Ever had a hankering to see your work follow in the footsteps of Stanley Tigerman, Aldo Rossi, Architectonica, Bernard Tschumi, Mitchell Mauk and Michael P. Johnson?

Now’s the time, and here’s the opportunity:

Confindustria Ceramica, the Association of Italian Ceramics, has joined forces with Architizer, the online design community, in a challenge to find the next designer of the Ceramic Tiles of Italy Coverings Exhibit in Orlando, Fla.  It’s a 3,000 square foot public area at the heart of the exhibit’s main pavilion.  Since 1991, it’s been designed by all manner of well-known architects, but the 2012 design is open to anyone in the design community.

The competition opened on Aug. 12, and runs through Oct. 3. The entry fee is $50.  The winning team will receive a $25,000 prize package – and the opportunity to see its design become a reality at the exhibit from April 17-20, 2012.

There are few restrictions, and the main one could actually be quite liberating.  “Entries will be required to use Italian tile from Confindustria Ceramica,” said Danielle McWilliams, spokesperson for the competition.  “That organization represents 150 manufacturers of Italian tile.”

Tiles can be installed on floors, walls and any surface that can be covered. While architects are permitted relatively free artistic reign, the exhibit design should incorporate a restaurant and café where the pavilion’s long-running Italian culinary team will serve pasta and other authentic Italian refreshments every day. It should include space for an information desk where visitors can find the most up-to-date publications on the industry.  Finally, the exhibit will need to be built to budget and have re-usable components in order to respect the Italian tile industry’s commitment to sustainability.

Submissions will be judged by representatives of Confindustria Ceramica as well as and an advisory committee of previous exhibit architects including: Bernard Tschumi, Laurinda Spear, and Michael P. Johnson. One winner will receive a $10,000 design fee and a $15,000 project management fee to oversee fabrication and installation of the pavilion at Coverings 2012. A runner-up will also be awarded $1,500. The deadline for submission is October 3, 2011.

For complete details visit www.architizer.com/en_us/competitions/ceramics-of-italy/

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