Nationwide Building Society has launched the 2011 Nationwide Sustainable Housing Competition, in partnership with RIBA Competitions. This year鈥檚 theme is 鈥淩egeneration鈥� and judges will be looking for affordable housing designs that demonstrate the reuse of buildings and materials.
The competition is open to registered architects as well as architectural students, and for the first time competitors can choose to base their submissions on a 鈥榬eal鈥� site at Hillington Square in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, which is set to undergo extensive regeneration. The submissions will be judged by a panel of experts including designer Wayne Hemmingway, who is leading the redesign of Hillington Square, and David Orr, Chief Executive of National Housing Federation.
Launching this year鈥檚 competition, Graham Beale said: 鈥淎s the UK鈥檚 third largest mortgage lender and a leading provider of funds for affordable housing, Nationwide is dedicated to helping more people own their own home, so we are keen to support new ways of making housing more affordable.鈥�
鈥淭he Sustainable Housing Competition has a great track record for innovative design and I am excited to see what architects can create when they turn their focus to regenerating existing buildings and developments. Because affordable housing is currently in such short supply, this year鈥檚 competition could produce designs that hopefully help get more people onto the property ladder.鈥�
Hillington Square is an estate of 320 bedsits and flats managed by Freebridge Community Housing, the largest not for profit housing provider in West Norfolk. Tony Hall, Chief Executive of Freebridge Community Housing said: 鈥淭he regeneration of Hillington Square is a priority for us and we are working with our partners, including Hemingway Design and mae architects, and the local community to redesign the estate into a place where people want to live, visit and work.
鈥淲e want to use design to enhance people鈥檚 lives in Hillington Square. This is a really exciting project for us and the wider community of West Norfolk and we look forward to seeing the ideas generated for the estate through this competition.鈥�
The judging panel will be looking for submissions that address requirements including:
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� Affordability and low cost regeneration: reuse of buildings and materials/thrift
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� Community impact
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� Self Build designs
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� Helping first time buyers
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� Environment: Reducing carbon footprint, energy, water, green space and emissions
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� Transport and parking considerations
The closing date for entries is 18 October 2011. 聽聽
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