"Vertical City Asia" (VCA) International Design Competition 2012 was launched on January 10th.

Ten notable universities around the world have been invited to this year’s competition. These are Tsinghua University, Tongji University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tokyo University, ETH Zurich, Delft University of Technology, University of California at Berkeley, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, and National University of Singapore.

This competition is organized  by National University of Singapore (NUS) and sponsored by World Future Foundation (WFF) together with Beijing Vantone Citylogic Investment Corporation. 

The competition seeks innovative design solutions for a balanced environment for urban life addressing and anticipating the challenges of a rapidly ageing society. It encourages new positive approaches to ageing society that identify opportunities for maintaining capacities and well-being over the life course. Concepts such as “active ageing” and “ageing in place” with new approach to accessibility, social care and support for elderly are expected to affect design solutions and programs which exceed the standard community club repertoire and incorporate a range of opportunities to activate the elderly and bring them back to workforce, and to develop appropriate environments, especially the built environment, for both older and younger generations, which is crucial to successful ageing within the community.

The key issues of concern are: how to create an influential imagery and new concepts of living reflecting the de-stigmatized stand on elderly and ageing; how to encourage ‘active ageing’ and build up the competency and ability of the elderly to stay independent by providing holistic approach to supportive environments; how to allow ‘ageing-in-place’ through inclusive and integrative design.

Closing date for competition entries is 30th Jun 2012. Each participating university will nominate two representing teams to attend the final contest in Singapore in early July 2012.

For more information about the VCA International Design Competition, please visit http://www.verticalcitiesasia.com/.