Q & A Post Blast

Q1- As mentioned in the brief the number of the floors is 7 maximum, but nothing was mentioned about the maximum height of each floor, so is there any number that we cant exceed?

True the floor height and the actual total height of the project are not mentioned. This is kept to the participants to decide (and explain) taking into account their project requirements (temporal, material, structure) …

Participants can challenge the minimum height requirement of a living floor as long as they have the right arguments for this.

Q2- is it an open budget competition?

The competition judgment criteria do not include budget consideration. So budget is kept to the discretion of the participants. Nevertheless, knowing the current economical status of Beirut, entries are not expected to have excessively high budgets.

Q3- The project construction phase should be before or after the disaster?

As the competition title it is all about (post) covid-19 post Blast Temporary Living & Working. So it is after the Beirut Blast.

Q4- Should we consider the project after the corona has ended?

As the competition title has it (post)Covid-19, it is kept to the participants to state their thoughts on whether the project will take the pandemic and social distancing into account or not, and the reason behind their choice.

Q5- Any kind of relation or physical connection between these prototypes spreaded in the city. is it acceptable? or it would be an ” out of plot   interventions” ? 

Kindly refer to the program Since the project is a prototype module that could be placed in various locations, participants are expected to study (1) various façade treatment for various orientation, and (2) various connectivity of the same module. Participants are expected to show various façade treatments, and various connections between the modules.

As for showing the projects in various sites spread across the city, this is left to the participants’ discretion.

Q6 Should i choose a specific site with an area of 600sqm or may i propose this area as a square or rectangle?

No, participants are not expected to choose specific sites in Beirut. Participants can choose the required 600sqm in any shape of plot.

Yet participants are expected to study variation of module orientations and combinations.

Q7- it is not clear if we should have 10+10 residential and 10+10 working units, thank you for clarifying this.

As stated in the program the total residential units should be 10 only. These 10 should be divided for couples and families.

Also the project should have only 10 working units of two size.

Q8- Can you explain what the public function? Is it a piazza in front of the module?

Refer to Q9

Q9- What do you mean by public function anywhere in the module?

No, the public function is not a piazza. It can be any function that can host or cater to the “public”, as opposed to functions related to the residents (private)

Q10- if we are considering the project as a module, how can we define the function? can you tell us if an art gallery or a restaurant are considered public?

The module you are proposing should be able to have this distinction between public and private.

Yes, an art gallery and a restaurant can be considered as public functions.

Q11- is commercial activities considered as public?

Yes, commercial activities are considered as public as opposed to private activities for the residents only.

Q12- Concerning the requirements are they the minimum requirements? i mean what if we add some functions or something related to the urban scope, it would be an out of topic project? or we are free to do it

As stated in the program the basic program requires living and working units. In addition to these, and left to the participants’ discretion Communal spaces for the residents and public function anywhere within the module.

Q13-  Plans, sections, elevations and 3ds should be technical or conceptual?

This is left to the participants’ discretion, as long as the projects are clear, and well presented (check judgement criteria)

Q14- Any specific orientation for the A1 sheet?

Although it is not specified in the brief, yet we recommend landscape orientation. This will go better with the entire digital submission and presentation that the competition is following.

Q15-  Any blow up details are required? (Connections, joints, panels, roof, opening…). Additional models, animations are required?

Please refer to the judgement criteria. Blown up details are not required; models are not required. Although these are left to the participant discretion to make the project clear.

As for animation, this is not required, and participants should refrain from submitting animation.

Q16- how do we show you that we dealt with energy and comfort, can we use software simulation?

Please refer to the judgment criteria. Participants are expected to show various aspects of their project related to energy and comfort. These should be presented in a concise and clear way (more graphic, less text).

No participants are not required and should refrain from submitting software simulation.

Q17- you mention that we cannot use energy simulation. Can we show graphically the sun way and how it effects the project?

True, energy software and not required. Similarly, solar study through software are also not required. But, as you are proposing, graphically showing the sunpath angles through the day/night and or seasonal angle, yes this is expected to be part of your entry.