13th Annual Student Architecture Competition Life Under One Roof

The 13th annual architectural competition "Life Under the Roof" has been launched, organized each year by the VELUX company for students of secondary technical schools specializing in construction. In two competition categories, participants are tasked with designing houses that are energy-efficient while also ensuring a healthy indoor climate.

The student competition "Life Under the Roof" presents a unique opportunity for students from secondary and higher vocational schools with a focus on construction to gain valuable experience in the field of architecture. Participants can compete in two categories: Family House on a Specific Plot, where contestants base their designs on a predetermined uniform assignment, and the free category Freestyle - Any Type of Building. For young students, this is a chance to present their house designs to a professional jury and receive valuable feedback from industry professionals.

Proposals that emphasize the provision of daylight and fresh air into the building through the roof, via skylights, light tubes, or roof windows, are especially valued. However, a successful project should also be energy-efficient and consider the healthy indoor climate of the house.
The competition will be held in two rounds: school and national. Financial and material prizes worth over 75,000 CZK are prepared for the winners. There is great interest in the competition among students; last year, 233 competition projects were submitted from 23 secondary schools.

Competition Schedule:

• February 28, 2017 - End of registration
• May 1, 2017 - Submission of competition designs for the school round
• June 15, 2017 - Official announcement of results

VELUX = VE (ventilation) + LUX (light) The VELUX company annually organizes many activities focused on educating students from secondary and higher schools in the areas of architecture, healthy living, and environmental friendliness. Examples include the secondary school competition "Life Under the Roof" and the international competition for university students, the Active House Award. Thus, the idea aligns with the legacy of its founder, Villum Kann Rasmussen, who believed that a person has only a certain consumption, and any surplus should be utilized—returned to society. A significant part of VELUX's philosophy is also to promote social events and help those in need. For this purpose, the VELUX foundation operates, specifically the VILLUM FONDEN foundation, which has activities in the Czech Republic as well.