An open idea competition dedicated to the memory of the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris was held by the Indian company archasm in the spring of 2016. There were 324 applications from both practicing architects and students. As a result, three prize-winners, 10 honorable mentions and another top-50 were selected. The participants were required to come up with a pavilion that - in theory - could be located on the Champ de Mars and symbolize peace, hope and tolerance. The jury consisted of two French architects, Cédric Petit Didier and Raphael Bushmousse, as well as editor-in-chief of e-architect Adrian Welch.
1. Black and white
Moussa Belkatsem, France
The saucer of round depression is lined with slate, which should remind of the rooftops of Paris. The slate is dark, everyone is invited to draw on it with white crayons fixed here, and thus communicate with each other, simultaneously turning black into white. Over time, the chalk strokes fade - or they are erased, black color appears, and again you can write, communicate. Upstairs, the structure is complemented by an amphitheater hill overlooking the Eiffel Tower.
Adrian Welch, chief editor of e-architect, London :
"I think this object is ingeniously simple, it makes our world kinder and brighter."
2. Sanctum
Hankan Jin, Dinulla Bayu Ibrahim, Italy
Actually "Sanctum" is similar to the Roman Pantheon - it is a dome of transparent material with an occulus at the top. The steps of the amphitheater are located under the dome, as in the project that won the first place. In the center is an olive tree, predictably symbolizing peace. The dome is enclosed in a rectangular shell, the space between the walls of the parallelepiped and the dome is intended for exhibitions, but along the way it symbolizes chaos. Here, in the conditional "chaos", the workshop is also located. In that end of the parallelepiped, which faces the Eiffel Tower, there is a semi-dome - a cafe with a view of the landmark.
3. Fragility
Yang Fei and Weizhe Gao, China
The goal of the pavilion is to form relations between people, destroyed by fear and mutual hatred, - their deputy comments. They created a double route inside, visitors enter from two opposite points and meet in the middle. Moving along the corridors, people accumulate emotions, the walls reflect all the rustles, helping them in this. In the center, where the paths meet, it is dark, which means - the authors argue - skin color, race, religion become invisible, and "hands are open for embraces." Well, well, let's say we. The pavilion is buried in the ground, but rather high. Mirrored external walls reflect the Parisian landscapes and, most importantly, the Eiffel Tower - the mirror symbolizes the fragility of the environment.
