Architecture Competition, Urban Planning and Landscaping for Puerto Plata

The Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) is calling all architects, landscapers and urban planners to take part in an international competition that seeks to design a system of public and collective space around the Historical Center, La Puntilla and the Malecon, with the idea of beautifying Puerto Plata.

The competition is an effort to relaunch Puerto Plata as a tourism destination on the national and international market through the incorporation of new programs in the urban area…

The competition is an effort to relaunch Puerto Plata as a tourism destination on the national and international market through the incorporation of new programs in the urban area that will stimulate social, cultural, artistic and leisure activities to be offered for free.

As such, the contest will also strengthen the use of the La Puntilla area as well as its immediate surroundings by recycling some of the existing structures, incorporating new ideas and programs that guarantee its conservation and upkeep. The idea is also to generate an urban architecture and landscaping project that operates as a catalyzing agent for change in the direction of comprehensive and sustainable tourism development.

The competition, organized by the Department of Planning and Projects (DPP) of SECTUR, seeks to clean up and beautify Puerto Plata, motivating contemplation toward its tourism model, the revitalization of its system of public spaces in conformity with the Historical Center, La Puntilla El Malecón of Puerto Plata, the Roundabout of Independence Plaza , the San Felipe Fortress and the Puntilla Lighthouse.

Participants must send work proposals that take into account the geographic, cultural and urban wealth of the area that encourage the broadening and complementing of tourism and generate a synergy to inspire new ways of thinking and living with these spaces including new private and public investment possibilities.

Registration for the project will begin on July 13. All proposals must be received by September 26 and will be evaluated between October 4-7. The exhibition of the projects is scheduled for October 8,9 and 10 to be followed by the jury’s decision.

Complementary information concerning this call to compete can be found at: info.concursos@dpp-sectur.gov.do. Those interested can also call (809) 227-2615 or drop in personally at the Department of Planning and Projects (DPP), of SECTUR, located in Santo Domingo at 419 February 27th Avenue on the 4th floor of the Grupo Metro Building.

All architecture, landscaping and urban and suburban planning professionals practicing in their fields are eligible to participate. In the case of a team, at least one of the members must be licensed to practice in the Dominican Republic. In the case of multidisciplinary teams, at least one of the architects must also be licensed to practice in the DR and the rest of the team can be comprised of students from recognized schools.

The first place winner will receive a cash prize of US$12,000.00 dollars and the contract for the building of the winning project as well as the opportunity to supervise its construction. The second prize winner will receive a cash prize of US$ 3,000.00. The cost of receiving the contest regulations document is US$100.00 or its equivalent in Dominican pesos.

In addition to SECTUR, this contest also has the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Town Hall of Puerto Plata and the Special Regulators Plan of the Historical Center of Puerto Plata.