The winning design of the Powell Street Festival Society's design competition draws inspiration from traditional Japanese streamers.

The competition asked art and architecture students to propose structures for interaction and reflection at the annual Japanese Canadian festival. Civic engagement, cultural relevance, environmental sustainability, and practical design limitations were among the aspects entrants had to consider in their designs.

A jury—comprised of landscape architects Jeff Cutler of space2place design inc. and Kelty McKinnon of PFS Studio, and representatives from the PSFS, Bing Thom Architects, and Abaton Projects—chose "The Koinobori", an interactive installation inspired by colourful Japanese carp-shaped windsocks. Koinobori are flown in Japan for Children's Day (May 5) to wish children a good future.

The winning design was created by BCIT’s Architectural Technology 3 students Melody Giang, Emily Huser, and Steven Schmidt, with German exchange students Kai Kattge and Sebastian Saure.

The team will receive a $1,000 prize, a production budget, and mentorship from Bing Thom Architects and Abaton Projects.

The structure will offer seating, shade, and a socializing space. It will also allow festival attendees to participate in its creation by colouring or writing stories on the fabric scales to be hung on the structure's frame.

The completed design will be unveiled on the north side of Oppenheimer Park at the opening ceremony of the 40^th Powell Street Festival at 11 a.m. on July 30. 

This year's festival will be held on July 30 and 31.