New London Architecture have launched an international ideas competition to tackle the ongoing demands of London's growing housing shortage, in partnership with the office of the Mayor of London. They envisage that New Ideas for Housing London will provide opportunities for any level of designer, "be they a large organisation or just one person with a big idea," to submit a proposal "that could help shape the future of the UK capital." Selected entrants will work alongside the Greater London Authority to explore how the ideas could be put into practice. The organisers state that "no idea is too big or too small, as long as it can be applied to the capital."
It is widely accepted that London has faced a ‘housing crisis’ for over 20 years and this will only worsen unless we can implement a range of innovative ideas to help improve the speed, scale and quality of housing supply. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the shortfall facing the capital but there is an urgent need to create a forum to discuss and debate the ideas that could respond to particular places, methods of construction and changes to the current planning and financing system.
This competition is not just about design – entries are open to all sectors of the built environment and should tackle how we plan the city, the best use of land available, and consider where people will want to live and why. Submissions can address planning, funding, construction, procurement, design and/or even products. The aim of this competition is to find real, deliverable solutions to London’s housing crisis rather than theoretical concepts, and responses to this challenge will have to consider the demand or issue they are addressing and how this will be feasibly delivered.
Entries are encouraged from overseas to bring a global perspective to this initiative but must demonstrate an understanding of London’s specific needs - partnerships between international studios and local practices are also encouraged. Worldwide trends, technologies and ideas should be utilised and submissions can draw on existing methods and approaches used elsewhere to address the current shortages in London.
Find out more here.
