Dezeen promotion: architects, designers and multidisciplinary teams are invited to submit proposals for preserving Cambodia's Tonle Sap lake as part of a competition organised by Eleven magazine (+ slideshow).
Founded in early 2015 by Dr Andrea Verenini, Eleven's aim is to act as a platform to help solve worldwide problems through the use of design and innovation.
"We believe design has a major role in shaping lives," explained Dr Verenini. "Competitions have many virtues; they encourage innovation and foster talent, but most importantly they raise awareness on global issues whilst suggesting possible actions."
The magazine's inaugural competition focuses on the preservation of the ecosystem within Cambodia's Tonle Sap lake – the largest fresh water basin in south east Asia and a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
With over 1.2 million people living in close proximity to the area and using the lake for food and water, it is now under threat from high levels of pollution. Eleven has invited solutions that tackle over-development issues in the region for this year's competition.
Entrants are asked to submit a proposal for a floating structure that could serve the purpose of medical aid, research or ecological education.
"The objective is to protect the Tonle Sap's fragile environment, respect the local culture and ecosystem and empower the communities in becoming better-equipped guardians of this unique biosphere," explain the organisers.
Entrants have until 11am on 11 September to register and submit their proposals, and are eligible for early-bird discount before 22 June.
US architect Tom Kundig, Perry Hooper of Grimshaw Architects, and Architecture Review editor Christine Murray are among the international judging panel.
A cash prize of £1,500 will be awarded to the winner, who will also receive exposure through events and exhibitions, and the possibility of working with Eleven on future projects. A runner up will receive £500.
The public will also have the chance to vote through the Eleven website; the entry with the most votes will win the People's Choice award and £500.
Profits made from the competition will be donated to the Angkor Hospital for Children in Cambodia.
For more information and to register an entry, visit the Eleven's website.
Read on for more information from Eleven:
Eleven has announced the launch of its inaugural ideas and design international competition based on Cambodia's Tonle Sap Lake: a chance for architects, designers and students to engage in a unique design challenge and help make a difference along the way.
Located just a few miles south from the magnificent Angkor Temples, the Tonle Sap Lake is the largest fresh water basin in Southeast Asia. It boasts a UNESCO biosphere status since 1997 due to its ecological significance as a haven for hundreds of species of birds and fish, many of which are endangered. The lake is also home to more than 1.2 million people living in traditional floating villages. These remote communities migrate seasonally around the basin and rely heavily on its waters for sustenance.
Today, the wellbeing of Tonle Sap's ecosystem is severely under threat from the national and international price of rapid modernity. As the region develops, high levels of pollution make their way into the lake giving way to epidemic outbursts. This poses a huge threat to the safeguarding of future generations of both wildlife and human population.
The role of the competition is to tackle this problem through a design-led approach. Entries are asked to help deliver change and innovation by submitting a proposal for a floating structure (or structures) for medical aid, research and ecological education. The objective is to protect the Tonle Sap's fragile environment, respect the local culture and ecosystem and empower the communities in becoming better-equipped guardians of this unique biosphere.
The competition – which opens for registration on the 11 June – is open to anyone who is interested in participating and calls on thinkers, architects, designers, students and multidisciplinary teams around the world to engage, deliver change and drive innovation through design-led solutions.
Entries have until 11 September at 11am to register and submit their proposals for a chance at winning cash prises and exposure. Individuals or teams of up to four people wishing to participate are encouraged to register before the 22 June, when they will be eligible for an early bird discount.
The competition boasts an impressive jury roster of 12 esteemed leading experts from over seven countries. Among the international panel we find distinguished Seattle based architect Tom Kundig (Olson-Kundig Architects), architecture giants Grimshaw Architects, Ozzy rising star Andrew Maynard, Christine Murray (Editor of the Architecture Review) and representatives from top universities around the world including the prestigious IAAC (Barcelona), the Boston Architecture College and London's Bartlett (UCL).
Aside from a world-class international jury of renowned academics and architects, entries will additionally benefit from extensive media coverage in leading architecture and design magazines and generous awards, which include a total cash prize jackpot of £2500, exposure through exhibitions and participation in future events. In addition, Eleven will also be publishing all entries online and the public will be given the chance to vote for their favourite, who will bring home the People's Choice award and £500 in cash.
The competition will precede a series of spin-off events, with a publication and international exhibitions being currently planned in venues around the USA, Europe and Cambodia. The winner of the competition will also have the possibility of directly engaging with a real-life project as Eleven is working towards facilitating and delivery a live design on site.
The event is run in support of the Angkor Hospital for Children (AHC), Cambodia. Proceedings from the profits made through the competition will be given as a charitable donation to the AHC in support of their noble cause in the safeguarding of children in need.
Eleven was founded by Dr Andrea Verenini earlier this year as a global platform for facilitating international design-led think-tanks in solving problems around the world.
Already, the group is gaining popularity in the international media and prominent architectural and academic institutions worldwide.
More information can be found on the competition's website, where registrations for the events are currently being taken. The public is encouraged to join their Facebook site and follow them on twitter.