International Student Competition, RIBA, 2021

Text: Bálint Botzheim

For many of us, the general quarantine that accompanies COVID seems distant, when homes became a place of work and an educational institution at the same time, streets and public spaces were almost empty. Life went on in most areas, and in light of this, it was a shocking experience that the city as a spatial infrastructure suddenly became meaningless. In June 2021, when it was not yet clear when the restrictions could be lifted, RIBA issued an international student competition that would bolster the role the city played during the epidemic. Can it be stated that the structures and spaces of their cities are outdated? Are they unable to provide an alternative when providing isolation becomes a condition of social contact? The task was therefore to design COVID-safe cities. 73 educational institutions have been approached worldwide, in four regions: Europe, Asia and Australia, North and South America, and the Middle East and Africa. Evaluation and awarding of awards also took place by region.