Strelka KB, DOM.RF and The Russian Government have launched the Open International Competition for Alternative Layout Design in Standard Housing. 

The registration of participants has opened on May 18 at https://dom-competition.ru/en/about, where organizers will also release a technical design brief for the contest. 

The competition is designed to be a testing ground for creating the apartments of the future. Requirements for applicants’ proposals reflect the principles which define standard housing, including flexibility, usability, and stability. The aim is for submitted planning solutions to help meet the modern citizen’s need for comfort, communication, and personal fulfillment. 

The goal of the competition is to establish a clear “size range” and develop alternative layout designs for each type of standard residence, from studios to four-room apartments. Contestants must develop architectural concepts and elaborate on detailed layout designs with increased area size for further residents. 

Participants also must emphasize a flexible planning structure and develop apartment lines based on three of four building types (multi-unit apartment house, tower, section-building, or gallery). The goal is to produce new functional and layout solutions while keeping in mind the different life scenarios of modern citizens. A technical brief includes references on how to make apartments more diversified and adaptive; for example, it would be possible to combine different types of residences within one floor of a building, without changing its entire structure. 

The brief determines the minimum comfortable size for each apartment unit, including an appropriate size for storage rooms. The layout design includes a communal area for all family members, and implies that each room will have a basic and an additional purpose. For example, one can easily arrange a working area in the bedroom. 

The projects entering the second round of the contest will be selected by popular vote. Finalists will receive €13,600 each to improve and finalize their concepts, giving consideration to comments and advice from the judges. After that, the jury will decide on the winners and runners-up. As many as five projects will receive €27,200 each; up to five other projects will be awarded €20,400; and up to 10 projects will receive €13,600 each.