OPEN FACE AWARD

1. What is the Open Face Award category?

2011 sees the launch of the Open Face Award, which is first and foremost a conceptual design competition, intended to elicit sophisticated speculations for the future of the Australian suburb. This competition calls for architectural design concepts that engage with the suburban by envisioning a future for the Australian suburb that embraces increased densities while accepting our established desire to engage with suburban life.
The focus of the Open Face Award is the private realm – the design of a sustainable suburban house.

2. Who is eligible to enter the Open Face competition?

Architects, designers, architectural graduates and any other non-student entrants will be eligible to win the Open Face Award.

3. What are the entry criteria for the Open Face Award?

The brief calls for the design of a model dwelling to accommodate 4 people. The dwelling should incorporate up to a maximum 12,000 bricks – half the number of bricks used in the average interwar suburban bungalow on a typical quarter acre lot. The dwelling should be considered within its context, and like the humble brick, designed to be enduring. Participants will select their own site based on a specific suburban location, or else describe a setting in generic terms. Significantly, the project should demonstrate a shift in thinking about the suburban house and encourage innovative approaches to the densification of our suburbs.

All designs should explore the environmental capabilities of bricks while featuring at least75% face brick in the non-glazed areas. The use of bricks should be explored in multiple and innovative ways to achieve these aims, responding to any number of brick specific criteria addressed in past About Face competitions such as durability, recycling, detailing, meaning, colour, pattern and texture, form and space and light.

Finally, each submission is asked to identify key strategies that can be extrapolated out of their proposals for application to larger scale suburban planning. The format for the presentation of these strategies is at the discretion of the individual teams and should be developed out of the specific emphasis of their proposal. The submission of your designs will constitute your acceptance of the terms and conditions contained in this document.

4. How do I submit my entry to the Open Face Award?

Participants will have to lodge their submissions online at www.thinkbrick.com.au.

5. Which prizes are up for the Open Face Competition?

The prize for the winner of the Open Face Award is two (2) return business class tickets to Milan to be used for the period of the Venice Biennale 2012 and three (3) nights’ accommodation.
There will be 3 Highly Commended prizes of $500 cash each.
Airline and accommodation are at Think Brick’s total discretion and cannot be exchanged for cash.

6. When do entries open for the Open Face Award 2011?

Entries are open from Thursday, 10th March 2011.

7. When do entries close for the Open Face Award 2011?

Submissions are due by 5PM Tuesday, 7th June 2011.
Every entry for the Open Face Award will receive two (2) tickets to the Think Brick Award Gala Dinner in Melbourne. This does NOT include travel to get to the Awards.

8. Where and when will the presentation of the Open Face Award take place?

The winner of the Open Face Award 2011 will be announced at the Think Brick Awards Ceremony which is proposed (subject to change) to be held in Melbourne on Thursday, 11th August 2011 where the awards will be presented. Finalist of the Open Face Award will be announced on the 1st August. Additional tickets to attend are available for each participant by request. Our event manager will be contacting you closer to the time to assist with travel and accommodation arrangements.