Frank Lloyd Wright/Google Design Contest

Think you have what it takes to be the next Frank Lloyd Wright and get into his prestigious School of Architecture? Now you can prove it.

In conjunction with two current exhibitions celebrating the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and his students, Google and the Guggenheim Museum are holding a competition for architectural designers of any level. The Design It: Shelter Competition is an extension of the exhibition Learning By Doing, and gives those of us who did not attend the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture a chance to see what it would be like.

Example of a shelter designed by a Wright student.  Kaman Amin (Scottsdale, Arizona), Lotus Shelter, 1963, Taliesin West, Scottsdale, Arizona

So, without further ado, the challenge: Using SketchUp (Google’s 3D modeling program) and Google Earth, create a 100 square-foot shelter and put it anywhere in the world. Keeping with Wright’s style, the shelter must respond to the environment you have chosen and create an interesting dialogue between architecture and place. Furthermore, the human needs of safety and comfort must play a key role in your design. The shelter cannot have heat, hot water, or electricity and must provide spaces for the study and survival of one individual.

Not tech-savvy? No worries–the official website is full of tutorials and helpful hints to guide you in the creation of your design.

This challenge is actually based on an assignment that students at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture have been doing for over 70 years. Their task is more or less the same, but they must place their designs somewhere in the landscape of the school’s Arizona or Wisconsin campuses. In some cases, these shelters were actually constructed! Learning By Doing showcases plans, models, and photographs of five such projects.

The competition runs through August 23, after which all complete designs will be submitted to both a group of students at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture and a Jury of Experts. The students will choose ten finalists whose designs will be showcased from September 7–October 10 and will be voted on by the public. At the same time, the Jury of Experts will choose their top pick. On October 21, both winners will be announced at the Guggenheim’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.  Prizes for the winners include cash, a trip for two to New York City, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Guggenheim and the Google Offices, admission to other NYC museums, and a SkecthUp Pro license.

So, what are you waiting for? Get designing — and take me along on the behind-the-scenes tour!

Design It: Shelter Competition | Sponsored by the Guggenheim Museum and Google SketchUp
For information on how to enter, the rules, and the exhibitions, go to Guggenheim.org/shelter