Premise

The Nomadic Artist Residency Spaces competition invites architects, designers, and visionaries to develop innovative and impactful mobile artist residencies. Art has the power to transform communities, and this competition seeks to create self-sufficient, transportable living and working spaces that allow artists to engage deeply with diverse environments and underserved communities.

Participants are challenged to design mobile units that provide not only comfortable accommodations and functional studio spaces but also opportunities for meaningful interaction with local cultures and landscapes. The aim is to foster a dynamic exchange between artists and communities, enriching both through creative expression. Sustainability, adaptability, and logistical feasibility are key aspects to consider in developing these moving sanctuaries for artistic creation.

Objective

The competition seeks designs for a versatile, mobile artist residency that can adapt to different landscapes and cultural contexts. The proposal must integrate essential facilities, including:

Living Quarters: Comfortable yet compact sleeping and personal spaces.
Studio Space: A functional workspace catering to various artistic disciplines.
Community Engagement Areas: Optional shared or interactive spaces for workshops, exhibitions, or collaborations.

Key Design Considerations:

Transportability: The structure must be easily mobile, considering existing transportation infrastructure such as trailers, modular units, or collapsible structures.
Deployment & Assembly: The unit should be quickly and efficiently set up and packed when relocating.
Adaptability: The design must be able to operate in different terrains and climates, including urban peripheries, remote landscapes, coastal areas, and deserts.
Sustainability: Utilize eco-friendly materials and off-grid solutions (solar panels, rainwater harvesting, composting toilets, etc.).
Minimal Environmental Impact: The structure should be lightweight, reusable, and non-invasive to its surroundings.
Cultural Sensitivity: The design should reflect an understanding of and respect for local traditions and cultural contexts wherever it is placed.

Site

This competition encourages participants to design a nomadic residency, meaning no fixed site is provided. Instead, participants must consider a range of environments where such a residency could be deployed. These may include:

Rural landscapes – forests, mountains, or remote plains.
Coastal regions – small fishing villages, beachfronts, or wetlands.
Urban peripheries – underutilized spaces on the edges of cities.
Deserts and arid regions – requiring innovative cooling and shading solutions.

Site Guidelines:

Space Allocation: The deployment space should range between 500 – 2000 square meters, allowing for both residency functions and community interactions.
Environmental Conditions: Participants should address factors such as temperature variations, access to water, and natural hazards.
Community Interaction: The design should facilitate engagement with local people, potentially including exhibition spaces, workshops, or temporary installations.

Constraints & Restrictions

Mobility & Transport

The design must be transportable and should consider practical means such as trailers, modified vehicles, modular container units, or prefabricated structures.
The unit should be lightweight yet durable to withstand frequent movement.
Consider collapsible or expandable features for ease of transport.

Resource Management

Water & Energy: Off-grid solutions such as solar energy, wind power, rainwater collection, and composting systems should be incorporated.
Waste Management: The design must promote low waste production, sustainable disposal, and potentially a zero-waste lifestyle.
Material Selection: Use of recycled, biodegradable, or locally sourced materials is encouraged.

Budget & Feasibility

The design must balance cost-effectiveness with functionality, ensuring that it is financially viable for actual implementation.
Maintenance & Longevity: Consider ease of repairs, durability of materials, and long-term operational feasibility.

The space should be inclusive and welcoming to diverse artistic practices and backgrounds.
Community collaboration should be encouraged—whether through architecture, programming, or open-access features.

Competition Timeline & Fees

Milestone	Date & Time (GMT/UTC)	Fee
Early Registration	June 1, 23:59	$29 USD
Final Registration & Submission	July 1, 23:59	$49 USD
Results Announcement	September 1	N/A

Submission Requirements

Mandatory Submissions

1 x A1 Sheet (Landscape Format):
- Clearly explain the value proposition, design concept, and spatial layout.
- Format: PDF, at least 150 dpi, maximum 20 MB.

Optional Submission

1-2 Minute Video (Optional):
- Explain the concept, functionality, and uniqueness of the design.
- Must include the Seek Fanatic logo at the end for 3 seconds.

Team Participation & Submission Guidelines

Team Size: 1-3 individuals per team.
Multiple Registrations: Allowed using different email IDs and phone numbers.
File Naming Format:
- PDF: team-<your team number>.pdf
- Video: team-<your team number> | Seek Fanatic Competition #seekfanatic
File Hosting:
- PDFs must be shared via Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive with public access enabled.
- Videos should be uploaded as “Unlisted” on YouTube.

Important Rules

Plagiarism Prohibited: All content must be original, except for collages and human cutouts in renders.
Anonymity: No personal details, region, or identifying information should be present in submissions.

⚠️ Failure to comply with any submission guidelines may result in disqualification.

Awards & Recognition

Prizes & Grants

1 Winner + 4 Runners-Up:
- Online publication featuring the winning designs.
- Social media feature across Seek Fanatic platforms.
- E-Certificate with a shareable link (valid permanently).

Participation Certificates

All registered participants will receive a digital certificate, available as a shareable link.

Registration & Additional Details

Team Number: Your Order Number after payment will serve as your Team Number.

Final Notes

This competition encourages participants to redefine mobile artist residencies, pushing the boundaries of nomadic living, sustainability, and creative engagement. We look forward to seeing how designers merge architecture, mobility, and cultural interaction into innovative, practical, and inspiring solutions.

Good luck!

Nomadic Artist Residency Spaces