2024 Competition notice
INTERNATIONAL AWARD
DOMUS RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION FASSA BORTOLO.
Historical pre-existences and architecture
X Edition - Call for Applications 2024-2025
Art. 1 - ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AWARD
The International Architectural Restoration Award, named "Domus Restoration and Preservation Fassa Bortolo," was conceived and promoted in 2010 by Fassa S.r.l., owner of the "Fassa Bortolo" brand, and the Architecture Department of the University of Ferrara. The award is enriched with the specification "Historical pre-existences and architecture."
The award aims to bring public attention to architectural works that understand conservation as a cultural necessity and have enhanced historical pre-existences while respecting their authenticity as layered palimpsests, through a conscious design culture.
Art. 2 - THE AWARD
The award is held annually and is divided into two sections, alternating every two years:
- "Build Projects" section: Gold and silver medals will be awarded to private or public sector designers and restoration companies responsible for the completed works.
- "Projects Developed as Thesis” section: Gold and silver medals will be awarded to projects deemed deserving by the jury for specific aspects.
For this 10th edition, in 2024-2025, the competing category will be "Projects Developed as Thesis”.
Since 2020, the initiative also includes the Special Prize – “Digital BIM Technologies" (a section dedicated to those theses that have used digital innovations, especially BIM applications, in the analysis and design process, with particular attention to the informative potential of such tools), which takes place concurrently with the "Domus Restoration and Preservation. Historical pre-existences and architecture" - Projects Developed as Thesis section.
For the 2024-2025 edition, the total prize fund will be €8,000, distributed as follows:
- One prize (and gold medal) to the winner of the "Projects Developed as Thesis” section, amounting to €3,000;
- Two prizes (and silver medals) to the runners-up in the "Projects Developed as Thesis” section, amounting to €2,000 each;
- One prize of €1,000 for the winner of the Special Prize - Digital BIM Technologies.
The jury, if deemed appropriate, may assign additional Special Mentions and redistribute the prize fund accordingly.
Art. 3 – SPECIAL PRIZE - DIGITAL BIM TECHNOLOGIES
The Special Prize aims to recognize thesis works (Master’s Degree, Postgraduate School, Master's, and Doctorate) developed using BIM-related methodologies, tools, protocols, and systems.
This recognition was established to fully acknowledge those who have integrated digital technologies into the development of their thesis as tools for knowledge, documentation, management, and enhancement of the architectural heritage subject to preservation and restoration project, beyond mere 3D modeling.
Art. 4 - TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION
Applications for the Award (and optionally for the Special Prize if requirements are met) can be submitted by
individuals or groups who have defended a "Thesis" in the last five years upon completing studies in Architecture or Engineering-Architecture degree programs or equivalent educational courses. In case of group submissions, only the group leader needs to register.
Master’s Degree, Postgraduate School, Master's, and Doctoral Theses are eligible. For bachelor’s degree theses, a minimum score of 100/110 is required.
Art. 5 - APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications for the Award can be submitted by filling out the electronic form available on the website www.premiorestauro.it before December 12th, 2024.
Art. 6 - SUBMISSION MATERIALS
To participate in the jury’s selection, authors are required to submit three types of documents in digital format only:
- Two A1-sized panels (vertical) including the information and materials stated as follow, saved in *.pdf and *.jpg formats at 300 dpi resolution (see the template available on the website);
- One 100x70 cm panel (horizontal) saved in *.pdf and *.jpg formats at 300 dpi resolution (see template available on the website), where the two required panels should be inserted and adapted;
- All files used to compose the two A1 panels.
A1 PANELS: The content of the panels should exclusively represent a synthesis of the topics covered in the thesis, with particular attention to the presentation of aspects related to design and restoration quality. The principles behind the project and the description of the proposed intervention methodologies should be clearly evident.
The minimum font size must be 11 points to ensure legibility by the jury, under penalty of exclusion.
The content's readability (drawings, diagrams, texts, captions, etc.) must also be guaranteed for any A3-sized prints (candidates are encouraged to perform print tests to verify actual readability).
CONTENTS: The material to be submitted digitally to the Secretariat (at premiorestauro@unife.it) must be organized into various folders, labelled alphabetically as follows, and placed in a master folder named with the candidate’s last name and first name.
Folder a) Document (in *.doc and *.pdf format) filled out using the template file downloadable from the official website of the Award (www.premiorestauro.it) in Italian (or English for international participants):
Thesis project identification data (University, Department, Authors, Supervisor, Co-supervisors, Academic Year). The candidate must also indicate their interest in participating in the Special Prize;
Abstract of the following distinctive aspects of the thesis research in Italian (or English for international participants) with a concise identification of the following aspects (maximum 700 characters each):
- Research topic
- Research purpose
- Summary of the proposed methodologies
Technical-descriptive report of the project with a maximum length of 15,000 characters, including spaces, in Italian (or English for international participants), clearly outlining the principles behind the project and describing the methodologies proposed for the intervention. The text must be brief and concise, strictly focusing on what is necessary for the understanding of the project.
Projects with descriptive reports exceeding the allowed length will not be evaluated.
Folder b) Graphic description of the project: site plans, floor plans, sections, elevations, project sketches, conceptual diagrams, etc. (all images must be in JPEG format with a resolution of 300 dpi);
Folder c) A maximum of 10 high-quality renderings or photos of models (minimum dimension of the shortest side must be no less than 15 cm at 300 dpi);
Folder d)
2 A1-sized boards (portrait format) with texts in Italian (or English for international participants), summarized in a maximum of 5,000 characters, composed using the materials provided in folders a, b, and c, saved in *.pdf and *.jpg formats at 300 dpi (see the A1 template downloadable from the website homepage).
1 board sized 100x70 cm (landscape format), saved in *.pdf and *.jpg at 3000 dpi, where the two A1 boards are adapted into the template, which can be downloaded from the homepage of the website.
Folder e) ONLY FOR THOSE ALSO APPLYING FOR THE SPECIAL PRIZE - DIGITAL BIM TECHNOLOGIES
A report in Italian (or English for international participants) of a maximum of 5,000 characters, including spaces, and a minimum of 5 images (screenshots of software used, showing the BIM model structure to demonstrate the correct use of digital technologies; all images must be accompanied by captions).
The document must be in A4 vertical format saved in *.pdf, illustrating the following aspects in appropriately titled sections as:
a. TECHNOLOGIES: description of the digital technologies used to achieve the project’s restoration objectives;
b. USE: description of the use of BIM methodologies and other innovative technologies to overcome project challenges;
c. RESULTS: description of the outcomes obtained through these technologies and their positive impact on the restoration project in terms of accuracy, completeness, and possible process management.
Art. 7 - SUBMISSION DEADLINE
To eliminate the environmental burdens associated with the packaging and transportation of participation materials and to avoid complications (especially during customs transit with non-European countries and Switzerland), which have frequently led to high shipping costs, the digital submission of all required documents mentioned in Article 6 is mandatory from this edition onwards. Submissions must be sent via large-format email systems by and no later than January 16th, 2025, to the address premiorestauro@unife.it.
Participation in the Award requires the payment of an entry fee necessary for the organizing body to cover the technical expenses of managing the files and the related printing with mounting on rigid supports for exhibitions. The fee is set at €80,00; payment must be made by January 16th, 2025, through the link that will be sent via email to each candidate after the registration deadline. This link will redirect to the computer system of the Consorzio Futuro in Ricerca, which is responsible for collecting the fee. In the case of group applications, the payment of a single fee is sufficient.
Art. 8 - JURY
The 2024-2025 jury will consist of:
- a chairperson, well-known expert in the field;
- two renowned architects;
- one University Professor;
- one Secretary
The jury's decision is final and cannot be contested.
Art. 9 - RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT
The results of the selection process, including the identification of winners and the assignment of special recognitions, will be communicated to all participants by March 2025. The minutes of the awarding decision and the rationale for the prize and recognitions will also be published on the official website of the Award (www.premiorestauro.it) and the corporate website of Fassa S.r.l. (www.fassabortolo.com), as well as in specialized publications.
The promoters of the Award also commit to enhancing the results of the Award and disseminating the selected and presented projects through a wide range of conference and editorial initiatives to underscore the importance of debate and the exchange of ideas and methodologies.
Art. 10 - PUBLICATION OF AWARDED WORKS
The winning projects and those receiving special mentions will be published in a booklet dedicated to the Prize edition.
Art. 11 - PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
By submitting the necessary documentation for admission to the competition, participants in the prize:
- declare, under their own responsibility, that they are the exclusive holders of the copyright for the projects submitted;
- accept and adhere to all the rules established by this competition announcement;
- authorize the Department of Architecture of the University of Ferrara and Fassa S.r.l., the promoters of the Award, to use and disseminate the contents of the projects submitted as theses for full or partial publications, in both print and digital formats, including for promotional purposes, with proper citation of the source, without any claim regarding copyright;
- undertake to hold the Department of Architecture of the University of Ferrara and Fassa S.r.l. harmless from any disputes, claims, or legal actions related to the content of the projects submitted as graduation theses and used or disseminated for the publications mentioned in the previous point.
The Award management reserves the right to make any changes necessary for the best realization of the Award, as well as to request any additional materials if required.
Art. 12 - AWARD SECRETARIAT
For information and clarifications, please contact:
University of Ferrara
Department of Architecture
Via Quartieri 8, 44121 Ferrara
Email: premiorestauro@unife.it
www.premiorestauro.it
SPONSORED BY
Fassa Bortolo