With the no nonsense promise of direct commission and talent development, the Unfair Architect Award sets out to find the most inspiring design, bringing Unfair to another level.
We are thrilled to announce that Fabulous Future has won the Unfair Architect Award 2021 with their design. In their victory, Fabulous Future, bested two other astonishing shortlisted designs by Veldwerk and Lindsey van de Wetering.
Fabulous Future is a collective and an ongoing project; binding together research, development and the construction of spaces, events and situations.
Fabulous Future is committed to an expanded notion of space making, and flourishes from a broad range of backgrounds and skills: fine arts, design, architecture, scenography, cooking, woodworking, writing, gardening, sound, video, performance, etc. The methodology of the collective revolves around continual negotiation in order to reach a shared outcome and encompasses constant consideration of surrounding social and political contexts. This form of work and self organisation enables projects to have unique means of process-led and critical production; inclusive to expanded notions of everyday rituals (being together, cooking, sleeping, dancing and care for each other) which are an integral part of Fabulous Future.
The Jury Report
“The jury was surprised by the approach to the design of Fabulous Future, in which the various qualities within their collective are expressed. The design contains a strong element of experience. In terms atmosphere, the concept is solid, and convincingly implemented in the different facets of the design. There is also tension in the organized building system, opposite the chaotic of the city and the swamp, resulting in an integrated experience from the entrance to the bar, which also resonates well in the presentation of the concept to the jury. The jury also appreciates the conscious use of materials and the spatial quality of the design system in the design”
The Shortlisters
VELDWERK
Not a fair, but a fair
Veldwerk proposes an art fair as a spontaneous gathering instead of an organized event. Veldwerk places walls ad hoc to form seven imprecise oval rooms loosely echoing the exact circular form of the gasometer. Each modular wall has a flat front and a structured back supporting respectively selected art and found furnishings from the artist ateliers. With the exhibition Veldwerk attempts to tell a story about both the work and the life of the artists on display.
LINDSEY VAN DE WETERING
Eleven Doors
For the tender of Unfair Architect Award Lindsey van de Wetering came up with her design ‘Eleven Doors’. In her design Lindsey draws attention to the moment of entering a place as a spatial and physical experience; entering the door, the passage, draws the attention to the space in which you are entering. The passageways and exhibition spaces are designed to distinguish them from one another. These rooms, in her design, bring their own unique experience for a more intimate encounter between art and visitor. The exhibition design by Lindsey is formed by these fused eccentric spaces in which the artwork welcomes the visitor through open doors.
The Award
Unfair proudly presents the third instalment of our visionary biennial architecture award for the best up and coming architects of today. Designed to celebrate and promote the architectural stars of the future, the Unfair Architect Award yet again showcases a unique cross-over between current architecture and contemporary art. The award is the tender for the exhibition design of Unfair22, our sixth exhibition of contemporary artists in summer 2022 in Amsterdam. Over 35 up and coming artists present their latest work in solo-presentations, showing a unique overview of the most recent developments in contemporary art in the Netherlands.
This year, for the very first time, we host an open call for the Award. Our jury nominated three participants who have been given the opportunity to propose a design for the next Unfair22. The three short-listers then pitch their concept design to the jury. In this final round, the jury will choose one winner who will be awarded the Unfair Architect Award 2021 and will get the opportunity to further develop their design for the next Unfair22.
Jury 21/22
We have put together an expert jury of professionals from different corners of the industry, who will assess the submissions and select three short-listers for the next round.
Afaina de Jong
(owner AFARAI, architecture agency)
Pascal Cornips
(partner Benthem Crouwel Architects)
Marieke Giele
(vakredacteur de Architect)
Daan Vulkers & Keimpke Zigterman (owners Unknown Architects)
Peter van der Es & Adam Nillissen (founders Unfair)
Photo by Max Hart Nibbrig
Photo by Max Hart Nibbrig
Photo by Max Hart Nibbrig
Photo by Max Hart Nibbrig
Photo by Max Hart Nibbrig
Photo by Max Hart Nibbrig
The Unfair Architect Award yet again showcases a unique cross-over between current architecture and contemporary art.
Unfair22
In search for a design in which the adventurous, exciting thrill of visiting large- scale exhibitions is combined with the more intimate experience of the over 35 individual art presentations, the Unfair Architect Award challenges the boundaries of architecture as subservient and focuses on designs with autonomous quality. By reflecting new ways of experiencing art, the design becomes a piece of art itself and therefore could be considered the most substantial artwork on show at the event.
Unfair22 is a hybrid art fair concept focused on putting the artist first, contributing to a fair art community where you can discover and buy art directly from the maker. This hybrid format combines aspects of an art fair, large scale exhibitions and museum quality art to a space artists can comfortably inhabit.
Photo by Paul van Galen.
Unfair™ at the Zuiveringshal. Photo by Matthijs Immink
Photo from Westergas.
Location
Traditionally, Unfair will be held at the Zuiveringshal. This large industrial hall is known as the heart of the old gas factory that the Westergasfabriek once was. However this year, for the very first time, we will host UNFAIR22 in the Gashouder at Westerpark. This former storage gas tank, with a surface area of 2500 m2 and the impressive height of 14.5 meters, was built in 1902 and designed by architect Isaac Gosschalk. While it’s a challenging location regarding the exhibition design, it also grants the opportunity to elevate UNFAIR22 to greater heights.
Previous winners
Unknown Architects
Atelier Tomas Dirrix
Donna van Milligen Bielke
Arna Mačkić and Lorien Beijaert (Studio L A)
