The Catalyst: An Art & Community Incubator

Premise
Urban centers worldwide grapple with the challenge of abandoned or underutilized structures, often becoming symbols of decline rather than potential. This competition, “The Catalyst,” posits that these derelict buildings hold immense untapped value as sites for cultural and social regeneration. We envision transforming such a forgotten urban structure into a vibrant Art & Community Incubator, a beacon of creativity and collective spirit. This initiative aims to breathe new life into neglected spaces, fostering a sense of place and belonging, and demonstrating how adaptive reuse can drive sustainable urban development and community revitalization in a rapidly evolving urban landscape, leveraging innovation to create new narratives for old structures.

Objective
Participants are tasked with designing a dynamic cultural and community hub that seamlessly merges the historical character of an existing derelict urban structure with innovative contemporary interventions. The primary goal is to create highly adaptable, open, and flexible spaces capable of accommodating diverse programs, including art exhibitions, creative workshops, performance spaces, and informal public interaction zones. A critical focus must be placed on activating the building’s street edge, drawing people in, and fostering spontaneous social exchange. The design should embody principles of sustainability and innovation, demonstrating resourceful material usage, energy efficiency, and a thoughtful integration of old and new elements to craft a unique architectural identity that resonates with its urban context and serves as a true ‘catalyst’ for its surroundings, promoting global recognition for forward-thinking concepts.

Site
The competition allows participants the flexibility to propose a hypothetical derelict urban structure or identify a specific, existing one within an urban context globally. The chosen site should possess clear potential for architectural transformation and community impact, ideally situated in a mixed-use neighborhood with good public transport accessibility and prominent street frontage, showcasing its relevance for future architecture. The existing building footprint should ideally range from 500 square meters to 2,000 square meters, with a potential gross floor area for adaptive reuse and limited additions extending up to 5,000 square meters. Participants must provide a clear site analysis, including photographic documentation (for real sites) or detailed contextual drawings (for hypothetical sites), justifying their selection based on its urban context, structural potential, and strategic relevance for a cultural and community incubator.

Constraints
Designs must prioritize the adaptive reuse and transformation of the existing derelict urban structure rather than its demolition and complete reconstruction. The architectural intervention must sensitively merge the material palette of the old structure with new, innovative materials, highlighting a dialogue between history and modernity. All proposed spaces must be designed for maximum flexibility and multi-functionality, capable of evolving to meet future community needs, reflecting emerging architectural trends. Universal design principles are mandatory, ensuring the facility is fully accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Furthermore, sustainable design strategies, including passive climate control, energy efficiency, water conservation, and the use of locally sourced or recycled materials, are essential. The design must also explicitly address the activation of the street edge, creating inviting public interfaces and facilitating social interaction, while adhering to hypothetical urban planning regulations and safety standards, showcasing exemplary urban design.

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Schedule and Fees

• Early Registration: Oct 01 23:59 GMT/UTC ($29 USD)
• Final Registration & Submission: Nov 01 23:59 GMT/UTC ($49 USD)
• Results Announced: Jan 01

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Submission Requirements

1. 1 x A1 Sheet: Explaining the value proposition or design (each PDF at least 150dpi, max 20 MB).
2. Optional 1–2 Minute Video: Explaining your design/concept.
3. Team Participation: Teams of 1–3 individuals allowed. Multiple registrations permitted using different email IDs and phone numbers.
4. File Naming: Final PDF must be named “team-.pdf”. Final video must be named “team- | Seek Fanatic Competition #seekfanatic”.
5. Hosting Requirements: PDFs must be shared via Google Drive/Dropbox/OneDrive with “Public Access” enabled. Videos should be uploaded as “Unlisted” on YouTube.
6. Plagiarism: All content must be original, except collages and human cutouts in renders.
7. Anonymity: No identifying information of participants or their region in submissions.
8. Logo Requirement: Include the Seek Fanatic logo at the end of the video for 3 seconds. Download logo.
9. Registration: Must be done on seekfanatic.com.
10. Team Number: Matches your order number after paying the registration fee.

Note: Non-compliance with any of the above may result in disqualification.

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Prizes & Grants

• Winner x 1 & Runners-Up x 4: Online Publication + Social Media Post + Certificate (shareable link forever)
• Participation Certificates: For all teams (shareable link forever)

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