A language center that is dedicated to helping preserve historically significant languages from extinction.

Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. It’s a former colony and then the dominion of the United Kingdom. It finally joined Canada in 1949 as ‘Newfoundland and Labrador’. 

The province is one of the earliest areas of the New World that was discovered by Europeans. Thus, it has seen European visitors to its shores for over 1000 years. These visitors included speakers of Norse, Basque, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Irish Gaelic, and Scots Gaelic. However, today all except French and Scots Gaelic have disappeared completely.

The province has been a linguistically heterogeneous place that welcomed every language and people from all cultures. However, with the passage of time, this has slowly changed.

How can this Hub of Languages be preserved?

Propose a Language Center for the province that focuses on preserving and propagating the varied languages that existed historically and are now extinct or on the verge of getting extinct.

The jury for the competition consisted of esteemed designers, professionals, and academicians from around the world. The Lead Jurors for the competitions were as follows: 

David Premi, President + CEO, DPAI Architecture Inc, Canada

Pinar Dinc Kalayci, Professor & Dr, Studio Thinkimagine, Gazi University, Turkey

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Some of the Best of competition projects are:

 

Winning Project: Languereen

By: Mohamed Abdellatif, Sevde Sevinç, Kubra ARSLAN & Elanur Özdemir 

^{Fig: 1 Floor Plan and interior images}

Description: Language knowledge center.

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People’s Choice: Language Cons(v)erv(s)ation

By: Krissh Chavan, Siddhi Shinde, Vardhan Arora & Jigisha Soni

^{Fig: 2 Sectional Perspective}

Description: The Language knowledge center aims at conserving languages by taking into account the historical significance, preserving the present diversity, and propagating a linguistically rich future.

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People’s Choice: LANGVOYAGE

By: Tarika Deshpande, Kartika Pinjarkar, Vaibhavi Khedkar & POOJA TAMBE

^{Fig: 3 Section plan}

Description: Experiential Journey of Languages.

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Editor’s Choice: The Rows: Language Center

By: Sarah Reid

^{Fig: 4 Cover image}

Description: The proposal for ‘The Rows’ exaggerates the Newfoundland urban row-house typology. The proposed design provides space for linguistic learning through visual and audio exhibitions. The iconic views of St. John’s Newfoundland are celebrated in the observation tower that reaches the height of the neighboring museum and basilica.

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Editor’s Choice: The Linguatheque

By: Luciana Savaris

^{Fig: 5 Section plan and interior image}

Description: The Linguatheque was created to house the pieces of history of Newfoundland and Labrador told in many languages by those that visited or lived in this province. It is also a gift to the province, offering a place for gathering and celebration that has the power to create unity on a social level, providing a sense of community. 

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