The Auckland Architecture Association (AAA) is now inviting entries for the Visionary Architecture Awards 2015.

The AAA Visionary Architecture Awards (previously the Unbuilt Architecture Awards) is a renowned event on Auckland’s architectural calendar, with over 200 entries each year from leading architectural practices and architectural students. The awards recognise unrestrained conceptual process and thinking on theoretical or not-yet-realised architectural projects.

2015 sees the introduction of the AAA Future Auckland Award, which will be run in conjunction with the Visionary Architecture Awards. The theme of the award is Visionary Waterfronts, an annual postcard competition encouraging entrants to imagine their ideal Future Auckland and is open to anyone to enter.

Justine Harvey, editor of Architecture New Zealand, explains, “This is a fantastic opportunity for everyone in New Zealand, and beyond, to design an imaginative vision for any of Auckland’s waterfronts and for the public to directly engage with ideas about our city’s architecture. The winning entries will receive cash prizes from Resene and be exhibited at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. It’s really easy to enter; all you need to do is add your design to our postcard template, along with 140 characters of text. We can’t wait to see what people imagine for Auckland’s future.”

Bill McKay, architectural historian and writer, comments, “Auckland is unique worldwide in being an isthmus almost entirely surrounded by harbours, yet we have historically undervalued our waterfront both in terms of natural environment, public access and civic use.

“As we saw earlier this year, with the Port of Auckland’s attempt to expand further into the Waitemata, our central city waterfront is still seen as subservient to the pragmatic needs of industry. Can we come up with imaginative visions that balance the needs of Auckland and our responsibility to look after the natural environment? That’s a challenge for us as Aucklanders.”

How to enter the AAA Future Auckland Award

This award is open to anyone.

Enter here. You can download the template to design your vision here. Entries are due by 10 November 2015.

How to enter the AAA Visionary Architecture Awards

There are three categories in which to enter the 2015 Visionary Architecture Awards:

•  The Conceptual category is open to New Zealand practicing architects, architectural graduates and related architectural professionals. Entries are to be conceptual in nature, however each must deal with an aspect of the built environment. The entry does not need to be the result of a ‘real world’ commission.
• The Work-In-Progress category is open to New Zealand practicing architects, architectural graduates and related professionals. Entries are to be concept or preliminary design proposals for ‘real world’ projects. A site address is to be identified with each entry. Entries in this category must not have completed construction by the submission deadline.
• The Student category is open to students currently enrolled at a New Zealand educational institution. Entries must deal with an aspect of the built environment.

Enter here. Make sure to submit your entry for the first round of judging before 6pm on the 2nd of November.

Winners of the AAA Future Auckland Award will be announced alongside the AAA Visionary Architecture Award winners at an event to be held at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki on Tuesday .

Additional information can be found on the AAA Visionary Architecture Awards website and the AAA Future Auckland Award 2015 website.