Living Steel showcases next-generation architecture in "Houses of steel"

A commemorative book documenting the visionary and varied responses to the Living Steel’s International Architecture Competitions will be available globally from November, presenting 48 unique award winning designs from Living Steel’s International Architecture competitions for sustainable steel homes, including single and multi-storey residential projects.

All featured designs of the book "Houses of steel" are winners or finalists from the three unique competitions, documenting the most outstanding entries between 2006 and 2008, including projects across India, Poland, Brazil, China, Russia and the United Kingdom.

Each project is presented with detailed sketches, 3D elevations, drawings and architectural plans, highlighting inventiveness, originality and sustainable features of the builds. Further information on each entry is detailed on the Living Steel website with flash modules to supplement the reading experience.

The collaborative competition was launched to develop innovative approaches to meet sustainable housing needs using steel worldwide – a ubiquitous building material that offers a unique, cost effective design solution for the world’s growing urban populations.

Judged by some of the world’s leading architects, including Glenn Murcutt and Charles Correa and attracting submissions from highly acclaimed architecture firms including Cartwright Pickard (UK), Peter Stutchbury Architecture (Australia), Perkins + Will (USA) and Hideto Horrike (Japan), the competition attracted thousands of entries worldwide to address the unprecedented pressure of urbanisation on infrastructure, communities and the quality of people’s lives.

Living Steel Programme Director Scott Chubbs says that the book is a testament to the commitment of the world’s best architects to the use of steel in more sustainable housing. "Houses of Steel offers readers an outstanding portfolio of designs that provide an extensive source of inspiration for architects and students alike.

It is our hope that publishing these exceptional designs will encourage more architects to incorporate steel in housing design to further expand the role the worldwide architectural community can play in the development of global housing solutions," Mr Chubbs said.

Director of PCKO Architects and competition jury member, Andrew Orgorzalek, says the book will inspire upcoming architects to rethink their approach to developing long-term sustainable housing.

“Steel technology in its pure form is traditionally rarely used in design, despite its ability to create light, flexible and transparent structures which offer cost-effective and recyclable housing.

"Houses of Steel addresses the real and urgent need for architects to manifest their views and to produce innovative solutions to the seemingly overwhelming problem of housing some of the world’s most vulnerable people," Mr Orgozalek says.

About Living Steel
Living Steel, a worldwide, collaborative programme designed to stimulate innovative and responsible housing design and construction was launched in February, 2005 by the World Steel Association. The programme was developed to help address the unprecedented pressure on infrastructure, communities and the quality of people’s lives stemming from growing urban populations.

Funded through the contributions of the world’s leading steel manufacturers, the Full Members of Living Steel include ArcelorMittal, Baosteel, BlueScope Steel, CELSA Group, Corus, Erdemir, IMIDRO, Posco, Ruukki, SeverStal and Tata Steel.

About the Living Steel International Architecture Competitions
The Living Steel International Architecture Competitions were launched to develop innovative approaches to meet sustainable housing needs. Underpinning each competition is the need to address the economic, environmental and social implications of increasing population density and growth.

The combined competitions have a total prize fund of over €700,000, making them one of the largest architectural design initiatives in the world, and present architects with the opportunity to bring their vision for effective and affordable housing to life in one of several countries around the world.