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"The scheme is very thoughtful about fundamental and low technology environmental issues and strategies," said the jury, calling the planning strategy "simple and elegant."

The jury also lauded the firm's "clear and inventive use of well known and available steel technologies."

In addition to receiving a prize of €50,000, Peter Stutchbury Architects will begin collaborating with SeverStal and a local Russian architect to finalize the design for construction in Cherepovets. Living Steel plans to showcase a completed demonstration building in late 2009.

The jury recommended several design refinements, including giving further thought to cross-ventilation; providing more light into the house's north corridor; and developing alternative floor plans, such as, L-shaped, U-shaped, and courtyard plans.

Modular Mentions

Australian firm Bligh Voller Nield (BVN), with offices in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney, received an honorable mention for its submission, which included five different building types. Features such as open floor plans and double-height living spaces add livability to the compact dwellings. The firm also sought to design homes that were easy for occupants to personalize and maintain.

Sliding shutters and double glazing provide barriers to the cold. A hydronic system heats the lower level of each building, and radiators heat the second level. Extensive natural ventilation is achieved through window configurations, making mechanical cooling unnecessary.

The jury praised BVN's design as a "good, solid, well thought out scheme" with a "good balance between a modern and a vernacular language."

The other honorable mention went to Canadian firm RVTR. Its "Latitude" proposal is a system of modular units that serve at once as energy-efficient building envelope, integrated structural system, space-defining elements, and infrastructural chassis for building services, such as power, data, water, waste, and HVAC.

Passive design strategies reduce overall energy costs and maximize daylighting. The homes would be raised above the ground to reduce disruption of the land around the reservoir.

"The design exemplifies accomplished architecture and a very clear planning strategy," lauded the jury. "The plans are to be commended for their beautiful simplicity and economy of space," as well as "the excellent approach to the outdoor space."

The Competition

Living Steel announced the winners of its third International Architecture Competition for Sustainable Housing on July 2, 2008. They were chosen from a short list of 12 finalists.

Living Steel is a five-year program managed by the International Iron and Steel Institute, a nonprofit steel industry association. Through this competition, it seeks to promote innovation in the design and construction of sustainable housing using steel.

The first Living Steel competition called for sustainable housing prototypes for Kolkata, India, and Warsaw, Poland. The second competition focused on Brazil, China, and the United Kingdom.

In addition to Glenn Murcutt of Australia, the jury for the 3rd Living Steel Architectural Competition for Sustainable Housing included Kimmo Lintula, K2S Architects Ltd., Finland; Mark Middleton, Grimshaw Architects, United Kingdom; Patricia Patkau, Patkau Architects, Canada; Sergey Skuratov, Sergey Skuratov Architects, Russia; and Alexei Venediktov, SeverStal, Russia.

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SUBSCRIPTION SAMPLE The housing design concept by Bligh Voller Nield Architecture (BVN) received one of two honorable mentions in the 2008 Living Steel competition. Image: BVN Extra Large Image BVN's competition entry included five two-story design options based on a core series of modules. Image: BVN Extra Large Image SUBSCRIPTION SAMPLE Option A from the BVN entry comprises four modular units under a long, low gable roof. Image: BVN Extra Large Image BVN Option A floor plan drawings. Image: BVN Extra Large Image BVN Option A section drawings. Image: BVN Extra Large Image RVTR received an honorable mention for its Living Steel competition entry. Image: RVTR Extra Large Image The RVTR "Latitude" system of engineered modular units was designed for energy efficiency and spatial flexibility. Image: RVTR Extra Large Image Plan drawing of RVTR one-story "Bar" configuration. Image: RVTR Extra Large Image Plan drawing of RVTR two-story "Greenhouse" configuration. Image: RVTR Extra Large Image Axonometric drawings show four possible configurations of the RVTR Latitude modular system. Image: RVTR Extra Large Image   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.