Introduction

The theme for 2011 is “Community Regeneration – the transformation of homes and the environment”. The competition offers prizes to be awarded for designs and related strategies which creatively improve the fabric and lifestyle opportunities of an existing community in need of care and attention.

The brief defines Hillington Square Kings Lynn, as the site for regeneration. It also offers entrants the option of submitting ideas for a clearly defined and documented similar area in their own locality which entrants may have experience and knowledge of.

Prizes will be awarded for design strategies for refurbishment and interventions where the aim is to achieve a marked improvement in quality of life for people living and working in an area. Architectural strategies for blocks, groups of homes, new facilities and communal areas will need to be clearly set out. Submissions should include evidence of addressing social and environmental improvement as well as cost and affordability considerations.

The aim of the competition is to stimulate and reward innovative thinking about how a more sustainable lifestyle can be achieved in an area where neglect and lack of clear direction is compromising future prospects.

Objectives

Nationwide Building Society, the third largest mortgage lender in the UK, has made its own corporate environmental commitments and advocates social, economic and environmental sustainability in housing. By sponsoring this competition, Nationwide seek to incentivise architecture students and professionals to address the urgent issue of upgrading the UK’s existing built environment and influence the wider context for regeneration. Promoting and exhibiting the shortlisted entries should also focus the attention - and capture the imagination - of the wider public.

A specific site has been suggested, Hillington Square, Kings Lynn, for this year’s competition although there is no commitment to build any of the winning entries. Entrants may put forward submissions based on other similar regeneration sites provided equivalent levels of information on the context are available.

The following information should form the base data for entries in order for the competition to be judged:

• site location and photographic images
• site plan
• summary analysis of existing built form: construction typologies, plans/ sections/ elevations of existing (or a specific assumed basis for interventions where information unavailable)
• summary analysis of social/economic/environmental issues and use plans (for new uses/buildings/communal spaces and areas/ newbuild interventions)

Successful ‘regeneration’ is not prescriptively described, but there should be an inherent assumption that the winning designs will support improved community cohesion and carbon footprint whilst delivering an inspiring and healthy built environment.