place
Manuela Villarreal
Sabrina Kratsberg
Owen Toth
