London based architects Studioshaw’s Interactive Hub proposal has won the Dundee Institute of Architects and Scottish Enterprise competition for a new facility for children and young people at the Digital Media Park in Seabraes Yards.
 
The DIA invited proposals for a new public space or building within the city’s AIM Design-masterplanned Seabraes Yards regeneration zone.

The former railway depot, located a short distance from Richard Murphy’s Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre and Kengo Kuma’s under-construction V&A Dundee, is being transformed into a new mixed-use development targeted towards the creative industries sector.
 
The Seabraes Yards Sketch Design competition was one of their 400 events taking place across Scotland as part of the RIAS’s 2016 Festival of Architecture, a key part of the Scottish Government’s 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design celebrations.

The judging panel focused on projects that demonstrated a high level of Imagination; Fun & Play; balanced site Use; uniqueness to Dundee and delivered a strong Architectural Concept overall.

DIA Chapter Festival Events coordinator Ged Young:
“The judging panel were impressed by the level of consideration given towards integration with the city’s established creative hubs. Studioshaw’s proposal also recognised the way the site could be enhanced when related to adjacent proposed and completed architecture by continuing a plug and play approach to development. The architect’s hybrid solution of ‘pod’ built pavilion and delicately balanced gathering space was considered strong, industrial and without compromise and was our clear winner.”

DIA President, Christine Palmer:
“DIA were amazed by the quantity, quality and variety of responses to the competition brief and commend all those who took the time to enter. Judging provoked some enjoyable discussions but the decision was unanimous that Studioshaw’s scheme was an excellent proposal for this key site.”

Studioshaw Director Mark Shaw:
“We are really delighted to have won the ideas competition for this key site, part of a billion pound transformation of the waterfront area of Dundee. We thought long and hard about how to capitalise on the cities thriving creative industries and also create a fun and dynamic space to host activities such as drone racing and outdoor digital theatre.”

Key developments in the area already include District 10, an incubator building designed by AIM Design and constructed from shipping containers. A new footbridge connecting the regeneration area to Dundee’s riverside was also delivered by Nicoll Russell Studios in 2016.

The winners received a cash prize of £500 courtesy of Dundee Institute of Architects and Scottish Enterprise.

Runners up included Michael Findlater of Notio Studio and Ryan McLeod of Slurpp’s joint proposal for an all-terrain golf challenge called Wiffle Golf and Ian White Associates, Warp Weft Park, an outdoor activity park including zip wires and pump track.