13 February 2013

Doshisha University - Jury Presentation at Kyoto

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Simple Q&A on Doshisha University Chapel Complex Competition...extract from the competition official site:

What is the Doshisha University?
Doshisha University is an educational institution founded on Christian morals and values. The school, originally the Doshisha English Academy, was established in 1875 by Joseph Hardy Neesima (Nijima Jo). Our Kyotanabe campus, located in Kyoto, gathers departments related to science and engineering, and those whose aim is the integration of arts and science. The campus is positioned as a center for an integrated education, valuing “experiment, practice, and fieldwork”, as well as an international center for advanced research, focused on “body and life, advanced technologies, and information”.
What is the Doshisha University Chapel Complex Competition about?
Currently, we plan to construct a new chapel with an expansion of the existing facilities for the Center for Christian Culture, an organization that promotes the school’s Christian education. The school owns nationally significant cultural properties on Imadegawa campus dating back to the late 1800s. This chapel too, is expected to symbolize the Christian education provided at Kyotanabe campus and valued by students, alumni and staff members.
What is the reason for the Doshisha University Chapel Complex Competition?
Selecting a designer for these religious facilities on a proposal basis.
Who were in the Judging Committee?
Eiji Hatta (Doshisya University, President)
Takashi Matsuoka (Doshisya University, Vice President)
Makoto Mizutani (Doshisya School of Theology, Department Head)
Makoto Hara (Doshisya University Center for Christian Culture, Director)
Technical Advisors
Taro Ashihara (Taro Ashihara Architects)
Waro Kishi (University of Kyoto, Professor)
Toshihito Yokouchi (Kyoto University of Art and Design, Professor)
Professional coordinator:
Shozo Baba (Institute of Information Systems Architecture, Director)
When  was the submission deadline?
2012 November 30
How many submissions were made? and From where?
The application number total 379, submission from around the world were received.
Brief description of the Judging process?
There were 5 submissions selected in the shortlist.  The shortlisted submissions were presented to the Judging panel in Doshisha University's Kyoto Imadegawa Campus, on 2013 February 03.  Final results were announced the same day.  Facet Studio was announced the winner of the Competition.
.........So what happened at the Jury Presentation for Doshisha University's Chapel Complex Competition?

Facet Studio was the 4th to present on the day of Jury Presentation; this presentation order seemed to be decided by pulling numbers out of a hat...  We have sent in Yoshi as the spokes person on our behalf, sending him our love and support from Sydney...

 
Other shortlisted presenters seemed to have made modifications to the presentation materials, we have decided not to change our submitted panel and talked from there.  There was a 10-minute plain talking presentation focusing on the philosophy behind our scheme; although this presentation style was quite different from the other presenters, it was a bit of gamble.

 
After the 5th (last) presentation, there was a discussion period of 1.5 hours amongst the Judging Committee.
It was then announced "The selected winning scheme is... from facet Studio!"

 
Yoshi was completed overwhelmed... according to him, he could hardly comprehend what exactly has just happened.
He was then requested to go up to the stage.

 
 
He received the Certificate of winning, and catalog of the competition.

 
He was then asked to say a few words about the winning.... all his talking capacity went into the presentation, and found himself short of words..
Lastly was the photo with Judging Committee, and the shortlisted presenters.
Again, he could do with some practice on smiling as well...

(Front row from left: Doshisha University Center for Christian Culture Director, Head of Theology Department, Vice President, President, Yoshi, Architect Taro Ashihara, Waro Kishi, and Toshihito Yokouchi)


5 February 2013

Doshisha University Official Announcement

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Now the Doshisha University website is updated with the competition winning announcement and top 5 design schemes, check it out HERE!

Unfortunately only the Japanese site is updated, but it is obvious that the 5 images there are the schemes..
Despite the spelling mistake in my name (Yoshi's name was spelt wrong when finalists were announced... I guess this is only fair...), I am over the moon!

Here is our scheme.. the winning scheme.... woohoo~

click to enlarge

There were 856 registrations, and 379 submissions from around the world made for the competition.
5 schemes were selected as finalists, and were presented to jury panel on February 3rd at Doshisha University Imadegawa Campus, Kyoto.

4 February 2013

Winner announced for Doshisha Chapel competition!

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Facet Studio has won the Doshisha University's Chapel Complex Design Competition!

This was freshly announced yesterday (Feb 3rd) after the verbal presentation and Q&A session with jury panel at Kyoto, we even beat it to the official website to announce the result!

Looks like we are off to a brilliant start for 2013.
Together with quite a few projects across a wide spectrum of variety, we are surely going for a busy busy year - all for a good reason of course.

I will try to elaborate on the winning scheme soon!

Find out more on the Doshisha competition scheme HERE