2020 has been an unforgettable year, unfortunately not for the best of reasons. The COVID–19 pandemic has occupied the minds of entire nations, leading economies to grind to a halt and forcing us to reckon with our ability (or inability) to pull together and achieve a common goal. Cities have changed almost beyond recognition — bustling shopping streets and cultural quarters have been deserted, while stay-at-home orders have forced us to accommodate our entire lives within singular, conflated spaces. Apartments and houses around the world have become schools, offices, daycare centers and so much more, regardless of their suitability.
Architecture has been undeniably impacted by the events of 2020 — but how might one encapsulate in visual form? We invite answers to this question in the 2nd Annual One Rendering Challenge. With a Late Entry Deadline of December 18th, this global ideas competition asks: Is it possible to tell a powerful story about architecture with a single rendering?
Submit your rendering and tell your story for a shot at $2,500, professional rendering software and global recognition for your work. Get started by hitting the blue button below:
Enter the One Rendering Challenge
While 2020 is not the only subject matter eligible for the One Rendering Challenge — any story can be submitted for this competition — this past year does appear ripe for inspiration. How would one encapsulate the phenomenon of social distance via the medium of architectural visualization? Is it possible to create a rendering that communicates the challenges of certain cities and countries over others during the pandemic? How would you portray the journey of people within the ‘landscape’ of 2020?
In 2020, the world was turned upside down — in this case, quite literally. Visualization by @inwardsound via Yanko Design
Many of these questions surfaced in this summer’s One Drawing Challenge, the more analog counterpart of the One Rendering Challenge. Bless Yee, an Associate at Handel Architects, won one of the Grand Prizes with her drawing “Together Alone”. This detailed sectional drawing encapsulated the turbulent events of 2020 within a hive-like network of subterranean chambers, forming an architectural story that all of society can relate to.
Can a similarly rich picture of global society be summoned using architectural rendering software? It seems likely, given some of the pertinent issues encapsulated in many of last year’s One Rendering Challenge finalists. Of the 100 Finalists in the first iteration of this annual competition, dozens incorporated some element of social, environmental, economic or political commentary within their image.
“Together Alone” by Bless Yee of Handel Architects, Grand Prize Winner of the 2nd Annual One Drawing Challenge
These fascinating works prove that architectural visualization need not be confined to the straightforward portrayal of buildings. They can speak to complex societal challenges, highlighting the link between our built environment and our lived experiences as communities in different parts of the world. In this context, the One Rendering Challenge is the perfect vehicle to experiment and conceptualize these ideas.
For more information on the competition, check out the One Rendering Challenge website, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us at competitions@architizer.com if you have any questions about the program.
Enter the One Rendering Challenge
Top image via Build Magazine