2025 Competition
A Community for the Future of Food
Program Author and Jury Chair:
PIERRE SERRAO
Black Star Barbados
Ghetto Gastro
The 2025 Lyceum Competition explores sustainable building design in the Caribbean through the lens of its indigenous culinary arts and culture. Students will reimagine two reclaimed buildings situated on the beachfront in Bridgetown, Barbados, transforming them into vibrant hubs for culinary innovation and community gathering. For years, the Caribbean’s reliance on imported goods due to colonial ties has highlighted the disparities within its food system. As the youngest nation in the world, Barbados is ripe for innovation, calling for greater interdisciplinary collaboration and a sense of urgency to cultivate a food culture grounded in ecological farming, local consumption, and community engagement.
2025 Competition Overview
Bridgetown, Barbados is home to the stunning Carlisle Bay, a pristine stretch of coastline that showcases the vibrant beach scene of the island. This area is renowned for its lush landscape, diverse marine life and historic-colonial architecture. With over a mile of expansive whitesand beach gently lapped by shallow, azure waters, Carlisle Bay is a haven for both locals and tourists. On our site, the beach is filled with the lively activity of people enjoying sea baths, sunbathing, and the warm Caribbean waters. As the sun sets, the bay transforms with the pulsating music from longstanding beach bars and restaurants, creating a vibrant nightlife. This site presents two reclaimed existing buildings that are ideal canvases for a Caribbean hub for international culinary exchanges and activities, redefining perceptions of “Barbadian food” and positioning Bridgetown as a key player in global culinary trends.
Participants will re-imagine these two reclaimed existing buildings along the beachfront of Bay Street (see diagram), transforming them into vibrant hubs for culinary innovation and community gathering. How can we redesign these spaces to create dynamic environments where people celebrate and share the rich culinary traditions of the region? Consider how we can turn underutilized structures into centers of gastronomic excellence and cultural pride, fostering a sense of community and collaboration.
BUILDING 1 – 8000 GSF (+ 2000 SF beach landscape)
Brick House, Beckles Road, Bay Street and, Bridgetown Barbados
BUILDING 2 – 3,600 GSF (+ 400 SF parking lane)
Tipsy Mongoose (Bar & Cafe), Bay Street and, Bridgetown Barbados
Jury
Pierre Serrao
Black Star Barbados, Founder
Ghetto Gastro, Co-Founder/Chef
Michelle Patterson
Koi Design Studio, Founder, Interior Designer
Craig Dykers
Snøhetta, Co-Founder
Leslie Finnie
Snøhetta, Architectural / Graphic Designer
Lyceum Fellowship 2018 First Prize Winner
Mzwakhe Ndlovu
Subject Bureaux, Founder, Architectural Designer
Additional/alternative jurors to be announced
Prizes
1st Place
$15,000
for three months of travel abroad
2nd Place
$10,000
for two months of travel abroad
3rd Place
$5,000
for one month of travel abroad
Jon McKee Prize
Awarded at the discretion of the Lyceum Board, the Jon McKee Prize recognizes an outstanding travel statement, design project that was not awarded, or Merit winner, enabling the student to travel—award amount will be determined by the Lyceum Board.
