RIYADH, 14 November 2003 — Some 1,365 participants from 61 countries, 16 of them Arab, have so far submitted designs for the international “Design Competition for a Modern Saudi House” with its emphasis on affordability and sustainability.
A spokesman for the Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), the organizer of the contest, told Arab News that of the competitors, 815 were professional organizations and 550 were students of architecture.
The final date for delivery of projects is Dec. 6, 2003. The winners will be announced in March next year. The participants are required to submit designs for an individual house for a seven-member Saudi family on a site measuring 325 sq. m (12.5m x 26m) within a 22-unit subdivision located north of Riyadh.
ADA has laid down criteria for competition designs. They should strive to upgrade household quality, achieve affordability, maintain sustainability, promote creative designs, and respond to environmental, economic and social requirements.
The spokesman said ADA would display all winning designs at an exhibition held here in conjunction with the second housing symposium in March next year under the patronage of Riyadh Governor Prince Salman, who is also the chairman of the High Commission for the Development of Riyadh.
During the inaugural ceremony, the winners will receive cash prizes worth SR525,000. Two prizes have been put at SR200,000 for the first prize-winning entry; SR150,000 for the second prize; and SR100,000 for the third prize. Besides cash awards, the winners will also receive trophies and certificates of appreciation.
As for students, the cash awards include SR30,000 for the first prize, SR25,000 for the second, and SR20,000 for the third prize. Each student winner will also receive a certificate of appreciation.
Underlining the significance of the competition, a spokesman said it reflected the growing demand for housing in Riyadh where population is projected to reach eight million by 2010. This translates into a need for an additional 1.5 million housing units over the next 20 years.
Recent studies indicate that government support for the housing sector in the past two decades has helped in addressing the housing shortage in the Riyadh area.
According to a survey conducted five years ago, the percentage of Saudi population owning houses increased from 59. 2 percent between 1987 and 1991 to 77.5 percent during 1991-97. The survey also revealed that 30.3 percent of the Saudis lived in rented houses, 30.8 percent in apartments, and 22.8 percent in other homes. Families with SR36,000 in annual income spend 37.4 percent of that amount on housing.
