The Graphic Evolution of Architectural Competitions

Abstract

During the 20th century, open International Architectural Competitions became more and more generalized, and are currently global events with a great impact. In every competition, a brief is set with its own representation rule, which makes it unique. But, whereas there is not an integral regulation for competition briefs, they still conform a clear example of the trend for a particular period. This paper intends to analyze the evolution of those trends by reviewing four emblematic competitions in recent architecture history. The investigation looks closely at the role that the different existing representation systems played in the communication of Architecture, through the study of the jury’s decision-making process. This analysis highlights the parallelisms between the selected samples in order to find common points in their process. As a result, a cumulative evolution is detected in which the dynamic quality of architecture always appears as a veiled but decisive element in its communication and significance. This suggests an evolutionary process for the architectural representation, supported by the present phenomenon of digitalization and intermediality, with the latter understood as the new configurations brought about by the overlapping of different disciplines in the digital media. These phenomena are gradually introducing a new visualization interface in the communication of the architectural project: the audiovisual montage.