Archstorming x Dhun

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“
Archstorming’s mission is to create positive
change through architecture and foster a new
generation of socially conscious architects.
Javier Pulido
“
Co-founder of Archstorming
La misión de Archstorming es crear un cambio
positivo a través de la arquitectura y fomentar una
nueva generación de arquitectos con conciencia
social.
Javier Pulido
Co-founder of Archstorming

Archstorming is an international
platform which aims to improve the
well-being of people in need through
innovative and sustainable architecture.
We use architecture competitions
as a way to showcase sustainable
designs that can have a real
impact on people’s lives.
Our humanitarian architecture competitions
showcase real projects that address critical
issues such as disaster relief, poverty, conflicts
and diseases, while serving the fundamental
needs of shelter, warmth, access to clean
water, education, and community building.
Sustainability is the core of our competitions,
both in terms of design and construction,
challenging our participants to find innovative
construction methods, use locally sourced
materials, and adopt collaborative easy-tobuild
techniques, among others, that can be
understood and applied by local communities.
Archstorming es una plataforma
internacional cuyo objetivo es
mejorar el bienestar de las
personas necesitadas mediante
una arquitectura innovadora y sostenible.
Utilizamos los concursos de
arquitectura como una forma de
mostrar diseños sostenibles que
pueden tener un impacto real en
la vida de las personas.
Nuestros concursos de arquitectura
humanitaria muestran proyectos reales
que abordan cuestiones críticas como la
ayuda en caso de catástrofe, la pobreza, los
conflictos y las enfermedades, al tiempo que
atienden las necesidades fundamentales
de refugio, calor, acceso a agua potable,
educación y construcción de comunidades.
La sostenibilidad es el núcleo de nuestros
concursos, tanto en términos de diseño
como de construcción, desafiando a nuestros
participantes a encontrar métodos de
construcción innovadores, utilizar materiales de
origen local y adoptar técnicas de colaboración
fáciles de construir, entre otras, que puedan ser
comprendidas y aplicadas por las comunidades
locales.

in numbers
en cifras
+15.000
participants
+130
countries
+8.500
projects submitted
+1.000.000
yearly website pageviews
+100.000
social media followers
+90.000
newsletter subscribers

The architecture competitions we host
provide a unique platform for architects
and designers to showcase their creativity
and innovative ideas in addressing
environmental challenges. By investigating
the potential of recycled materials like plastic
bottles, car tires, sandbags and more, we are
pushing the boundaries of sustainable design
and inspiring new ways to reduce waste. These
competitions also serve as a catalyst for fostering
greater awareness about the importance of
reducing our carbon footprint and protecting the
planet. Through our efforts, we hope to not only
influence current design practices but also leave
a lasting impact on future generations.
Los concursos de arquitectura que
organizamos constituyen una plataforma
única para que arquitectos y diseñadores
muestren su creatividad y sus ideas
innovadoras a la hora de abordar los retos
medioambientales. Al investigar el potencial
de materiales reciclados como botellas de
plástico, neumáticos de coche, sacos de arena y
otros, estamos ampliando los límites del diseño
sostenible e inspirando nuevas formas de
reducir los residuos. Estos concursos también
sirven de catalizador para fomentar una mayor
concienciación sobre la importancia de reducir
nuestra huella de carbono y proteger el planeta.
Con nuestros esfuerzos, esperamos no sólo
influir en las prácticas de diseño actuales,
sino también dejar un impacto duradero en las
generaciones futuras.
Our aim is to inspire innovative
solutions and influence future
design practices while leaving a
positive impact on the planet.
Nuestro objetivo es inspirar
soluciones innovadoras e influir
en las futuras prácticas de
diseño, dejando al mismo tiempo
un impacto positivo en el planeta.
The Tulum Plastic School used
more than 100.000 recycled
bottle caps in its construction.
La Tulum Plastic School utilizó
más de 100.000 tapones
reciclados de botellas en su
construcción.
Sustainability

Social impact
The winner of the Senegal
Elementary School contest
traveled from Colombia to
support in the construction of the
school.
El ganador del concurso Senegal
Elementary School viajó desde
Colombia para apoyar en la
construcción de la escuela
Through our competitions we’ve
been able to provide designs
for the construction of schools,
emergency shelters, hospitals
and community centers in 15
different countries.
A través de nuestros concursos
hemos podido proporcionar
diseños para la construcción de
escuelas, refugios de emergencia,
hospitales y centros comunitarios
en 15 países diferentes.
Social architecture goes beyond just
building walls as it aims to stimulate
positive change in the community and
improve lives for many years to come.
Archstorming’s architecture projects have three
key characteristics: community involvement,
use of locally sourced materials and labor,
and being sustainable and environmentally
responsive. Involving the community in the
design and construction process empowers
them, encourages them to set goals, and
fosters a sense of pride and ownership. Using
locally sourced materials and labor is costeffective,
sustainable, and an investment in the
community’s future.
La arquitectura social va más allá de la
mera construcción de muros, ya que
pretende estimular un cambio positivo
en la comunidad y mejorar la vida de
las personas a largo plazo. Los proyectos
de arquitectura de Archstorming tienen tres
características fundamentales: la participación
de la comunidad, el uso de materiales y mano
de obra de origen local, y ser sostenibles y
respetuosos con el medio ambiente. Implicar
a la comunidad en el proceso de diseño y
construcción la capacita, la anima a fijar
objetivos y fomenta un sentimiento de orgullo
y propiedad. Utilizar materiales y mano de obra
locales es rentable, sostenible y una inversión en
el futuro de la comunidad.

A group of participants from
an Archstorming competition
travelled to Senegal to
participate in the construction of
a secondary school.
Un grupo de participantes de un
concurso de Archstorming viajó
a Senegal para participar en la
construcción de una escuela
secundaria.

academic network
comunidad académica
Archstorming has a rapidly growing
community with participants from
renowned architecture universities
worldwide.
The diversity of backgrounds and perspectives
among community members enhances the
quality and creativity of discussions and projects.
The presence of top architecture students
and professionals from around the world also
elevates the level of expertise and knowledge
sharing, providing valuable opportunities for
growth and learning for all members. By being a
part of such a community, members can connect
with like-minded individuals who share similar
interests in social and sustainable architecture
and expand their professional network.
La comunidad de Archstorming cuenta con
participantes de las mejores universidades
de arquitectura de todo el mundo. La
diversidad de procedencias y perspectivas entre
los miembros de la comunidad aumenta la
calidad y creatividad de los debates y proyectos.
La presencia de los mejores estudiantes y
profesionales de la arquitectura de todo el
mundo también eleva el nivel de experiencia y el
intercambio de conocimientos, proporcionando
valiosas oportunidades de crecimiento y
aprendizaje para todos los miembros. Al formar
parte de una comunidad de este tipo, los miembros
pueden conectar con personas de ideas afines que
comparten intereses similares en la arquitectura
social y sostenible y así ampliar su red profesional.
We are a community of architecture
students and professionals enhancing
creativity, expertise and professional
connections through social and
sustainable architecture discussions
and projects.
Somos una comunidad de estudiantes
y profesionales de la arquitectura
que potenciamos la creatividad,
la experiencia y las conexiones
profesionales a través de debates y
proyectos de arquitectura social y
sostenible.

juries of excellence
jurado de excelencia
In each competition, Archstorming invites
the leading architecture firms from the
international scene. They bring their
knowledge, expertise, and experience to the
selection process, ensuring that the designs meet
the highest standards of quality, sustainability,
and innovation. With such a prominent jury, the
competition draws attention and recognition
from the wider architecture community,
providing exposure and opportunities for
participating architects. This leads to designs
with greater impact, making a difference in the
lives of communities in need.
En cada competición Archstorming invita a los
mejores estudios de arquitectura a formar
parte de su jurado, aportando conocimiento,
pericia y experiencia al proceso de selección,
y garantizando los más altos estándares de
calidad, sostenibilidad e innovación. Con un jurado
tan destacado, el concurso atrae la atención y el
reconocimiento de la comunidad arquitectónica
internacional, proporcionando mayor difusión y
oportunidades a los arquitectos participantes. Con
ello se consiguen diseños de mayor impacto, que
marcan la diferencia en la vida de las comunidades
necesitadas.

VAZQUEZ CONSUEGRA ARDITTI ARQUITECTOS AERO COLLECTIVE
BROMLEY CALDARI ARCHITECTS BORDERLESS STUDIO ARTERIAL
DESIGN EMERGENT VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE ARCHITECTS FOR
SOCIETY GEBDESIGN ZAHA HADID WATSON ARCHITECTURE+DESIGN
70F IREDALE PEDERSEN HOOK CARREÑO SARTORI ARQUITECTOS
BENEDETTA TAGLIABUE - EMBT BIBER ARCHITECTS SLOT OUALALOU
+ CHOI PLÚS ARKITEKTAR CHYBIK+KRISTOF UNSTUDIO HEINDSDORFF
HKS BCMF ARQUITETOS ARROYO SOLÍS AGRAZ WILMOTTE & ASSOCIÉS
YAZGAN DESIGN STUDIO LIBESKIND MOREMAS ARCHITECTURE DU
RIVAU & ASSOCIÉS IBIZA WOODLAND JONAS LURENÇO ARQUITETO
BARBERIO COLELLA ARC KNITKNOT ARCHITECTURE IODICEARCHITETTI ​
SELGASCANO THEVERYMANY SUP ATELIER PRECHT ARENA DESIGN
STUDIO BC ARCHITECTS ​COLLECTIF SAGA CAS STUDIO AMKNA
ATELIER MASOMI ORKIDSTUDIO ANDREA TABOCCHINI ​MMA DESIGN
STUDIO ​S&AA ACTIVE SOCIAL ARCHITECTURE LOCALWORKS D J PAK
DESIGN RCH STUDIOS LOUISE BRAVERMAN ARCHITECT INGVARTSEN
STUDIO TOTALE SOCIAL PRACTICE ARCHITECTURE ASANTE PAZ
BRAGA COLECTIVOMEL MARC THORPE DESIGN MASS DESIGN
GROUP TORE GRIMSTAD KOFFI & DIABATÉ ARCHITECTES JAKUB
CIGLER ARCHITEKTI WILMOTTE & ASSOCIÉS PAOLA BAGNA ​AZALAÏ ​
CREATTURE CMDESIGN ATELIER GRIDS ARCHITECTS JEANNETTE
STUDIO MARIO CUCINELLA ARCHITECTS ​SHAHIRA FAHMY ARCHITECTS ​
ADENGO ARCHITECTURE ​ATELIER TROPICAL ​FAA DESIGNS YUMANG
DESIGN STUDIO MAÑOSA AND CO. STUDIO CHAHAR ROOTSTUDIO
MADE IN EARTH ZUTARI ​S+ARCHITECTURE UNFRASTRUCTURE
DESGIN NDIFUNA UKWAZI UNDP UNHCR ​DESIGNTHROPO
“
We need to think about the sustainability of
people, because when you sustain people,
you’re sustaining the environment they need
in order to survive”
Mariam Kamara
Jury in Mozambique Preschool competition

in the media
en los medios
Archstorming has established a
reputation for excellence, and its
work has been widely recognized
in the media, appearing in many
highly regarded architecture and
general interest magazines.
Archstorming se ha labrado una
reputación de excelencia y su trabajo es
ampliamente reconocido en los medios
de comunicación, con publicaciones en
numerosas revistas de arquitectura y de
interés general de gran prestigio.
World leader ArchMagazine
5 M monthly visits 3.9 M instagram followers 1.5M social media followers
Top design magazine
#1 ArchMagazine in Germany
2 M instagram followers
The journal of the AIA
UK’s main monthly magazine
#1 newspaper in Italy 5 M monthly visits
Top magazine in Italy
Latin America magazine
3.1 M instagram followers
UK ArchMagazine
#1 competitions diffuser

our books
nuestros libros
Archstorming produces and releases
dedicated books for its competitions
that serve as an exceptional resource
to expand the project’s impact.
The book showcases the finest
design proposals, accompanied by
exclusive interviews with the juries
and the organizations involved in the
competition.
Archstorming produce y publica libros
dedicados a sus concursos que sirven
como recurso excepcional para ampliar
el impacto del proyecto. El libro presenta
las mejores propuestas de diseño,
acompañadas de entrevistas exclusivas
con los jurados y las organizaciones
participantes en el concurso.

why run
a competition
for Dhun?
Through an architecture competition, you will be able to...
The selection of a design professional is
crucial for any construction project. It’s
vital to find a suitable designer early
on, especially taking into account the
emotional, social, and ecological principles of
Dhun.
Choosing a designer involves making decisions,
and in cases where selection is done through a
competition, it’s crucial to decide on the most
suitable evaluation process.
A competition that assesses multiple
designers’ merits offers the best chance to
make an informed choice. It’s a cost-effective
procurement model that prioritizes good design
and brings top-quality ideas to a project.
Competitions are known for providing a wide
range of design options at a lower cost compared
to traditional construction methods.
The competition can be used to select architects,
multi-disciplinary design teams, or developer/
construction consortiums.
Foster innovation, boost creativity, and spark a multitude
of fresh concepts
Provide a wider array of options
Assemble the ideal crew for the task
Draw in new talent
Ensure exceptional design standards
Collaborate with the community and relevant parties
Increase visibility
Offer great value

Dhun competition:
scheme
PHASE ONE
PHASE TWO
WEEK 1 WEEK 12-16
Dhun competition website launched. Brief and supporting
information available
Elaboration and submission of development design proposals
in response to brief/feedback
WEEK 3-6
Opportunity to raise questions on the competition brief,
clarification response issued to all registered entrants
WEEK 17
Public consultation with the community
and key stakeholders
[OPTIONAL]
WEEK 8-10
Submission and evaluation of anonymous concept design
proposals
WEEK 18
Evaluation and presentation to jury panel
WEEK 11
WEEK 20
Selection of shortlist, anonymity lifted and shortlisted teams
invited to phase two
Winner announced. To be formally contracted to follow Dhun’s
collaborative design process

Dhun competition:
key elements
Making the brief accessible
Open Competitions often have a dedicated
website specifically for hosting information
about the competition such as the briefing site
photos, plans, and other important details. This
not only serves as an effective tool for promoting
the competition to a global audience, but also
helps establish an identity for the project and
increase its overall visibility by providing a
central location for all relevant information.
Evaluation jury
The panel should comprise professionals
with relevant industry or sector experience as
well as key decision-makers from Dhun and
other stakeholders.The jury may be invited by
Archstorming and/or Dhun team.
Compensation or prize money
In design contests, project owners are
expected to cover the expenses incurred by the
shortlisted teams for creating their designs and
possibly hiring other consultants. The amount of
honoraria in these types of competitions varies
based on the construction budget. It should
accurately reflect the effort and costs involved,
and should be announced at the start of the
competition.
Commitment with the winner
The post-competition involvement of the winner
in the collaborative design process should be
clearly stated in the competition briefing.
If the winner is a foreign firm, an Indian
registered architect appointed by Dhun should
be part of this collaborative process.

The Archstorming services include...
• Defining the scope of the project and determining Dhun needs
• Providing strategic recommendations on the most suitable competition format
• Developing the competition brief in collaboration with Dhun
• Management and advice throughout the competition
• Daily operational support
• Access to a secure, custom-built Digital Submission Portal
• Communications and Media Strategy, including international reach
• Newsletter (90.000+) and Social Media (100.000+) promotion
• Design of the website and brand identity
• Edition of promotional videos of the competition to maximize its reach
• Creation of a Digital Gallery showcasing the entries
• Edition and publication of a dedicated book of the competition results
• A comprehensive record of each stage
• Feedback to competition participants

Featured competition:
Let’s Build My
School
The school construction started
in February 2022 and it is
expected to finish in March 2023
In this project Archstorming collaborated
with the NGO Let’s Build My School (LBMS), a
UK registered charity which was founded in
2016 to build schools in developing countries
with a particular focus on remote areas
which lack educational facilities. ​Beyond
delivering structures built using locally
sourced, sustainable, recycled materials, LBMS
researches and applies construction techniques
which do not require any prior technical skills in
construction so that the local community may be
able to replicate the process and help to further
develop their village long after LBMS has left.
The competition, launched by Archstorming,
called for proposals to design an elementary
school in Marsassoum, Senegal. The contest
saw the participation of 892 teams of architects,
each offering their own unique ideas for the
future school.
The winning design, commissioned by LBMS
for the development of the construction
drawings, came from SOM Studio, a Colombian
architectural office. The jury, formed by 6
experienced architects in earth construction
and 2 representatives from the NGO, selected
this proposal from 50 projects that made it into
the finalist shortlist.
SOM Studio has made several trips to Senegal to
finalize the technical drawings in collaboration
with the NGO local architect and to oversee the
construction process. Additionally, volunteer
trips have been arranged for participants of the
competition to assist with the construction and
increase visibility for the NGO and their work.
The construction process prioritizes costeffectiveness,
sustainability, and comfort. The
walls have been made of bricks manufactured
on site in a shape that allows each block to be
anchored and thus minimize the use of mortar.

Featured competition:
Enko Education
Archstorming managed an International Open
design competition on behalf of Enko Education
for their upcoming school building project in
Bamako, Mali.
Enko Education is the largest network of
African private international schools that offers
affordable quality education in order to provide
access for young Africans to the best universities
worldwide.
Enko will be building a new Primary and
Secondary school for 550 students in Bamako
and this contest looked for designs for it.
Archstorming was seeking for a project that
will become Enko’s distinctive image. An
architectural concept that can be used not
only in this project, but also in their future
developments across Africa.
A total of 539 teams of architects from 78
different countries participated in the first
phase of the competition, which focused on
a concept design for the school. The United
States, Brazil, and India had the largest number
of participating architects.
The architectural firm led by Bryan Velastegui,
Jose Chavez and Nicolas Dorfflinger from
Ecuador were selected from a shortlist of 10
practices to design the new school building.
The team took sustainability as one of the most
critical and important points to develop. They
devised different types of school block facades
depending on exterior factors such as sun, wind,
views to the street, or relation with the garden.
They worked with different heights as well as
window sizes, openings, terrace adaptations
and solar panels in order to give the optimum
school experience to both faculty and students.
Their project made sure to collect rainwater
for bathroom reuse and grass irrigation, and
to study the sunlight to give the best thermal
comfort.
Construction drawings are currently being
developed in communication with Enko
Education and a local architectural office.

Featured competition:
Abay Etiopia
The construction of the school in
Hiddi started in August 2022.
This competition tasked participants with
designing a school for Abay Etiopia, a non-profit
organization working to combat poverty and
promote equality in Walmara, Ethiopia through
education, health, and community support
projects.
The goal was to build two preschools in the towns
of Hiddi and Dillu, consisting of 4 classrooms,
latrines, a covered courtyard, and an open
courtyard. The proposals were also required to
include the possibility of adding additional spaces
such as a multi-purpose room, kitchen, dining
area, and a corral.
The first phase of the competition asked for
concept ideas. A total of 706 teams sent their
vision for the new preschools. Out of the 50
finalists shortlisted, the jury selected 5 winners
and 10 honorable mentions.
The first prize was awarded to Khaled Abou Taam,
Ali El-Afi, Ekaterina Abou Taam and Catherine
Zalzali from Beirut, Lebanon. During the following
weeks after the competition conluded, they
elaborated the development design project
according to the specifications that the NGO
provided. Then, a local architectural office took
the task to develop the construction drawings
that would be used to build the schools.
The winning proposal, called “A Heart”, is based
on a design of making classes around a heartshaped
courtyard, where all children needs would
be achieved. “A Heart ” is a home that embraces
multiple cultures and traditions, a space of love.
The architects’ focus on sustainability is reflected
in several passive design elements, such as the
collection of rainwater in order to store it in tanks
for later use, a natural ventilation design that
allows to deliver fresh air into interior spaces, or
the use of straw sheets as ceiling to reduice the
heat. Also, since there is no electricity supply in
the town, they reduced barriers between outdoor
and indoor by using light wood stripes that allow
permeation and infiltration of natural light.

Contact us
Contacto
Archstorming is the unparalleled global leader
in organizing architecture competitions that
prioritize sustainability and humanitarian
causes. We delivere some of the highest profile,
most dynamic competition projects throughout
the world, and have extensive experience of
working with a wide variety of organizations.
If you would like to discuss a potential
competition with the team, or talk about a
different type of collaboration, please contact:
info@archstorming.com
www.archstorming.com
/architecture_competitions
/archstorming
/archstorming