Architectural Competitions - Histories and Practice Quotes

“The architectural competition illustrates processes of change in society that are technical and organizational as well as social; it shows up constructive dilemmas, the borderline of rationality and the relative, creative insecurity of knowledge production in architectural projects.”
― Jonas E Andersson, Architectural Competitions - Histories and Practice

“The architectural competition is a future oriented production of knowledge through architectural projects. From that perspective the competition takes on an appearance of futuristic archaeology. The future is being investigated with the support of design—not how it is, but how it could be if the proposals were to be implemented. What is important here is that the proposals contain different modes of solution for the same competition design problem. There is no given answer, no “correct solution”, but instead the potential of alternative good solutions to the competition task at hand. For this reason doubt and lack of certainty is a constant companion in the jury’s examination of the design proposals.”
― Jonas E Andersson, Architectural Competitions - Histories and Practice

“Part of competition culture is making the proposals public through exhibitions, where they become the object of critical review in a form of worthy emulation of each other. […] The public presentation of architectural projects in competitions via home pages, journals and exhibitions lend communal character to knowledge production.”
― Jonas E Andersson, Architectural Competitions - Histories and Practice

“Participating in architectural competitions is associated both with a playful learning process, delight, collaboration and with competition in dead earnest. The tension of the chase for the fundamental idea that will resolve the design project has been testified to among practicing architects. […]. A sense of curiosity and delight fills the exhibition room. A new world is being opened before the eyes of the jury. The future is at stake.”
― Jonas E Andersson, Architectural Competitions - Histories and Practice