Dubai Expo is the world's most anticipated architecture and design trade show, with leading architecture firms from 190 countries showcasing cutting-edge construction technologies and achievements. The exhibition will be open to the public from 1 October 2021 through 31 March 2022.
Launched on 1 October, STEEL FREEDOM 2021 invites participants to perform two tasks using steel structures. The first task is to design a business centre for development companies UDP and KAN Development in the Kyiv-based UNIT.City industrial park. The second is to design a cultural hub in Podil district for two developers, Perfect Group and Riverside Development.
The contest has seen a record number of entries this year. Student teams have developed 84 designs: 48 designs for the business centre and 36 designs for the cultural hub. After the technical selection, the teams that have fulfilled the terms of reference will reach the semi-final, and the top 10 designs in each category will reach the final. During the final round, the participants will defend their projects in front of a jury that will determine the winning entries.
The total prize fund for the two categories is UAH 150,000: UAH 30,000 for first place, UAH 25,000 for second place, and UAH 20,000 for third place.
Igor Tonev, General Director of Metinvest-SMC
"Metinvest Group regularly supports the STEEL FREEDOM Architecture Competition. Over the eight years of the competition, young architects have proven that the potential applications for steel in construction are boundless. For example, the construction of the first steel, multi-storey residential building in Ukraine is underway in Mariupol now. The building was designed by winners of the STEEL FREEDOM competition. And we have more and more projects that are being implemented instead of just being shelved. We are proud that the competition has won the trust of leading national developers. We believe that the appearance and content of the steel projects will help them become landmark facilities for the country.”
The STEEL FREEDOM National Architecture Student Competition was founded by the Ukrainian Centre for Steel Construction in 2014. It is held annually among the leading higher education institutions specialising in architecture and design.
Students in their fourth, fifth or sixth year of study are allowed to participate in the competition. The teams of senior students can also include third-year students. The mission is to develop original conceptual solutions for structural steel designs.
The Ukrainian Centre for Steel Construction has signed memorandums with 13 Ukrainian universities to provide support for STEEL FREEDOM and its participants. This means that faculty members can supervise the teams and consult them at the design stage. Students can use the designs to receive credits for term papers, tests or theses during their study.