TRIMO URBAN CRASH urban installation competition

Trimo announced, on 1st November 2009, the opening of Trimo Urban Crash, the company’s biannual competition for students of architecture.
Trimo, one of Europe's leading suppliers of original and complete solutions in the area of steel buildings, roofs, and façades, steel constructions, and containers announced, on 1st November 2009, the opening of Trimo Urban Crash, the company’s biannual competition for students of architecture. The competition, that runs through 31 January 2009, sees students from 11 European countries participating. The Trimo Urban Crash competition challenges students to create inventive solutions for an innovative urban installation. The winning solution will be realised and taken into permanent use in “Metelkova city”, a unique autonomous cultural zone in the centre of the Slovenian capital Ljubljana.

The first Trimo Urban Crash competition in 2007 invited students from just three countries in the region: Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia. Due to the widespread positive response to the competition, together with a large number of quality entries, Trimo decided to expand the number of invited countries and participating faculties. The Trimo Urban Crash 2009 competition is open for students of architecture from Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro and Poland.

Competition President Milos Ebner, MBA, with a formal education in architecture, says about preparation of project-solutions: “We expect solutions to fulfil various conditions; besides being unique and creative they must serve a public purpose – as an urban meeting place, an alternative cultural stage or a wireless information point.” Applicants can find a detailed explanation of the competition and related requirements on the web, at: www.trimo-urbancrash.com. An international jury, consisting of academic faculty and practitioners will choose an overall winner from the shortlisted projects. The overall winner will be chosen on the basis of both jury votes and the votes of visitors to the competition web page, which will serve as the central information and meeting point for the duration of the Trimo Urban Crash 2009 competition.

Last year’s Trimo Urban Crash winning solution came from Jelena Grujic, from the Faculty for Architecture in Belgrade,. Her installation – an urban resting place – was constructed and installed in the centre of Ljubljana over the autumn months of 2007. As overall winner, Jelena was also awarded paid attendance at the summer session of the AA school of architecture in London.

The winner of Trimo Urban Crash 2009 will be also awarded paid attendance at an acclaimed international summer school of architecture, and like Jelena, have the project built and installed in central Ljubljana – only this installation will be permanent. Jelena Grujic says of her Trimo Urban Crash 2007: “Participating in the competition provided me great experience in the preparation and development of an idea into a project, which could actually be realised; and this, for a student of architecture, is priceless. Attendance at the internationally acclaimed AA school of architecture in London was the cherry on a the marvellously rewarding cake that was the Trimo Urban Crash 2007 competition.”

International competitions like Trimo Urban Crash offer students and schools an excellent channel for effective networking, the opportunity to share and compare various architectural approaches, and provide valuable hands-on, real-case learning experience. Trimo Urban Crash is a competition which encourages the creative transformation of the urban environment with the help of advanced construction materials and technologies produced by a leading European supplier. Also crucial is the experience of creating a project-solution which has a real chance of being realised. Trimo also aims to extend its engagement and co-operation with academic circles, to provide valuable program content for schools of architecture, and in the process stimulate a constructive exchange between theory, practice and industry. As a company which prides itself on a strong tradition of in-house R&D and professional commitment, Trimo Urban Crash is just one of Trimo’s several innovative projects, which also includes the biannual Trimo Architecture Days event.

For more information and materials visit the competition website, at: www.trimo-urbancrash.com, or contact Trimo Inženjering Public Relations Manager Valentina Miladinović, at: valentina.miladinovic@trimo.co.yu, tel. 381 11 21 29 724 lok 724 or Trimo Public Relations Manager Jana Lutovac Lah, at: jana.lah@trimo.si, tel. + 386 (0)7 34 60 192.

WHO IS TRIMO? Trimo is a leading European provider of original and complete solutions in the area of steel buildings, roofs, and façades, steel constructions, and containers. Drawing on extensive knowledge and experience, advanced in-house development, design, state-of-the-art technology, and quality construction materials, the company provides customers with efficient, comprehensive solutions, from initial outline to completed project.

Trimo is engaged in over 50 countries worldwide, and operates in foreign markets through its:
· 14 companies (outside Slovenia, in Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Latvia, Macedonia, Germany, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Great Britain, and United Arab Emirates),
· 7 subsidiaries (in Slovenia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia), and
· 6 agents (in France, Greece, Latvia, the Netherlands, Turkey, and Ukraine).

Trimo was the first Slovenian company to receive the prestigious EFQM European Business Excellence Award in Athens last year.

Trimo strategically encourages innovativeness in its area of operation. Apart from Trimo Research Awards, Trimo also holds organises and confers architectural awards at its Trimo Architecture Days event, where projects employing the most original design-solutions using Trimo products are awarded. Trimo also organises Trimo Urban Crash, an international competition for students of architecture which rewards original, innovative and creative project-solutions.

Last year, total revenues at the Trimo company amounted to 164.6 million EUR (Trimo Group 219.7 million EUR), up 22.6 per cent on 2006 (and up 26.0 per cent for the Trimo Group). Net profit for the Trimo company totalled 6.6 million EUR in 2007, and 7.7 million EUR for the Trimo Group. Revenue per capita for the Trimo company amounted to 50,878 EUR in 2007 (Trimo Group 35,454 EUR), up 8 per cent over 2006 (up 4 per cent for the Trimo Group).

Products marketed under the Trimo brand were exported to 54 countries worldwide in 2007. Highest sales growth was recorded in Russia and the Baltic Region, but equally good sales results were achieved in Central Europe, closely followed by the Western and Eastern Europe regions respectively.

As of 31 December 2007, the Trimo company employed 556 people, 2 per cent more than in 2006. The entire Trimo Group employed 1,144 people as of 31 December 2007, a 17 percent increase over the previous year.