The Built Environment Trust along with the Mayor of London are seeking ideas that could help cities work better at night. Built environment professionals and the public are encouraged to show policy makers and developers how we might think differently by entering Night Time is the Right Time ideas competition. £2,000 in prize money is on offer and the best entries will be featured in a major exhibition. Amy Lamé, the new Night Czar for London is amongst the high profile judging panel.
The UK’s night-time economy is worth £66bn per year and employs 1.3 m people*. Yet the UK has lost 50% of nightclub venues in last ten years. The UK could capitalise on 24-hour cities that better adapt to nocturnal businesses. Last year the government took steps to protect music venues and support business with new planning amendments** and London has followed in the footsteps of Amsterdam, Berlin and Paris by hiring Amy Lamé as its first Night Czar.
It’s not just music venues that benefit from a true 24-hour city. Most offices are only used for nine hours a day and shops are similarly limited in efficiency. Roads are congested during the day and empty at night. Night Time is the Right Time is a timely competition that seeks to find ideas to harness the economic potential of our cities and create harmonious spaces for all.
Architects, engineers, landscape architects, planners, environmentalists, material scientists, economists, product designers, acoustic experts and other interested parties are invited to submit ideas for better 24 hour cities. Collaboration is welcome and the organisers are particularly keen to see cross-disciplinary teams form.
The brief is broad: big visions and detailed specific thoughts can all be contenders for the exhibition and prizes on offer. The competition organisers are looking for strong imagery to best share ideas with policy makers and the public but allowances will be made for the very best ideas that are difficult to share in visuals.
Is there a new acoustic material that might revolutionise the design of music venues? Should developers be encouraged to design-in nightlife? How can landscape design help alleviate social problems? Could the energy of night-time revellers be harnessed to feed energy back into our cities? Futuristic ideas and practical solutions will both be welcomed.
Entries will be judged by an expert panel of designers, planners and policy makers.
The winner will receive £1,000 and two runners up will receive £500 each. Up to 20 of the best entries will be shown in Night Time is The Right Time, a major exhibition and event programme at The Building Centre. The project forms part of the London Festival of Architecture (LFA) programme. Leading finalists will be offered speaking opportunities and their work will be promoted extensively.
Title
Night Time is the Right TimeType
Competition Announcement (Ideas)Website
Organizers
Submission Deadline
April 20, 2017 12:00 AMVenue
The Building CentrePrice
Entry fee £25 +VAT / £10 for students