9th edition of the International VELUX Award

26 of November '19

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Registration for the ninth edition of the International VELUX Award 2020 competition for architecture students has begun. Students from Polish universities, have a chance to take part in the largest global competition of its kind and show off their creativity in front of a world-renowned jury, headed by renowned French architect Odile Decq. The prerequisite for participation is registration, which has already begun and will last until April 1, 2020.

International VELUX Award 2018 © Velux

The International VELUX Award competition is held every two years, starting in 2004 with the goal of encouraging students to pay special attention to the role of natural light in architecture as an important source of lighting, energy, well-being and comfort. Since the first edition, some 12,000 students from 59 countries have participated, submitting more than 5,000 projects. The competition has grown to become the largest event of its kind for architecture students, and Polish students have already been successful in it four times. They were representatives of the Lodz University of Technology, Krakow University of Technology, Wroclaw University of Technology and Poznan University of Technology.

Why is it worth taking part in the competition?

I myself am an avid contestant, we have always been encouraged to do so by our professors, and I have also always encouraged students to participate in contests. Nowadays, contests are a platform not so much to appear, but to break through with one's world view and vision of a piece of the world," - says Prof. Ewa Kurylowicz, Ph.D., architect and general designer at Kurylowicz & Associates. Head of the Department of Architecture Design and Theory at the Faculty of Architecture, Warsaw University of Technology.

The International VELUX Award is a competition where the profile of seeing the world, where natural light plays a huge role, has been clearly defined. It is a very developing competition, concerning the biggest milestones that there are in design in general. Because architecture is a game of chiaroscuro. Without light there is no architecture, you just can't see it, it is not spatial, it doesn't function in a three-dimensional way," adds Ewa Kurylowicz.

I encourage all architecture students to try their hand at the 9th edition of the International VELUX Award. This is an extremely prestigious competition in which Polish students have already been successful. I know that it has been an excellent impulse for them to develop further and later have ambitious careers, often abroad. In addition, the competition also offers great networking opportunities in the community. All Polish students who have been winners recall it as a great adventure," encourages Monika Kupska-Kupis, an architect from VELUX Poland.

Winning this competition is not only valuable cash prizes, but also a chance for students to appear in an international group of young architects from all over the world, to show off their creativity in front of an international jury, and most importantly, an opportunity to show their vision of the world. Each work submitted by students is analyzed by a group of distinguished architects appointed to the jury by the International Union of Architects (UIA), which cooperates with the competition. What's more, regional award winners then have the chance to present their work at a celebration of architecture, the World Architecture Festival (WAF). Appearing in front of a distinguished audience and showcasing their work is an unforgettable experience, as well as an opportunity to take an important step on the professional path.

The jury refers to the participants in the competition as "architects of the future," as each year the works submitted show the architectural visions of young people that take into account both environmental and social issues, emphasizing the great responsibility of architecture for the future of people in different corners of the world, adds Monika Kupska-Kupis, an architect from VELUX Poland.

Prizes for students and supervisors

The rules of the competition stipulate that each student or team has a scientific supervisor. Their support and involvement is very important and valuable, which is why they are also rewarded. The VELUX Group encourages university lecturers and colleges to integrate the topic of daylighting in architecture even more into the curriculum, and is also at your service with any teaching materials that help lecturers present the idea of the competition and its proceedings. Winning the competition is therefore a huge prestige and satisfaction also for the supervisor and the university itself. The results of the competition are presented not only at the World Architecture Festival, but also in world-renowned architectural magazines.

Winners also receive cash prizes, which go to both students and their academic supervisors. The total prize pool is 30,000 euros. The grand prize in each category is €5,000 (€4,000 for the student and €1,000 for the supervisor), while the prizes for the best work in theregions within each category are €1,250 (€1,000 for the student and €250 for the mentor). The jury may also award the authors of the best projects using VELUX products, although students are not required to use them in their works.

How is the competition going?

Registration has already begun and will last until April 1, 2020. It is a mandatory condition for submitting a competition entry. Registration takes place at iva.velux.comCompetition entries can be submitted in two categories - "Natural light in buildings" and "Natural light research." In July 2020, the jury will select two winners from each of five regions defined by the International Union of Architects: 1) Western Europe, 2) Eastern Europe and the Middle East, 3) the Americas, 4) Asia and Oceania, and 5) Africa. The ten regional winners will present their projects to the jury in person at the World Architecture Festival in November 2020. Then the jury will select one global winner in each of the competition categories. The competition can be entered by individuals or teams. Each student or team that enters should have an academic supervisor.