Rejuvenate Chernobyl 2.0

Premise
The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, a landscape forever scarred by the 1986 catastrophe, stands as a profound monument to human technological ambition and its environmental consequences. For nearly four decades, the Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Nuclear Power Plant has been perceived as a dormant giant, a site of decay, abandonment, and a lingering sense of foreboding. Yet, within its desolate beauty and profound historical gravity, lies an unparalleled opportunity for re-evaluation and transformation. This competition, "Rejuvenate Chernobyl 2.0," challenges architects, designers, and visionaries to move beyond the narrative of disaster, envisioning a future where this infamous site transcends its past. We seek proposals that confront the complex legacy of Chernobyl not by erasing it, but by symbolically and functionally imbuing it with a renewed sense of purpose, life, and forward-thinking resilience for a global audience.

Objective
The central objective of "Rejuvenate Chernobyl 2.0" is to design a visionary "rejuvenation centre" that fundamentally alters the perception and function of the Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Nuclear Power Plant. Participants are tasked with conceptualizing an architectural intervention that "resurrects a youthful appearance" – not through superficial means, but through a deep, holistic transformation that leverages sustainable design, innovative urban planning, and future architecture principles. The design should propose new programmatic uses that symbolize rebirth and progress, potentially including advanced research facilities, ecological restoration hubs, educational institutions focused on resilience and clean energy, or even a form of contemplative, experiential tourism that respects the site's history while offering a hopeful outlook. The challenge demands creative solutions that demonstrate how architecture can turn a symbol of decay into a beacon of sustainable innovation and a testament to humanity's capacity for renewal, contributing to a new narrative for the region.

Site
The designated site for this ambitious conceptual project encompasses the immediate footprint of the Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Nuclear Power Plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine. This includes the iconic Reactor 4 and its New Safe Confinement (NSC), alongside the adjacent, structurally imposing unused reactor blocks, turbine halls, and associated infrastructure. The site is characterized by its monumental scale, the starkness of its abandoned industrial structures, and the unique atmospheric conditions of the Exclusion Zone, including residual radiation. Participants are encouraged to critically engage with these existing structures, considering strategies such as adaptive reuse, partial demolition, integration with new constructions, or even radical reimaginings of the entire complex. While the core intervention is focused on the power plant buildings, designers should consider the broader landscape, conceptually integrating an area ranging from approximately 50 to 200 hectares for contextualization, ecological remediation, or ancillary facilities. Precise plot boundaries for the primary intervention are flexible, allowing designers to define the optimal conceptual footprint for their vision.

Constraints
All design proposals must critically address the unique and sensitive context of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. While this is a conceptual competition, designs should demonstrate a thoughtful approach to potential challenges such as residual contamination, structural integrity of existing concrete and steel frameworks, and the long-term viability of proposed interventions. Sustainability is a paramount constraint; designs must integrate advanced sustainable design principles, including passive strategies, renewable energy generation, circular economy approaches for materials, and innovative waste management. The proposed "rejuvenation centre" should consider, even conceptually, the safety and accessibility for future inhabitants or visitors, offering forward-thinking solutions for human interaction within such a historically hazardous environment. Furthermore, the design must respectfully engage with the site's profound historical, emotional, and ecological significance, avoiding any trivialization of the past while projecting a powerful, optimistic vision for the future. Proposals should embody 'future architecture' concepts, pushing boundaries in environmental remediation, adaptive reuse of monumental structures, and the creation of resilient, forward-looking environments for the 21st century and beyond.

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Schedule and Fees

• Early Registration: Feb 01 23:59 GMT/UTC ($29 USD)
• Final Registration & Submission: Mar 01 23:59 GMT/UTC ($49 USD)
• Results Announced: May 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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