What if the White House, the ultimate architectural symbol of political power, were to be designed today? Over two hundred years ago the winning design of an 18th century architecture competition became the residence of the president of the United States at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. To mark the election of the 44th president of the US, Storefront for Art and Architecture, in association with Control Group, has opened White House Redux, a challenge to design a new residence for the world’s most powerful individual.
The contest opens a world of theoretical possibilities as endless as the maze of rooms and amenities that make up the White House today. The presidential compound covers 55,000 square feet above and below ground counting among the accessories a tennis court, a bowling alley, a movie theater, a jogging track, a swimming pool and a putting green. Is this the Presidential Palace we would build today?
White House Redux is an opportunity to present your idea of the White House for the future. And to some of the world’s most distinguished designers and critics including Beatriz Colomina, Stefano Boeri, Liz Diller, John Maeda, Geoff Manaugh, Mark Wigley and Laetitia Wolff. The three winning designs will be featured in a month-long exhibition at Storefront for Art and Architecture in July 2008 and published in Surface magazine. The winning visionaries will be flown to New York to collect their prizes and attend the opening gala at Storefront for Art and Architecture.
First Prize: $5,000
Second Prize: $3,000
Third Prize: $1,500
Timeline: Competition launched on January 15, 2008, Deadline for submissions April 20, 2008, Winners announced in May 2008, Exhibition and awards in July 2008
White House Redux is sponsored by: The Architect’s Newspaper, NRI and Surface Magazine.
it’s so hard to know how to design for all the necessary security. it’s a little surprising to learn about all of the amenities, but then again, this building has to house a family of people, including children of various ages, who really can’t go anywhere public all that often. i’d want to have lots to do, too, if i were a teenager growing up in those confines. one might also think that living more frugally to set an example might be refreshing, but then again, this building has to impress foreign dignitaries, who are accustomed to having no luxury spared.