This year’s competition - A Capital Idea - is being organised with the support of the Mayor and HCA London. It will be based on the London Housing Design Guide which sets out the Mayor’s aspiration to raise the quality of all new homes built in the Capital as well as the quantity of new homes delivered. The competition seeks to apply the principles and design standards outlined in the Guide to one of Affinity Sutton’s land-banked sites in the London Borough of Croydon. Croydon is one of Affinity Sutton’s new homes growth development areas and one of the GLA’s pilot delivery Boroughs.
The first phase of the competition will involve anonymous submission and appraisal of schemes developed in response to the brief, site context and the Mayor of London’s Design Guide. Up to six Finalists will be invited to spend a week with one of Affinity Sutton’s architect partners to finesse their design proposals before presenting them to a Judging Panel at final interview. The Panel will include representatives from Affinity Sutton, together with Peter Sharratt (Global Director for Energy & Climate Change, WSP Group) and Richard Blakeway (Advisor on Housing to the Mayor of London) as well as the winner of last year’s design competition. The placement weeks will be held during the Easter 2011 recess and provide an opportunity for Part 2 students to gain valuable experience in the affordable housing sector and pitching of design ideas to prospective clients.
As a land bank site there is the real potential that the scheme may be developed out when market conditions are right. It is anticipated that any such delivery would be via one of Affinity Sutton’s architect partners, but there would be an intention, where possible, to continue to involve the Winner should the scheme be developed. Authorship of the initial design ideas would be duly acknowledged.
1st, 2nd and 3rd Prizes of £4,500, £2,500 and £1,000 respectively will be awarded, with £2,000 for the School of Architecture ajudged to have submitted the best overall response to the competition. Each short-listed Finalist will receive a contribution of £350 towards the expense of undertaking the placement week and attending the final presentation.
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