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It's time to design like you give a damn. |
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Hi all,
Below is the official release for the launch of our first design competition in three years. This one is not only broad in reach but the communities we are working with are simply amazing. For the first time ever we are running a global
design competition with three sites on three continents each with a unique challenge - from creating a fair-trade exchange and chocolate factory in the Amazon, a youth center with media lab and recording studio in the heart of the informal
settlements of Nairobi and a remote tele-medicine center in the foothills of the Himalayas. Before you ask, yes you can enter all three and yes you can win all three.
It's $25 to enter until December 15th and $30 after. If you are doing the competition as a studio we have special rates for large groups and as with every Architecture for Humanity competition it is $0 for any entries from
developing nations.
Proceeds from the competition entry fees will be awarded to the top entry for each site. One overall winning solution will be built with funding from AMD as part of its 50x15 Initiative to connect 50 percent of the world to the Internet by
2015. Centers will be constructed for the other two sites and replicated for additional community partners as funding becomes available.
I'll be on stage in less than 12 hours officially launching the competition on stage at a sold out talk at the
Idea Festival at Kentucky International Convention Center and then a feature piece on NPR.
It's been along time since I've been able to say this but...
It is time to design like you give a damn.
So
sign up today and make a difference in the lives of thousands of people.
Cheers,
Cameron and the whole Architecture for Humanity team. |
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Global Design Competition Launched to Create
One Connected World
AMD and Architecture for Humanity challenge the creative world to develop sustainable technology centers for the AMD Open Architecture Challenge
Architecture for Humanity and AMD (NYSE: AMD) today launched the AMD Open Architecture Challenge, inviting architects, designers, students and others to participate in an open design competition to help bring connectivity and computing
power to communities that lack access to the Internet. Participants are charged with designing digital inclusion centers for up to three community organizations: the
Kallari Association in Ecuador,
SIDAREC in Kenya and
Nyaya Health in Nepal. The technology centers will empower community members with the knowledge and information available via the Internet, helping residents to realize greater educational, social and business opportunities and take
advantage of health-related resources.
The international competition is the first of its kind and was originally announced by Architecture for Humanity and AMD at this year's TED conference in March. Each year, Architecture for Humanity will select a partner with whom they will
execute a competition that reaches beyond the traditional bounds of architecture by challenging participants to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to improve living conditions around the world. Following the conclusion of each
competition, Architecture for Humanity will post all design submissions on the Open Architecture Network, an open source online gathering place, which also launched at the TED conference.
"What sets this competition apart from others is that we are calling upon the global design community to help improve living conditions around the world," said Cameron Sinclair, executive director and co-founder, Architecture for Humanity.
"By implementing the winning design, or designs, we are not only assigning a winner, but we are helping people in underserved communities to live and grow through access to technology."
In preparation for the inaugural challenge's commencement, an international panel of
40 reviewers representing the fields of design, technology, environmental science and international development selected three potential community partners from more than 100 proposed sites in 35 countries.
The three potential community partners selected to participate in the Challenge include:
SOUTH AMERICA CHALLENGE
Kallari Association, Ecuador:
Connecting a cooperative of indigenous chocolate producers and artisans in the Ecuadorian Amazon with the global marketplace by building a chocolate factory, a fair trade exchange and off-site satellite technology hubs.
AFRICA CHALLENGE
SIDAREC, Kenya:
Empowering the youth of Mukuru Kwa Njenga, an informal slum settlement of 250,000, to connect with other youth and create positive change in their community by building a technology media lab and library.
ASIA CHALLENGE
Nyaya Health, Nepal:
Enabling families in a remote rural area of Nepal where there is only one doctor for a population of 250,000 to access to health care from top physicians and medical professionals all over the world by building a telemedicine center.
"As a technology company, we spend a lot of time analyzing how the power of technology can be used to help the world grow and evolve," said Dan Shine, director of the 50x15 Initiative, AMD. "This partnership allows us to leverage that
power on a whole new level. By building a digital inclusion center, we are empowering a community, but it doesn't end there. By making the designs available online through the OAN web site, we are increasing the odds that many other
communities will benefit from this empowerment."
AMD is sponsoring this year's challenge through the 50x15 Initiative, a global initiative that aims to enable affordable Internet access and computing capability for 50 percent of the world's population by the year 2015. The winning
solution of the AMD Open Architecture Challenge will be built under the 50x15 Initiative as a 50x15 Learning Lab, a technology-based project used to gain knowledge on how best to foster digital inclusion in a specific region. Additional
facilities will be constructed for the other two sites and replicated for additional community partners as funding becomes available.
For more information on the AMD Open Architecture Challenge, or to register, please visit
www.openarchitecturenetwork.org/challenge.
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About Architecture for Humanity
Architecture for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that seeks architectural solutions to humanitarian crises and provides design services to communities in need. For more information, please visit
www.architectureforhumanity.org.
About the Open Architecture Network
The Open Architecture Network is an online, open source community dedicated to improving living conditions through innovative and sustainable design. For more information please visit:
www.openarchitecturenetwork.org.
About AMD
Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) is a leading global provider of innovative processing solutions in the computing, graphics and consumer electronics markets. AMD is dedicated to driving open innovation, choice and industry growth by
delivering superior customer-centric solutions that empower consumers and businesses worldwide. For more information, visit
www.amd.com.
About 50x15
The 50x15 Initiative, launched by AMD in 2004 at the World Economic Forum, is a bold and far-reaching effort to develop new technology and solutions that will help enable affordable Internet access and computing capability for 50 percent
of the world's population by the year 2015. More than just goodwill, 50x15 is about fostering long-term economic progress and investment within high-growth markets in ways that benefit a wide range of people and businesses. For more
information, visit
www.50x15.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Architecture for Humanity
Laura Galloway - Galloway Media Group
laura (at) gallowaymediagroup (dot) com
AMD
Travis Bullard - AMD PR
Travis_bullard (at) amd (dot) com
512-602-5667
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cameron@architectureforhumanity.org • Architecture for Humanity |
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