Design competitions don’t always work out; case in point: the Portland Building. Michael Graves’ postmodern design won an international competition in the early 1980s. But the 15-story structure was ridiculed by the design community and recently was named “one of the most hated buildings in America” by Travel + Leisure Magazine.
Yet many architects love design competitions, which allow them to flex their creative muscle more than in a request-for-proposals process. However, these days there are few local competitions, such as a current one under way for the design of a new firefighters memorial.
“I think we should do more,” Aaron Whelton of Whelton Architecture said. “In this economy, it’s a great opportunity for a young firm to get exposure and a good way to find the best design possible for a project.” Read more...
Source: DJC Oregon - Design competitions: a great debate
http://djcoregon.com/news/2009/11/11/design-competitions-a-great-debate/
