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And the winner is "RE-ICE" by Hanna Galas

The Unbelievable Challenge 2021

 

Congratulations on accepting the Unbelievable Challenge!

Santa is very impressed and pleased with the quality of competition proposals. The Jury helping Santa was amazed with the diversity of different approaches to the subject.  Each proposal is independent in the same astounding way as every single snowflake.

Thank you all for your support in building the awareness of a matter that concerns all of us, and joining the fight against climate change!

Below you can read the reviews from the jury.

The winner of The Unbelievable Challenge 2021

"RE-ICE"

By Hanna Galas, Poland

The jury appreciated the skillful combination of the location analysis and the idea of the competition task, aimed at building awareness of the climate crisis by designing a snow museum. The winning entry has strong educational value. It reflects our need for contact with nature and expresses this positive relation and coexistence.

The concept gives the visitor a holistic experience. The educational path - as a gentle intervention in the existing landscape - connects with the surrounding trails, making a loop on the plot with various elements of an outdoor interactive exhibition strung on to it. Here, the user can experience playing with water, ice and snow. The experience will vary depending on the season, which makes this new destination attractive all year round.

In the zone away from the river, the author proposed a museum building - two cubatures connected with a lobby that could serve as a shelter for hikers from unfavorable weather. The concept of the architectural form is based on biomimicry – the construction resembles ice rocks, forms inspired by nature, as the author's goal was to refer to the surrounding landscape.

This winning entry to The Unbelievable Challenge proposes a park complex with an outdoor and indoor exhibitions that encourage us to reflect on human activities. It teaches us how to use natural resources wisely and take care of our planet, so that the joy of snow could be experienced by future generations.

The first runner-up

"THE MELTING GLOBE"

By Mohamed Raslan, Hungary

The Melting Globe was one of the strongest and most holistic proposal in the competition. It has a wide approach, looking back at vernacular architecture and into the future by proposing the museum that focuses on the imminent climate changes in the artic region.

The proposal sets a dramatic stage for the natural scenography of the ongoing changes. It utilizes the whole site. By lowering the built volume, the roof becomes a surface for staging and backdrop for seasonal shift, and different qualities of snow and ice. By lowering the massing, the scheme provides great view across the river and the city with the globe as the key focus point. The sequence of spaces upon arrival to the project and tomblike entrance prepares the public for the museum experience. The grand staircase submerges the guests, and the central feature of the globe add to this narrative. The plans are well organized and considered, and especially the section describes the qualities of the project.

The author has proposed several convincing sustainability measures, from the overall concept to detailed understanding. The jury questions whether the choice of Cor-Ten steel as the main façade is the best material to create the required image for a snow museum. However, the jury would like to give the author credit for a brave, strong, and alarming architectural statement, a clear conceptual thinking and an ability to improve the design based on feedback. It was a close race with the winning entry.

Finalist

"ICEBERG"

By Elina Harjunpää, Finland

One of the strongest points of the ICEBERG entry is the consideration for socio-cultural heritage and general site integration authentic to its location.

Jury appreciated how the solution delivered a clean design and a statement building, while ensuring it doesn't overwhelm the existing urban fabric. The proposal focuses on keeping the iconic bridge as part of the central urban composition, thus taking into consideration the importance of an existing landmark for the community.

The jury had concerns, however, regarding the immediate landscape site management integration solutions. While the overall aesthetic and geometry were integrated into the larger general site, the focus on the parking and service routes design seemed to be prioritized at the expense of visitor-centered landscape paths.

The jury liked the author’s approach towards delivering a clean design that would integrate into the city's socio-cultural heritage and community.

Finalist

"DETACHED"

By Štefánia Vasiľková, Slovakia

The pavilion collage settles solidly into the park. Buildings with a lively shape form a courtyard that invites you to enjoy and play. The location of entrance square and outdoor skating rink is justified. The car park is resource efficient in connection with the existing street area. The ensemble creates natural new walking routes keeping with the tradition that began with the Rovaniemi bus station and has since continued in the theater building.

Functionally, the museum is well planned. The level differences make the route trough exhibition clear and interesting. The location of the museum shop and café would require reassessment so as not to force the museum visitors to walk through the museum shop. The river landscape should be better utilized. 

The fresh forms of exterior architecture motivated by snowdrift would have made the omission stand out also in all indoor areas open to the public. As a whole, the work is a convincing view of the Museum of Snow.

Finalist

"THE SNOWDRIFT"

By Alice Šindelářová and Petra Macholánová, Czech Republic

The Snowdrift project reflects the competition's criteria for sustainability, energy efficiency and the theme of snow. The building is created from sustainable materials and provides a visual image of the museum in form of a snowdrift with open façades.

The area around building is planned according to the needs of the museum, especially providing a place for Santa's sleigh. The building does not dominate the city landscape and allows free access to the urban environment without disturbing the existing panorama.

Although the construction of the building is complex, steel construction solution with glazing and façade panel finish makes it light and open. The open layout of the rooms with high ceilings gives the rooms a welcoming feeling and invites you to explore it deeper. The solution allows us to believe in the miracle of snow that we are enjoying today - the snow we want to preserve also in the future.

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