A new award, launched by Pipers and the Architecture Foundation, is set to bring a fresh generation of British architectural talent to the design of commercial buildings. more inside>>
Challenging the current conventions of commercial architecture, the Next Generation Award seeks to uncover practices with new ideas and provide the opportunity, usually restricted to more established practices, to present their work to leading development organisations at MIPIM in March 2005, where the winner will be announced.
Commercial buildings shape Britain's cities but too often they can seem bland and boring. The purpose of the Next Generation Award is to find new architects who, given the chance, could make an exceptional contribution to commercial architecture in the UK.
The competition is open to all professionally certified, British-based architects who are yet to design a commercial building in the UK (completed or under construction) bigger than 100,000 sq ft. The jury will be looking for a committed and coherent approach to design, conceptual acuity and evidence of being able to work to a commercial brief and to deliver projects on time and to budget.
Three shortlisted practices will be given the opportunity to exhibit at MIPIM (8-11 March 2005), the annual international real estate forum in Cannes, which attracts key people in the business, from investors to end-users, local governments to international corporations.
The Next Generation Award will have a dedicated area on the London Stand, one of the largest at MIPIM at 1400 sqm. Managed by Pipers for the last 10 years, it showcases over 90 leading commercial property companies alongside the Corporation of London, London Development Agency, The Architects' Journal and British Land.
The winning practice will be announced at MIPIM and awarded an individual consultation with a leading figure in the property industry.
The jury, chaired by Rowan Moore, Director of the Architecture Foundation, will consist of Nick McKeogh, Director of Pipers, Amanda Baillieu, Editor of the RIBA Journal, Eric Parry of Eric Parry Architects and David Partridge, Deputy Chief Executive of Argent.
Announcing the award, Rowan Moore, Director of the Architecture Foundation, said, “There is a wealth of architectural talent in Britain. There are also huge quantities of commercial construction. With this award, Pipers has created the opportunity to bring the two together.”
Nick McKeogh of Pipers, who welcomes the launch of the award and its addition to the London Stand at MIPIM, added, “The UK's leading developers recognise that quality architecture has the power to add value to projects of the future. The Next Generation Award and the London Stand at MIPIM are the perfect vehicles to unearth the next Foster or Rogers.”
Deadline for entries is Wednesday 12 January 2005.
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