The Mayor of London and renowned architect and TV presenter George Clarke have opened voting for the People’s Vote for the Design Future London young persons’ design challenge, as well as the shortlist of entries from which the finalists will be chosen.
The Mayor and the presenter of Channel 4 programmes George Clarke’s Flipping Fast, Amazing Spaces and Old House, New Home announced the shortlist of entries for the London-wide challenge for young people aged between 11 and 24+. There are three age groups – 11-15, 16-18 and 19-24+.
The shortlisted entries will now be judged by panels of architecture, planning and construction professionals to find the finalists for each age group. The finalists will present their scheme and designs to a panel of judges, including George Clarke, on 5th July at an event at City Hall and the winners will be chosen and receive their prize from the Mayor and George Clarke.
All the shortlisted entries are now open for the public to view and to vote for their personal favourite - a People’s Vote. The winner of the People’s Vote will also receive a prize on 5th July.
The challenge, created by George’s education charity MOBIE – Ministry of Building Innovation and Education – and the Mayor, asked young people to let their imaginations run free by designing an innovative and inspirational green home and to masterplan an urban neighbourhood in the Royal Docks, East London close to the new City Hall.
The young designers were challenged to create a home and neighbourhood that address four key priorities for London’s recovery from COVID-19: making places, sustainable transport, building housing, and addressing climate change and providing green energy for London. The designs and plan needed to meet the changing needs of future generations of Londoners, including promoting wellbeing, quality of life and healthy living, therefore building a better London for everyone.
Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills Jules Pipe said: “I have been overwhelmed by the quality of entries to the Design Future London challenge. It has encouraged talented young Londoners to showcase their ideas on how we can shape the future of our great city - from the types of housing and the transport links we need, what our public areas and open spaces should look like, to how we plan for a future of climate challenges. All these elements of design come together to enable us to build a better London for everyone – a safer, fairer, greener and more prosperous city for all Londoners.”
George Clarke, MOBIE founder, said: “Home is the most important piece of architecture in our lives. It crafts the way we live, and how we grow as families and communities. A well-designed home and neighbourhood can enhance the way we live and promote good health and wellbeing.
“London’s homes and neighbourhoods of the future will be lived in and created by today’s young people. That is why I am so excited to be announcing the shortlist for the Design Future London young persons’ challenge with the Deputy Mayor. We asked young people, aged between 11 and 25, to design a home and community of the future in the Royal Docks - sustainable, adaptable, green homes and places that promote wellbeing, quality of life and healthy living.
“From past experience I expected to see amazing design talent and imagination come forward, and I was not disappointed. I am genuinely wowed by the standard of the work that these young people have produced, it is nothing short of amazing! I really hope taking part in the challenge will inspire many young Londoners to pursue careers in the built environment that will help shape the future of this great city.
“The entrants have created some incredible and inspirational, future thinking designs and plans. It will be hard for the judges to narrow the shortlist to the finalists for each age group from which we will decide the winners and the runners up. I can't wait to see the designs they choose and, of course, to see the result of the People’s choice.”
Sietske van der Ploeg, Director of Strategy and Campaigns at the Mayor’s Fund for London said: “The built environment offers incredible career opportunities, especially in London. However, from our daily interactions with young Londoners, we are only too aware of the many barriers they face in accessing them. Design Future London is a brilliant intervention which empowers young people to use their imagination and creativity in shaping our future city.
“Not only will this provide a unique experience; it will also inspire young minds to explore the built environment as an enriching career choice. I am delighted to support Design Future London, which is closely aligned to the Mayor’s Fund for London’s current work with the built environment.”
The free to enter challenge aimed to inspire a new generation of Londoners from diverse backgrounds to learn about the built environment and help bring learning in subjects like geography, history and design and technology to life. The challenge introduced young people to the built environment sector and the variety of jobs – from planning and architecture to engineering and construction – that exist and employ nearly 10% of the UK workforce.
The challenge was open to young people aged 11 to 24+, including those in Further and Higher Education, from November 2021 to May 2022. There were three age categories: 11-15, 16-18 and 19- 24+. Over 110 teams and individual students entered with 50% in the 11-15 age group.
On Thursday 26 May 2022, Grimshaw Architects held an event as part of Clerkenwell Design Week to celebrate the design challenge. The curators of the challenge and those who had entered were invited to talk more about their experience. This video explains more.
The challenge brief, resource library and more information about the design challenge can be found at https://consult.london.gov.uk/hub-page/design-future-london and http://www.mobie.org.uk
