AIAC’S

The 25th AIAC was held in the city of Mézos, France, notable for its focus on two highly practical projects that could be implemented in the future. The first project, titled Coeur de Ville, aims to construct a mixed-use commercial and residential complex in the city center. The second project, named Béguinage, seeks to develop a residential area for the elderly in the city center. This year, participants could choose between the two projects, but they were required to establish a connection with the other project as well as with the heart of Mézos.

The AIAC 2024 program featured the participation of eight universities from seven countries worldwide, including Peru, Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Morocco, and Vietnam. After two days of exhibitions and a day of serious, focused work by the jury—composed of professors, architects, and international experts—the AIAC concluded with six official awards and twenty honorary awards for both projects.

Project 1: Mézos – Heart of town:

First Prize: Coeur de Ville- Mézos Nexus – CHEN ZONGXI – Tsinghua University – China

Second Prize: Coeur de Ville -Aller à L’Extêrieur – LI HAOYAN – Tsinghua University – China

Third Prize: Coeur de Ville-Diving Into A Green Mist- TAN HAORAN – Tsinghua University – China

Project 2: Beguinage

First Prize: Beguinage-Dans la Forêt – ZHENG TUKE – Tsinghua University – China

Second Prize: Beguinage-The Sharing Village – KIEU DUC DAI – Hanoi University of Civil Engineering – Vietnam

Third Prize: Beguinage -Village In Village – NGUYEN SY KHAI – Hanoi University of Civil Engineering – Vietnam

The projects were highly praised by the jury, as well as by local authorities and residents of Mézos, for their quality and feasibility. Additionally, the program featured presentations on architecture by renowned professors and architects from Japan, China, South Korea, and Vietnam, covering topics such as indigenous architecture and sustainable design.

This urban-scale project involves analyzing the city of Cusco, the Inca capital of Peru. The aim is to assess the needs of the population and find solutions for better development in the area surrounding the Teniente Velasco Astete International Airport, located 3 km from the central square of Cusco. The program is open-ended but must address at least five development issues, such as reducing inequalities, responsible production and consumption, ending poverty, and promoting health and well-being.

The objective is to propose an architectural project that incorporates innovation, technology, energy efficiency, and sustainable development.

The project covers an area of 12 hectares, with a required built-up area of 2,500 to 3,000 square meters.

Over 40 projects from 10 different universities: Chinese winners.

The project is located in an urban desert of about 100 Ha in downtown Marrakech. The scenario and the concept remain free, but they must make the function of the event an important element of the program and the urban concept. Students must consider all the constraints of urban infrastructure, services and security during major events on a daily basis.

33 projects, from schools in 11 different countries: Chinese laureates, Tsinghua University

The project takes place in a remarkable environment. The City of Carcassonne revolves around the medieval city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bastide Saint-Louis (created in the 13th century) passing through the Pont Vieux (this link of stones loaded with 2000 years of history) and the port of Carcassonne.

The project will have to respond to several challenges and objectives : enhance the image of the Bastide, offer structuring and appropriate equipment to residents and users, and bring together university courses scattered around the outskirts of the city in the heart of the city. The public image of the project is built on three elements: The architectural style, the urban integration and the environmental approach adopted. The exterior image of the equipment must on the one hand be one of the supports for the dynamism of the Bastide and on the other hand, be welcoming to the students.

The site is in the ancient steel factory of Beijing Capital Steel Company, which was displaced several years ago. The whole site of the factory is now under transformation for new urban uses : a cultural/recreational/commercial area. 

One of the main activities on the site is the competition fields for Winter Olympic Games 2022 in Beijing. For AIAC 2020, one part of the site was chosen to develop a multi-function building which will serve for the Winter Olympic Games 2022 and will be used by people after.

The subject could be industrial land/building transformation, new activities creation, integrating new landscape in old factories, etc. It is one of the most potential development areas in Beijing.

The subject of the competition is the elaboration of a community village for the Mahori in Porirua, in the district of Wellington on the North Island of New Zealand.

The Mahori ethnic group is the second largest population in the island nation of New Zealand. The interesting thing is that they still retain many traditional cultural features and customs, including language and sculptural and architectural details.

The topic of the contest is a mixed-use project in the protected area of ​​the former railway junction of Stuttgart, Germany. A total of 55 entries were submitted from the designs of more than 150 international students.

The university network participating in this competition includes 10 leading institutions from America, Europe, and Asia.

The project is located in the Malecon area located in the heart of the city of Havana, Cuba. The goal is to design a multifunctional project, combining residential, cultural and tourist uses. The plans will have to study not only the architecture but also the landscape so that after the construction, this place becomes the residence of future generations of Havana.

47 student projects from 9 architecture schools around the world, including: Germany, Puerto Rico – USA, Canada, Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, Vietnam and India ; Vietnamese Laureates NUCE

The theme of the program is proposed for the study of a residential area combining public spaces located in the central area of the ancient city of Sanjuan, Puerto Rico. With architectural forms and a social culture bearing the bold Spanish colonial character of the Caribbean, it is a very interesting subject that requires students to conduct very serious research on all aspects.

Vietnamese NUCE Laureates

Organized by the National University Of Civil Engineering – Hanoi, located in the heart of Hanoi, at Dong Xuan Market, the competition program included a residential island, a school and the revival of the market that could include other functions such as exhibition venues and restaurants. A portion of the total of approximately 5,000 m² was to be detailed.

44 projects from 11 architecture schools in 9 countries: Vietnamese NUCE laureates

In 2014, the host university, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogota, proposed a site and an equally outstanding programme, in the center of Bogota, involving three key areas: the historic district of La Candelaria, the modern district beyond the Jimenez Avenue and the University of Los Andes area,

In 2014 the challenge of a project along Jimenez Avenue must articulate three scales: the large landscape, the neighborhood, the mixed building: equipment and housing

In 2013, the welcoming university, KEIO University of Tokyo, proposed a site and program offering AIAC an extension of its study themes. In the center of Tokyo, at the Nihonbashi Bridge, the site is the subject of multiple urban and architectural projects.

In 2013 the challenge of the project in Nihonbashi revolves around three scales: the highway and the city, the neighborhood, and the mixed building: equipment and housing.