1. WELCOME:
To mark the election of the Maya city of Chichen Itzá as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World ARQUITECTUM, a company which organizes architecture competitions, is pleased to welcome the world’s architects to the 5th Landscape Architecture Competition “CHICHEN ITZA 2008”, to be held from October 2007 to February 2008.



2.
INTRODUCTION:
ARQUITECTUM is the first international enterprise dedicated to the elaboration of open architecture competitions that allow professionals from all over the world to take part and showcase their work in international architectural circles (institutions, publishing Architecture Competitions, governments).

In our desire to offer each year new and exciting locations in which to design and speculate with architecture, has chosen one of the most enigmatic and beautiful places in the world, the Citadel of CHICHEN ITZA, as the setting to collect the best ideas regarding the installation of objects in archaeological scenarios. Scenarios that because of their mystery and beauty, require a studied and careful intervention, of a profound ecological vision, and above all, of poetic architectural creativity.

This is why we are pleased to invite all architects from around the world to participate in the “CHICHEN ITZA 2008” idea contest. We wish to find the best proposals that envision the installation of a next generation observatory that renews the vision of tourism, and invites the visitor to enjoy a different and new kind of experience such as is spending the night and waking in front of the citadel of Chichen Itza itself.



3. THE LOCATION:
The Maya name "Chich'en Itza" means "At the mouth of the well of the Itza ". Although this was the usual name for the site in pre-Columbian times, it is also referred to in the ancient chronicles as Uucyabnal, meaning "Seven Great Rulers".

The site contains many fine stone buildings in various states of preservation; the buildings were formerly used as temples, palaces, stages, markets, baths, and ballcourts.

In 1972, Mexico enacted the Ley Federal Sobre Monumentos y Zonas Arqueológicas, Artísticas e Históricas (Federal Law over Monuments and Archeological, Artistic and Historic Sites) that put all the nation's pre-Columbian monuments, including those at Chichen Itza, under federal ownership. There were now hundreds, if not thousands of visitors every year to Chichen Itza, and more were expected with the development of Cancún resort area to the east.

In the 1980s, Chichen Itza began to receive an influx of visitors on the day of the spring equinox. Today several thousand show up to see the light-and-shadow effect on the Temple of Kukulcan in which the feathered serpent god supposedly can be seen to crawl down the side of the pyramid. Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the second most visited of Mexico's archaeological sites.



4. THE PROJECT, A LODGE-MUSEUM:
The “Lodge-Museum” being proposed is intended to be a new model for a prototype for accommodation not yet seen anywhere in the world, one which will prioritise enjoyment of the surrounding landscape and the environment rather than the comfort provided. Within this concept, the “Lodge-Museum” is a place to enjoy the context rather than one in which the infrastructure is enjoyed. In this way the environment is freed of the polluting waste produced by the heavy turnaround of guests, who will value much more the temporary living experience of the event itself (the observation of the city of Chichen Itzá) than the efficiency and complexity of the installations normally associated with permanent lodging facilities. The objective of this lodge is to enable tourists – with minimum baggage – to enjoy a hygienic, safe and economical place where they can spend the night and wake up facing the city of Chichen Itzá whilst at the same time, within the installations of the museum itself, they will be able to appreciate the history of Mayan culture. To this end, the “Lodge-Museum” will include a basic program occupying an area no greater than 1,500m2.

5. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
Participants should send – via Internet – their proposal, which should include two (2) 1.5 megabyte digital images (jpg, 2600 x 3500 pixels).

6. PRIZES
1st PRIZE:

· US $ 5 000.00

· 200 copies of the exclusive ARQUITECTUM publication entitled “CHICHEN ITZA 2008 – ARQUITECTURE AWARD” - which will include all the competition winning projects (including honorable mentions) as well as a profile (photos, career, report) of each member of winning teams.

· The European design magazine “WETTBEWERBE AKTUELL” (www.wettbewerbe-aktuell.de) will dedicate an article of its publication to the CHICHEN ITZA 2008 competition’s result, including the project of the winning architects.

· The Spanish architecture competition magazine “FUTURE” (www.arqfuture.com ) will dedicate an article of its publication to the CHICHEN ITZA 2008 competition’s result.

· The latinamerican architecture magazine “ARKINKA” (www.arkinka.com) will dedicate an article of its publication to the CHICHEN ITZA 2008 competition’s result.

2nd PRIZE:

· US $ 1 000.00

· 100 copies of the exclusive ARQUITECTUM publication entitled “CHICHEN ITZA 2008 – ARQUITECTURE AWARD” - which will include all the competition winning projects (including honorable mentions) as well as a profile (photos, career, report) of each member of winning teams.

· ARQUITECTUM’s annual membership, that allows the winner to participate in any ARQUITECTUM’s international competition for free (one year), and to promote his work among the different clients associated with our intitution.

· The European design magazine “WETTBEWERBE AKTUELL” (www.wettbewerbe-aktuell.de) will dedicate an article of its publication to the CHICHEN ITZA 2008 competition’s result, including the project of the winning architects.

· The Spanish architecture competition magazine “FUTURE” (www.arqfuture.com ) will dedicate an article of its publication to the CHICHEN ITZA 2008 competition’s result.

· The latinamerican architecture magazine “ARKINKA” (www.arkinka.com) will dedicate an article of its publication to the CHICHEN ITZA 2008 competition’s result.

3rd PRIZE:

· 50 copies of the exclusive ARQUITECTUM publication entitled “CHICHEN ITZA 2008 – ARQUITECTURE AWARD” - which will include all the competition winning projects (including honorable mentions) as well as a profile (photos, career, report) of each member of winning teams.

· ARQUITECTUM’s annual membership, that allows the winner to participate in any ARQUITECTUM’s international competition for free (one year), and to promote his work among the different clients associated with our intitution.

7. CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION:
Architects from anywhere in the world may take part in the competition as long as they have completed their studies (including bachelors) as well as any “Architecture Workshop” of any Faculty, School or University which runs the “architecture career” which includes at least one professor with these attributes. Multidisciplinary teams may also take part in the competitions (engineers, artist, etc.) as long as they have an Architect as Team Leader.

8. FEE:
Early registration: From October 1st to October 31st: US $ 100

Late registration: From November 1st to December 31st: US $ 150

9. EXHIBITION AND PUBLICATION:
For our 5th Landscape competition, ARQUITECTUM will present a publication entitled “CHICHEN ITZA 2008 – ARQUITECTURE AWARD” which will include all the competition projects as well as a profile (photos, career, report) of each member of winning teams.

10. ITINERARY:
ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMPETITION: September 5th, 2007

START OF COMPETITION: October 1st, 2007

EARLY REGISTRATION: Until October 31st, 2007

LATE REGISTRATION: Until December 31st, 2007

SUBMISSION DATE FOR PROPOSALS: December 31st, 2007

ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNING PROJECT: February 1st, 2008

ON-LINE EXHIBITION: March 1st, 2008

11. INSCRIPTION AND PURCHASE OF RULES:
All registration will be made through our web site (www.arquitectum.com).

The competition website from which the files needed for participation in the competition (history, aerial photos and plans) can be downloaded free of charge will be operational from October 1st 2007.

12. INFORMATION:
If you have any questions or doubts about the competition, please write to the official CHICHEN ITZA e-mail address at: chichenitza@arquitectum.com

Questions - contact registro@arquitectum.com



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Mexico Architecture Competition : page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt