Forgotten Spaces London 2011

Further details:

Forgotten Spaces 2011: Capital-wide architectural competition launched to promote local engagement.

RIBA London has teamed up with developer and investor Qatari Diar and Ordnance Survey to launch a new Forgotten Spaces ideas competition for 2011. Based on the highly successful concept developed by RIBA London in 2010, which received over 140 entries, the competition seeks to highlight areas of left-over land across Greater London and encourages innovative proposals for re-use and adaptation. The competition is open to students, artists, designers and architects across the UK.

Greater local engagement and active participation in the development of our urban realm is one of the central themes of the coalition government’s current planning reforms. In the coming years we are likely to see an expanded role for neighbourhood and community groups in what gets built and where. Despite successive waves of economic booms, the capital is full of overlooked and neglected sites. Forgotten Spaces 2011 is an opportunity for testing ideas and is a chance to put locally inspired proposals out there.

A ‘forgotten space’ could be small or large - a grassy verge, a wasteland, an unused car park, a derelict building or underpass or flyover. The proposal could be simple or complex, commercial or public, a piece of public art or a new building, the only requirement is that it responds to the area and serves a function for the local community. Designers are encouraged to engage with and work with local groups where possible.

RIBA London will announce the competition winners and award cash prizes with sponsors Qatari Diar and Ordnance Survey at the exhibition launch event at Somerset House, London. First prize will receive £5,000, second prize £2,000 and third prize £1,000.

The best proposals will be showcased in a public exhibition at Somerset House London in Autumn 2011, allowing people from all over the capital and visitors from further afield to view the proposals and provide design professionals and communities with a fantastic platform to exhibit their skills and insight.