Building Trust International has announced details of their latest competition, inviting architects and designers to submit housing designs for a residence in Cambodia costing no more than $2,000. Working in collaboration with Karuna Cambodia, Habitat for Humanity and the Cambodian Society of Architects, Building Trust International has set a brief for a simple, cost-effective housing design which takes a high risk of flooding into account.

Whilst the brief states that the concept is for a house, the implications are great and the design will be used to influence much more that a basic residence, with the construction process also influencing the realisation of future schemes. Click here for a pdf of competition details. The competition has also been advertised via WAN’s Business Information Service.

Building Trust International explains: “The aim of this competition is to design a sustainable house for Cambodia’s future. The design should have a sensitivity to the tropical surroundings and where possible provide a sustainable solution that enhances the local architectural tradition, in which renewable resources like clay, bamboo and palm leaves are used to provide natural temperature and humidity regulation. However, the jury will be looking for projects that attempt to reduce this figure and would expect basic wash, toilet and kitchen facilities to be included as well as material and labour costs.”