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By Marie Greaves, Communications Team

A coalition of over 100 partner organisations have launched an international Open Call for projects and a centrepiece installation to form part of the global COP26 Built Environment Virtual Pavilion, which will be delivered as part of COP26 in November. 

Open call

As announced last month, the Virtual Pavilion will explore key sustainability themes through a digital exhibition of global projects and places, as well as a major series of events and downloadable content. To ensure the very best and most impactful projects are chosen, an Open Call has been launched for entries to two elements of the Virtual Pavilion – exemplary projects for the exhibition and a sustainability focused installation that will act as a centrepiece within the exhibition.

Projects for exhibition

The Open Call is seeking global projects, built or planned, that best represent the built environment sector and its role in tackling the climate and ecological crisis. Submissions are expected to exhibit outstanding performance against at least one of the Virtual Pavilion’s environmental themes: climate mitigation, climate adaptation, natural resource use, and nature and biodiversity – whilst demonstrating how they also benefit people and communities. The final exhibition will feature a diversity of project types, with different contexts and geographies, each of which will have a virtual space within the exhibition.


INSTALLATION CENTREPIECE

The second opportunity to respond to the Open Call is with a design for an installation that will sit within the heart of the Virtual Pavilion and act as a centrepiece. The Open Call is looking for the best new or existing playful interventions, interactive spaces and abstract art pieces that demonstrate how or why the built environment is both part of the problem and part of the solution to climate change. The selected entrant will work with the Virtual Pavilion partners and technology team to bring the idea to (virtual) reality and will be explored by visitors in the Virtual Pavilion. It should capture people’s attention and help visitors understand the significance of the sustainability of our built environment.

KEY INFORMATION

The chosen projects for the Exhibition and Installation will be promoted as part of the COP26 Built Environment Virtual Pavilion communications campaign, and will be available to view long after COP26 ends. The deadline for entries is Monday 2nd August 2021 at 23:59 BST, giving individuals and teams within the built environment five weeks to complete their submission. Judging will take place during mid-August by an international team of built environment experts, with winners and commendations scheduled to be announced in late-August. Those interested in submitting projects and ideas should read through both Open Call briefs (for the exhibition and the installation) and decide where their project best fits.

Download the COP26 Built Environment Virtual Pavilion Open Call and find out more about entry requirements here.

For further details on the COP26 Built Environment Virtual Pavilion, including the organisations supporting the design and delivery of the project see here.