Arquitectum International Architectural Competition: Kuelap 2007

Arquitectum, an enterprise dedicated to the development of architectural bidding contests, is pleased to welcome all architects from around the world to the International Architectural Competition "Kuelap 2007", which will take place from October of this year until February of 2007.

Introduction
Arquitectum is the first international institution dedicated to the organization of architectural competitions open to all professionals worldwide which allow their work to be known in architectural circles (institutional, editorial and governmental) around the world.

We have been organizing Landscaping Contests in important places such as MACHU PICCHU, NAZCA and CHAN CHAN.

For our this Landscape Contest we hope to go much further: we hope to effectively bring the contest's winning architect that their project becomes part of the valuable studies that a country takes into consideration. On this occasion we have managed to get an authority of the INC - Culture National Institute - to receive the winning proposal so it may be incorporated to the Institute planning studies. In that way, the winner architect will not only be present for the Contest Exhibition in Peru but he will be invited to enjoy a pleasant trip in the Arquitectour 2007 that will take him all around of the Southmerica's most important archeological monuments as Machu Picchu, Chan Chan and Nazca.

The Place : The Fortress of Kuelap
Situated on the left bank of the Utcubamba River, in the department of Amazonas, is Kuélap, an architectural complex of spectacularly cyclopean proportions. In the context of the function which the author attributes to the monumental architecture of ancient Peru in general, Kuélap -contrary to common opinion- was not a fortress, but rather a monumental administrative center for food production. The complex would have had spaces reserved for the rites and rituals aimed at ensuring a good harvest, as well as dwellings for the society's leaders. The great majority of the buildings would, however, have been used for storing foodstuffs.

Kuélap is located 3000 meters above sea level, on the summit of a calcareous hill that rises above the left bank of the Utcubamba River. According to the engineer Herman Corbera, it is located at the following coordinates: 6º24'26" South and 77º54'16" West.

The monument consists of an enormous elongated platform extending from south to north. Its stretches for almost 600 meters and is supported by an outer wall up to 19 meters high. This wall does not surround the entire platform, because the western side is formed by a vertical cliff face. Upon this immense platform there rises a second platform of more modest proportions than the first.

The engineers who built Kuélap gave the site a sophisticated drainage system which allowed for the removal of the rainwater that accumulated on the platform. Because of the blockage of these drainage ducts, the landfill of earth and rocks that comprises the platform has expanded over time due to rainfall. This process has led to the pressure exerted against the walls causing damage in several sectors.

The Project : A Lodge-museum
The "Lodge-Museum" to be designed is meant to be a new worldwide prototype model of lodge housing, its main purpose being the enjoyment of the landscape and environment, not the level of comfort it brings.

Within this scheme, the "Lodge-Museum" is more a place to be, rather than a place to be in: of enjoyment of the context before the enjoyment of the infrastructure. In this way the environment is freed of excessive contaminating residues produced by the heavy rotation of visitors. Higher value is placed on the temporary and active experiencing of the event itself (observation of the Kuelap Fortress) rather than on the efficiency and complexity that the installations may offer for a longer term stay.

The goal of this shelter is to promote a new model of lodging in which tourists, with a minimum of luggage, can enjoy a clean, safe and economical place where they can spend a night and wake up in front of the of the Kuelap Fortress as well as enjoy, as part of their permanence- a trip inside the Chachapoyas Cultures in special museum incorporated inside the own Lodge.

The "Lodge-Museum" will have a basic plan that will occupy a built area of 1,500 square meters (16,145 square feet) within a plot area of 10,000 square meters (100,000 square feet).

1st Prize
Two persons packages (two people) tours of Arquitectour 2007 that will include the accommodation for 11 nights (12 days) in 4 and 5 stars hotels, with internal travels to Chan-Chan Citadel, Machu Picchu, Paracas Ecological Reservation and Nazca Plains, from February 23rd 2007 to March 6th 2007.

· Exclusive issue that the European magazine "Wettbewerbe Aktuell" will dedicate to the Kuelap 2007 2006 Contest, and particularly to the winning project, as well as complete coverage of the background and works of the winning architect(s).

· Exclusive issue that the Latin American design magazine "ENTRE RAYAS" will dedicate to the Kuelap 2007 Contest, and particularly to the winning project, as well as complete coverage of the background and works of the winning architect(s).

· Issue that the architecture magazine "ARKINKA" will dedicate to the Kuelap 2007 Contest during the year.

· Appearance in the Spanish competition magazine "FUTURE" in a 2007 year issue.

and 9 Honorable Mentions.

Tariff
Early Registration: US $ 100 (80 EUROS)
Late Registration: US $ 150 (120 EUROS)

Submission Requirements
Participants must deliver their proposals via internet. These must be in the form of a single digital image in a 4 x 3 proportion presentation (4 wide x 3 high) so that it may be easily displayed and viewed in a computer screen.

Schedule
· Contest Announcement: October 1st, 2006
· Contest Begins: October 20th, 2006
· Proposal Submissions Deadline: January 10th, 2007
· Winners Announced: February 5th, 2007
· Peru Exhibition: March 12, 2007

Registration and Purchase of Rules
The Contest's website http://www.arquitectum.com, from where you will be able to download for free all the files needed to participate in the contest (history, aerial photos and plans) and where you must register, will be operational starting October 20st 2006.

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