YOUNG

ARCHITECTS
COMPETITIONS

ROME COMMUNITY RING

Destination
Sports /
Wellness /
Cultural.

Redesign.

At least
1 under 35
member
per team.

Forte
Portuense.
Site
Italy, Rome

Open to
Architects /
Designers /
Students.

> YAC
Architecture is the branch of knowledge that shapes and
structures places for human activities. It gives an answer to
several and various issues, where solutions embody designers creativity and intellect.
Architectural quest doesnt simply resolve itself nor in a stylish,
nor a functional, nor an economic nor a technological answer.
A genuine architectural answer comes through making a
patchwork of all those issues, where designer manages to
blend and structure them together with sensibility and control.
YAC aims to promote contemporary projects that embody a
temporal and personal approach to architectural space.
Idea is the keyword, Architecture is the answer and project is the
medium through which intuition transforms into concrete reality.
02

> THEME
Rome. Few other metropolis in the world can evoke an unconscious as rich and ancient as the one of the eternal city. With over than 3000 years of history, Rome is an incredible layering
of heritage, architecture and human culture. Despite many centuries of studying and debate on how to enhance such patrimony, Rome still retains unveiled treasures - forgotten architectures and monuments longing for a chance of being brought back to life and to the community.
In partnership with La Sapienza University and Progetto Forti, Rome municipality is glad to undisclosed a debate over one of its precious hidden treasures: Forte Portuense.
This former military architecture belongs to a series of nineteenth-century fortifications. Forte Portuense is becoming a topic of discussion among several public and private players, who
wish to establish here the first element belonging to a network of facilities for entertainment, culture and wellness.
But how to transform a former military architecture into a leisure time & cultural focal point - capable on one hand of triggering urban redevelopment & social cooperation and on the other
hand to attract citizens & tourists?
This is the question YAC offers the designers, asking them to rethink Forte Portuense into a multi-scale architectural element:
Local scale - Civic Centre / Service desk
Global scale - element of the metropolitan network of culture / sports facilities aimed to transform the disused military fortifications into a community ring.
This new urban pole shall be considered as interlaced to other similar elements through wellness itineraries and services. This is aimed to offer the city of Rome a network of leisure time
facilities a hairs breadth away from the very core of one of the most fascinating cities in the world.
03

+41.858 N
+12.449 E

Forte Trionfale

Forte Monte Antenne

Forte Monte Mario

Forte Pietralata
Batteria
Nomentana

Forte Braschi

Forte Tiburtina

Forte Boccea
Forte Prenestina

Forte Aurelia Antica

Batteria
Porta Furba

Forte Bravetta

Batteria
Acquasanta

Forte Casilina

Forte Portuense
Forte Appia Antica

Forte Ostiense
Forte Ardeatina

> SITE
This peculiar architecture stands at the gates of Rome between Tiber River and via Portuense, surrounded by thick vegetation and a deep fosse. It used to be active between 1877 and 1881, period
in which it had to defend a strategic area of the city this feature relates Forte Portuense to a fascinating historical belonging.
Although the building might go almost unnoticed from the outside, beyond its gates emotional and aesthetic features are overwhelming and offer a perfect background for hosting high-quality proposals.
In order to offer the Public Administration context-related and practical solutions, here an outline of the main boundary conditions to be taken into account:
Historical features: After 20 years of war, in 1870 Rome is annexed to the Kingdom of Italy - becoming its capital city. National and international situations push the Parliament to build a defensive sy-

stem around the city, with the purpose of consolidating the occupation. In accordance to the practices of the nineteenth-century military architecture, an entrenched camp is designed - in which 15
forts and 3 gun batteries would create a 40 km long ring set 4 km outside the ancient city walls. Construction begins in 1877 and ends in 1891. Despite the entity and the cost of these construction,
such buildings will never be used, getting sentenced to an early obsolescence due to the quick spread / development of the early twentieth-century war industry. Forte Portuense then becomes a
training facility first and a military deposit later, before finally becoming jurisdiction of the 15th municipality of Rome - who decides to use it in an experiment to involve the local community. Giving the
fortress a cultural & sports feature for both tourists & citizens should allow multiple users to have continuity in frequenting this area which might become an urban oasis for a big portion of the city.

04

 Territorial features (macro scale): Rome city population used to count 200,000 people in1877, while today it counts almost 3 million people living in this complex urban aggregate - which is widely

interlaced to the suburban hinterland. Such rapid urban expansion has hit and transformed the surrounding countryside and the fortifications as well - generating different outcomes in terms of urban
integration. Forte Portuense, Boccea or Prenestina for instance have been totally surrounded by the built-up area - although they lack of integration with the urban fabric and everyday life. Forte Bravetta, Appia Antica or Monte Antenne have been put to system in historical / environmental networks on the contrary. Forte Ardeatina or Casilina still stand in open field instead - despite the surrounding
urban sprawl. In synthesis macro scale would allow the fortifications to become an organic system for culture, sport and civic services. Redevelopment opportunities shall blend with the intrinsic nature
of the architectural objects, matching with the different preservation conditions and environmental relationships. Reuse shall focus on sustainable criteria, aiming to strengthen the role of Rome being
the capital for culture and tourism - by creating a unique and remarkable system focused on sports and culture.
Morphological features: Forte Portuense is among the smallest but oldest forts in Rome and follows a typical Prussian layout. Similarly to the other forts, its composed by a rational sequence of underground

spaces, surrounded by a polygonal perimeter and a dry fosse. There is an only access - protected by an embankment. The core of the fort hosts the parade ground, which is interlaced to upper and
underground levels through ramps and stairs. The be mentioned: the presence of two spring-water wells and the partial destruction of the fosse - due to road works related to Via Portuense.
Territorial features (micro scale): By the end of the nineteenth century, Forte Portuense used to stand in a rural area, defining the South-Western city limits. After the baby boom post WWI, the fort

now stands inside a vast and anonymous outskirt devoid of identity and services. In this sense, redevelopment might become a means through which re-establishing a collective memory - in
accordance with the local communities needs to freely express and find themselves.

05

50.2

VIA

FR
AN

CE

NT

DA

49.3

VI

SC

VI

57.5

48.9

56.3

SC

E
NC

53.7

50.9

ES
AR
E

SA
US

VIA

56.9

56.0

A
VI

DE

G
LA
VA

58.7

ENS
PORTU

59.2

I
DE

42.8

56.4

58.4

55.4

LO
CO
VI

IA

PE
SEP
GI U

52.1

VI

56.0

A
VI

FR
54.7

64.2

I
GL

62.6

58.9
58.8

Area 1
62.0

63.2
62.1

65.3

60.6
59.1

E
LV

62.0

LEOPOLDO

S
EN

48.3
63.3

EN
SE

PO
RT
U

DELL'IMBREC
CIATO

VIA

63.4

VI

56.5

LL
CO

47.3

GI
US
59.2

63.4

ET
A 63.4

Area 1

62.2

EN
SI

VIA

VI

L
57.4

IA

IL
NA

50.2

LARGO
DI
52.4 S. SILVIA

53.3

PO

RT
U

E
VIAL

52.2

EN

SE

53.2

54.6

VIA

LE

VIA

53.0

RI
SIRTO

55.2

VI

50.6

50.5

Area 1 (surrounding area): for design purposes, such area can be considered completely free from pre-existing constructions. If required, it is allowed to demolish / remove every building enclosed in Area1 (former archive, retirement home, kindergarten, social centre). Design solutions have a high degree of freedom - the only boundary condition is to respect the maximum area of
construction, equal to 4200m2.
OR
OB

47.9

52.6

51.0

ON

55.3

49.8

51.4

VIA

VIA

56.8

ANGELONI

LUIGI

NI
ANGELO

VIA

LUIG

50.3

44.4

I 55.9

VIA

NA

I
RIZIOTT
OMO G

VIA GIAC

I
TTIN
FRA

VIA

NI
TO

55.9

PIAZZA
AUGUSTO
LORENZINI

EL
OFRUGIU

AN

57.1

I
ERZON
PPE GU

RO

ET

PI
52.4

RATT
NIO F
ANTO

COLON

IUSE
VIA G

54.7

VIA

DOMENIC

VI

56.8

53.9

55.6

VIA

GIUSEPPE

53.3

PIERO

58.6

53.2

49.7

>>

53.1

I
VENTUR

C
RA

NA
AR
AV
D'

E
NS

VI

50.3

DE

59.7

Design area: Referring to the above mage, the following areas might be described:
>>

50.2

RT
E

U
RT
PO

53.0

51.8

63.5

63.6

FO

LARGO
GAETANO
LA LOGGIA

TIBURZI

LIDATI
LUIGI SO

63.8
55.2

50.5

54.7

59.0

VIA

56.5

E.
T.
MO
N

VI

U
RT

PO

VI

PE
EP
46.7

59.6

58.9

55.0

63.3

IRLANDES

I
DE
56.5

47.5

VIA

Area 2

VI

53.2

U
RT
PO

ARTO

FRANCESC
O

PIETRO

63.1

N
RI
ST

64.4

GL
DE

SI

TI
OR

45.1

Area 2 (the fort): Forte Portuenses distinctive traits are protected by strong restrictions. It is thus forbidden to demolish / alter any built structure in this portion of the area. Standing the prescription to preserve historical heritage, it is however allowed (both in the inner and outer part of the fort) to insert furniture / temporary architectural elements / light structures. Aim is to create an effective new functionality and to re-link the different levels of the fort with the very city and the fort itself - where altitude gaps represent an important obstacle to be overcome. There
are no constraints regarding surfaces.

Sustainable features: The whole project has to match energetic and environmental sustainability criteria - both for new construction, reuse and restoration. To do so it is necessary to contain ove-

rall energetic consumption and integrate energy-saving criteria in the design framework since early design phases. The fort can count on a fascinating and efficient system of spring-water wells,
canals and cavities whose aim was to enhance natural ventilation (specifically in the powder keg and ammunition depot). It is therefore suggested to take into account / revamp / enhance such
system with specific solutions and brand new energetic implementations. Energetic and environmental sustainability might be achieved through cleverly distributing functions and wisely choosing
materials, techniques and building solutions as well, in order to attenuate environmental impact. Moreover, It is possible that Area1 would take care of energetic production (i.e. from renewable
sources) in order to partially / totally cover the projects overall energetic consumption.
06

> PROGRAM
Rome Community Ring competition primarily deals with architectural renovation and new functions implementation for Forte Portuense; set this starting point, the call for ideas aims to become
the first piece of a wider and more ambitious frame.
Design has to stick to Forte Portuense only, however the overall vision should place such intervention in relation with the network of forts already described. This system of forts shall be considered to be interlinked through a web of wellness / cultural paths and shall appraise overall architectonical and functional features.
Public Administration suggests that the project shall be seen as single element belonging to a belt of revolutionary cultural structures - structures capable on one hand of allowing local communities to express their own creativity and dynamism, and on the other hand of endorsing interest and appeal in the millions of tourists visiting the city every year for its architectural amenities.
The proposal shall embrace a wide range of users and function considering the proximity to the city: i.e. a modern and elegant community centre for all ages / a catalyst for individuals creativity
and talents / a business incubator / a green area / a sports area / an outdoor activities area.
In order to focus on culturally appealing and sustainable solutions, here follows a list of suggested / compulsory functions to enclose in the proposals. Combining / choosing / integrating /
enhancing / balancing / giving different weights to the following scenarios is part of the competition task and is entirely up to the designer.
07

Function

Description

Placement within the project

Temporary atelier
for artists

Space / spaces aimed to host small / international artists communities who can here produce and exhibit art for a limited span of time.

SUGGESTED - in AREA1 and / or AREA2

Movie theatre /
Theatre /
Auditorium

Space / spaces, temporary / permanent, indoor / outdoor, aimed to host theatre / rehearsal / conferences / events / movies, in an independent
SUGGESTED - in AREA1 and / or AREA2
way or also in relation to cultural events such as estate romana.

Rooms for district

association

Space / spaces for socialisation / debate, featured by flexibility and aimed to host the activities of local associations.

COMPULSORY - in AREA1 and / or AREA2

Kindergarten

Space for playground / learning activities for children, aimed to embrace the needs of the local communities.

COMPULSORY - in AREA1 only

Senior centre

Space for socialisation / entertainment / meeting for senior people.

COMPULSORY - in AREA1 and /2 or AREA2

Mediatheque /
Toy library

Space, temporary / permanent, aimed to store and provide media contents.

SUGGESTED - in AREA1 and / or AREA2

Art hotel

Hospitality - museum hybrid structure, space where to rest both the body and the mind, in a place that blends the comfort of a hotel to the
SUGGESTED - in AREA1 only
emotions of the arts.

Multipurpose
rooms

Space / spaces, alone / modular, useful to host private events / public events / spare time activities / community events / workshops - some
SUGGESTED - in AREA1 and / or AREA2
kind of rentable pods

Sports facilities

Any sort of sports activity structure is allowed (standing the need of providing the relative service structures) - i.E. Swimming pools / playCOMPULS ORY - in AREA1 and / or AREA2
grounds / gyms / climbing walls.

Laboratories /
Learning environments

Spaces, temporary / permanent, aimed to spread contemporary art to children / young generations / adults through creative itineraries / movies
SUGGESTED - in AREA1 and / or AREA2
/ recreational activities (to develop in accordance with local schools) / guided tours / public debates with artists and administrators.

Bar / Restaurant

A space that overtakes the traditional idea of simple place for eating and drinking, by embracing slow food culture and local suppliers - the fort
COMPULSORY - in AREA1 and / or AREA2
might become the expression of a specific gastronomic tradition and identity.

Exhibition rooms

AREA = 1100m2

AREA = 500m

SUGGESTED - in AREA1 and / or AREA2

08

> CALENDAR

> PRIZES

13 OCT 2014 early bird registration - start

16 NOV 2014 early bird registration - end

1 PRIZE

8.000

17
NOV 2014 standard registration - start

21 DEC 2014 standard registration - end

22 DEC 2014 late registration - start

19 JAN 2015 late registration - end

26 JAN 2015 (h 12:00 GMT, midday) material submission deadline*

FEB 2015
jury
summoning
MAR 2015
results
announcement
TBA award ceremony & exhibition
*Fulfilling an early bird, standard or late registration does not affect submission deadline.
Submission deadline is unique.

2 PRIZE

4.000
3 PRIZE

2.000
HONORABLE MENTIONS GOLD

500
HONORABLE MENTIONS GOLD

500
10 HONORABLE MENTIONS
All the awarded proposals will be published on architectural magazines and websites + will be
hosted in international exhibitions.
All the finalist proposals will be published on www.youngarchitectscompetitions.com

09

> RULES

> INELIGIBILITY

1.
2.
3.

4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

15.

a.
Layouts showing texts bodies not written in English wil be banned;
b. Layouts showing names or referrals to their own team / their identity will be banned.

TeamID can appear on the file name only, since jurors will not be allowed to see it;
c. FIles named not by following the prescriptions of the chapter MATERIAL will be banned;
d. Material which is considered incomplete, partial or non congruent to the criteria set in the chapter

MATERIAL wil be banned;
e.
Material which is submitted not by following calendar, deadlines and correct uploading procedures

wil be banned;
f.
Teams missing one under 35 member at least will be disqualified;
g. Team members trying to ask a juror about the competition will disqualify their own team;
h.
Team members who have or had business collaboration or blood-relations with jurors will

be disqualified;
i.
Team members who publicizes their own proposal material before the conclusion of the

competition will be disqualified;

Competitors must respect calendar dates, procedures and fees;

Competitors must respect all the instructions regarding required material;
Competitors can be students, graduated, freelance architects, designers or artists: it is
not mandatory to be involved in architectural disciplines or enrolled in architectural associations;
Competitors can join the competition both individually and in team;
Teams must have at least one team member between 18 and 35 years old;
Teams can be composed by any number of team members;
Teams can be composed by any competitors belonging to different countries and universities;
Paying a single entry fee allows to join the competition with a single project;
Paying further entry fees allows to join the competition with further projects; fees to be
determined by following competitions calendar;
Prizes include bank commissions and fees;
Prizes are established regardless to the number of attendants a team is made of;
Committees verdict is incontestable.
It is forbidden to competitors to ask a juror about the competition;
It is forbidden to competitors to publicize their own proposal material before the conclusion
of the competition;
It is forbidden to competitors to join the competition in case they have or had business
collaboration or blood-relations with jurors;

By violating the rules, competitors and their teams will be disqualified from the competition without
any chance of getting a refund. Joining the competition implies accepting rules and service terms.
The authorship of each project is equally attributed to each member of the team.

> NOTES
Subscribing to YACs competition, competitors accept terms and rules of the competition;
Winning proposals will be considered purchased by the client;
YAC claims the rights to use participant proposals for exhibitions and publications;
Competition material necessary to fulfill the competition is available on the DOWNLOAD section on YACs website www.youngarchitectscompetitions.com . Material is made available regardless to
the kind of subscriprion is fulfilled. It is however allowed to use further material found from third parties;
YAC is allowed to change the calendar or the details of the competition; possible variations will be notified on time through the channels YAC has available;
YAC is not responsible for web malfunctioning or technical difficulties due to servers; its highly recommended to submit required material, fees and subscription with a good advance of time on the
deadline.

10

> SUBSCRIPTION

> MATERIAL

The whole procedure is computerized:

1 UNI A1 layout(594mm x 841mm), .pdf format, maximum size 10 mb, horizontal or vertical

layout, to be uploaded on the personal login area. Such layout must contain:
open: www.youngarchitectscompetitions.com;
enter registration area;
fill required fields;
at the end of the procedure the first member of the team will be notified with a validation mail

containing the team ID number (teamID is randomly and automatically assigned); if no mail
arrives check spam;

a username, a password and a link will be received; open the link to confirm YAC the pre-

registration;

a.
b.

c.

design concept / conceptual idea;

graphic framework aimed to illustrate the project (i.e. plans, facades, cross-sections) choosing what to display and the relative scale is up to competitors choice;
3d views - i.e. renderings, pictures, hand sketches;

File name: A1_<TeamID>_RCR.pdf (es. if TeamID is123 , file must be named

A1_123_RCR.pdf ).

1 A3 album (420mm x 294mm), .pdf format, maximum size 10 mb, horizontal layout, maxium

7 pages long, to be uploaded on the personal login area. Album must contain:

once confirmed the pre-registration, enter personal area and fulfill fee payment; the reason of

a.
b.
c.

general layout, scale 1:1000;

relevant blueprints, scale 1:500;
one cross-section at least, scale 1:500;

once fulfilled pre-registration and fee payment, uploading will be enabled;

File name: A3_<TeamID>_RCR.pdf (es. if TeamID is123 , file must be named

A3_123_RCR.pdf ).

currency payment operation will be: YAC_RCR_teamID (i.e. if teamID is 12345, reason of
currency payment operation will be YAC_RCR_12345);

open personal area, insert username & password; upload the material; the first member of the

team will be notified with a validation mail; if no mail arrives check spam;

Its highly recommended to be early on deadlines with subscriptions and payments.

Text shall be synthetic and written in English. Layouts cannot contain any name or reference to
designers. Layouts cannot have nor groups TeamID on it. Such code is meant to
appear on the filename only, since jury will not be capable of seeing it during voting procedure.

> FAQ
During the whole contest - until registration deadline - competitors are welcome to address pertinent question to YAC@youngarchitectscompetitions.com. Questions shall be written in English and must
be signed with name, surname and TeamID. YAC staff will answer questions privately and will decide to publish relevant issues on the FAQ section of YACs website. Updates will be notified through
YACs Facebook and Twitter channels. FAQs will be published in English only and will remain anonymous.
YAC provides essential material on the download area; nevertheless competitors wishing to use further sources are allowed to do it.
11

> JURY
MARKUS SCHERER

CLAUDIO NARDI

MAURIZIO GEUSA

SIMONE FERRETTI

EDOARDO CURR / La Sapienza Roma University / www.architettura.uniroma1.it

12

MARKUS SCHERER

Claudio Nardi Architects

ARCHITEKT

Copyright 2014 www.youngarchitectscompetitions.com. All Rights Reserved.