Pumpkitecture: Architects live-carve pumpkins into gourd-geous iconic buildings

Architecture fans and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/?s=pumpkin&_=1477920612">Jack-o'-lantern</a> aficionados alike came out in gourds on Friday for <a href="http://cfa.aiany.org/">Center for Architecture</a>'s first annual <a href="http://cfa.aiany.org/index.php?section=calendar&amp;evtid=9955">Pumpkitecture competition</a>. 18 NYC design firms got the crowd pump(kin)ed up by live-carving their orange orbs into iconic buildings during the 1-hour architectural carving contest. In the end, only one team's squash-tastic creation was able to smash the others and take home the coveted Pritzkerpumpkin. Treat yourself to a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/pumpkitecture-architects-live-carve-pumpkins-into-gourd-geous-iconic-buildings/pumpkitecture-architects-live-carve-pumpkins-into-gourd-geous-iconic-buildings-aro/">gallery of the finalists</a> below.

Props to the <a href="http://www.aro.net">ARO</a> for coming prepared dressed in matching yellow jumpsuits.

Participating teams included <a href="http://www.aro.net">ARO</a>, <a href="http://bernheimerarchitecture.com/">Bernheimer Architecture</a>, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/?s=bjarke+ingels&amp;_=1477831525">BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group</a>, <a href="http://www.burony.com/">Buro</a>, <a href="http://jaklitschgardner.com/">Jaklitsch / Gardner Architects</a>, <a href="http://www.kpff.com/">KPFF</a>, <a href="http://www.mparchitectsnyc.com/">Marpillero Pollak Architects</a>, <a href="http://www.rockwellgroup.com/">Rockwell Group</a>, <a href="http://www.rogersarchitects.com/">ROGERS PARTNERS Architects+Urban Designers</a>, <a href="http://www.situstudio.com/">SITU Studio</a>, <a href="http://softlabnyc.com/">SOFTlab</a>, <a href="http://so-il.org/">SO-IL</a>, <a href="http://www.studios.com/">STUDIOS Architecture</a>, <a href="http://studiogang.com/">Studio Gang</a>, <a href="http://www.weissmanfredi.com/">WEISS/MANFREDI Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism</a>, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/?s=workac&amp;_=1477831525">WORKac</a>, and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/?s=wxy+architecture&amp;_=1477831857">WXY architecture + urban design</a>.

<a href="http://bernheimerarchitecture.com/">Bernheimer Architecture</a>'s "Carlo Scare-pa's Castelzucchavecchio (modeled after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castelvecchio_Museum">Castelvecchio Museum</a>) which took home the prize for "Most Obscure Scarpa Reference".

The coveted Pritzkerpumpkin.

The finalists were displayed at the Union Square Greenmarket over the weekend.

After much deliberation, judges Avinash Rajagopal, Senior Editor, <a href="http://www.metropolismag.com/">Metropolis Magazine</a>; Robert Kirkbride, Dean, Parsons School of Constructed Environments; Phebe Pierson, <a href="https://www.grownyc.org/greenmarket/manhattan-union-square-m">Union Square Greenmarket</a>; Michael McDonnell, <a href="http://coneyislandbeer.com/">Coney Island Brewing Company</a>; and Natasha Jen, Partner, <a href="http://www.pentagram.com/#/home">Pentagram</a> awarded the prized Pritzkerpumpkin to <a href="http://www.situstudio.com/">SITU Studio</a>'s imaginative "Concrete Pumpkin Void", which was cast on-site in concrete.

SO-IL's innovative approach uses bits of pumpkin embedded in concrete to create a "Pumpkin-Spiced Terrazzo".

Other notable pumpkins included <a href="http://studiogang.com/">Studio Gang</a>'s perforated pumpkin.

Studios Architecture's Guggenheim Gourd pays homage to the beloved NYC museum.