Speed architecture

File under: architecture, events, Wellington

Tomorrow evening at 5:30, this year's 20under40 architecture competition kicks off at the Architecture School in Vivian St. Competitors get their secret brief at 6pm, and then have 24 hours to come up with a scheme dazzling enough to win a share of the $2000 prizes.


In that way it's a little like an architectural equivalent of the 48 Hours film competition, but in half the time and with fewer handcuffs. It may or may not be a revealing fact that at the 2004 competition, one of the finalists proposed a giant orifice for the controversial Courtenay Place park site. Contrary to appearances, this scheme was not the result of one of these competitions, though it does bear the hallmarks of sleep deprivation and mind-altering substances.

Entry is $10 per team, and it's open to anyone (you don't have to be an architect,or even under 40). There have been no hints as to what the brief may be, but make what you may of the flyer's image of a crowd in front of some of Wellington's more loathsome buildings, bearing a placard that says "Irrevocable irrelevance - is it too late?"