CALTROPe by Szövetség’39 Art Base
“The Budapest-based Szövetségâ39 creative team has won the Grand Prix in the category âArchitecture and sea level riseâ awarded by the International Architecture Competition organized by the Jacques Rougerie Foundation. The young Hungarian designersâ project called CALTROPe answered the challenge caused by loss of territory due to the water level rise in an innovative and sustainable manner.
The aim of the project is to synthesize and balance the natural dynamics and forces of the delta regions applying an easy-to-install modular structure. CALTROPe is a lace-like structure that is able to catch and collect river sediment with the help of mangrove plants, so integrating natural and architectural elements. Working like a catalyst, it will provoke positive changes at the most critical shoreline points. With this cooperative, participatory and locally supplied work can also reorganize and socialize the local population in a constructive and self-supporting manner.
CALTROPe comes from the words âcaltropâ (water chestnut) and âropeâ, âcaltropâ referring to the shape of the object, and âropeâ, to the linear, lace-like installation principles.
The concept of CALTROPe has been set up by Szövetségâ39 Art Base that focuses usually on especially complex artistic planning. In this case the members of the team were Anna Baróthy, leading designer and project manager of Szövetségâ39, Gerg? Balázs biologist and diver, Janka Csernák designer, Dr. Viktor Grónás senior lecturer of the Szent István Universityâs Nature Conservation and Ecology Department, diver, Peter Kovacsics graphic and animation designer, Viktor Pucsek and Peter Vet? industrial and 3D designers. The project staff was Melinda Bozsó, designer of Szövetségâ39, Daniel Csomor architect, Kata Kerekes graphic designer, Vera Krauth architecture student, Ãbel Kurta and Veronika Szabó product design students and Nóra Lajkó student in fine arts and painting.
This spring the Jacques Rougerie Foundation announced an international architectural competition in three categories. The call for a total of 529 entries were submitted from 76 countries of the world, out of which CALTROPe won the grand-prix. The competition is named after Jacques Rougerie who is one of the worldâs most innovative visionary architects. Rougerie is an expert in space and underwater structures â he has designed the soon-to-be first underwater museum in Egypt and the SeaOrbiter that is a cross between a skyscraper and a boat for exploring the unchartered territories of the earthâs oceans.” szovetseg39.hu