INTERNATIONAL NON-PROFIT TAPS DESIGNING YOUNG MINDS TO CHART THE FUTURE OF SANITATION AND CLEAN WATER GLOBALLY COMBINING SOCIAL NEED WITH GOOD DESIGN

Wherever the Need Sponsors Design Competition of Eco Sanitation Units Turning Waste Into Resource, Raising Awareness and Bringing a Sense of Dignity and Pride To The Poorest In The World. Read More

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Wherever The Need (WTN), targeting the crises of sanitation worldwide, sponsors "Eco San and Sustainable Design Competition," to spur the design and development of advances in eco sanitation and emergency relief systems.

The competition was specifically created by Architect Ron Goldman of Goldman, Firth and Rossi and was open to students of SCI-Arc, OTIS, and USC. The A+D, Architecture and Design Museum (www.aplusd.org) promoting architecture and design excellence, will host a compilation exhibit of the entries in honor of Earth Day and it’s grand opening in April.

The goal of the competition was to inspire and tap the creativity of the young, up-and-coming design community. The competition will match their design know-how with the social and economic needs of a large portion of our third world population. The students were tasked with creating something that is not drab and utilitarian but brings a sense of design in solving a basic need and urgency of the world’s population" said Ron Goldman.

"Delivering sanitation and water where it is needed most is our goal. With the recent disaster in Haiti, now more than ever the crisis of sanitation and water are visible and understandable. This is so crucial in showing the world how vital sanitation is to alleviating poverty" said Visty-Doman. "Clean sanitation and water are the first steps to delivering dignity, livelihoods and sustainability around the globe. We’re excited about the response from professors such as Eric Mar of USC, Eric Moss and Heather Flood of SCI-ARC, and Linda Pollari and Matias Creimer of OTIS School of Design among others who have guided their architectural students in this competition."

The specific functional requirements of the eco san puzzle poses numerous challenges including limited local building materials and limited size that must be incorporated into the design. The payoff of a successful, practical design is limitless though. Access to sanitation and clean drinking water leads to empowerment and the ability to focus on higher level needs like earning one’s livelihood. In combining social need with good design these projects can elevate the spirit and bring a sense of dignity and pride to the previously impoverished.

Designs were judged by a panel that brings a background of design excellence and social responsibility at the highest level:

Awarded were:

Single designs

Jeffrey Kuruvilla
Kainoa Westermark
Ruben Alejandre
Sci-ARC - HONOR AWARD

OTIS – MERIT AWARD

Base completion
a) Rachel Fausto - cocoon
b) Krystal Scott - folding frame
c) Cristina Luna - up-hut
d) Maihoua Vang - bamboo strings
e) Erin Gollocks Murray - pooj hut
f) Esther Lee - garage can

Multiple designs

Yuan Yu Chang
USC - CITATION

Bernice Ngo
USC - CITATION

Ming Ngar Lo
USC - HONOR AWARD

Leon Wood
USC - CITATION

Community designs

Nanao Shimizu
Dohnbi Kim
Sci-ARC - CITATION

Michael He
Nina Handelman
Sci-ARC - HONOR AWARD

Hector R. Campagna Oliveros
Sci-ARC - CITATION

Anna Androsova
Janica Ley
Melody Nazareno
Sci-ARC - MERIT AWARD