Regional Designers And Artists Invited To Enter Galveston Green Revival House Design/Furnishings Competition

Galveston Green Revival House Design/Furnishings Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2010
CONTACT: Molly Dannenmaier,
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
409-765-7834,
Molly.Dannenmaier@galvestonhistory.org

Galveston Historical Foundation is holding a design competition in conjunction with its Green Revival House project – the restoration of which is once again drawing a national spotlight to this island city's preservation movement.

Amateurs and professionals alike are invited to enter. Inspiration and craftsmanship are the only qualifications needed for entry into a contest whose purpose is to furnish the house and its grounds with environmentally conscious house and garden furniture and furnishings, artwork and lighting fixtures.

"We are renovating an 1890s shotgun-style house that will combine the best in historic preservation and new green architecture and construction," said Matthew Pelz, GHF project coordinator. "Now we're asking for the public's help in furnishing it with items made from recycled or salvaged materials. And we need artwork for the house that is created from salvaged materials or that illustrates the concept of sustainable living."

Winners will be able to see their creations in the house, beginning with GHF's 36th Annual Galveston Historic Homes Tour in May. The 1,000-square-foot shotgun house is called the Green Revival House. It will illustrate "smart" design and help people rediscover elements that made buildings comfortable before modern heating and air conditioning.

It will remain open to the public over the summer so people can see for themselves how to renovate a historic house and learn the best ways to save energy and increase sustainability in their own homes.

The competition is open to everyone. For full information about the Galveston Historical Foundation's Green Revival House project and for competition entry forms, go to http://www.galvestonhistory.org.

Completed entries are due no later than March 13.

Furnishings, furniture and artwork will be judged on:

Creativity and innovation
Appropriateness of scale to the house
Functionality
Sustainability as to resource consumption and healthy living
Resourceful use of waste and salvage materials

"We expect this contest to produce some of the most novel and fun furnishings and art that Texas has ever seen," Pelz said. "We hope this competition causes people to think about what and how much they throw away each day and to question how these materials can be re-used."

Large amounts of energy are used in the production, packaging and delivery of items people use daily, Pelz said.

"This competition can show that 'recycling' can mean more than just separating glass, paper and plastic into separate bins," Pelz said.

Besides having their entries displayed in the historic home, winners in each category will receive GHF Preservation Awards.

The Green Revival House was severely damaged by Hurricane Ike. It was moved on Feb. 18 of this year to its new location at 3101 Avenue Q, just four blocks from Galveston's Seawall Boulevard.

Entries can be submitted to Pelz at the GHF offices, 502 20th St., Galveston, 77550 or emailed to matthew.pelz@galvestonhistory.org.