The Landscape Institute and Ecobuild, with Support from the Mayor of London and London Borough of Newham, have launched 'The Royal Docks Ideas Competition' - Transforming London's Royal Docks with Water Sensitive Urban Design
LONDON, November 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Registration is now open to find new design ideas for London's Royal Docks. The Landscape Institute and Ecobuild, with support from the Mayor of London and London Borough of Newham, have launched 'The Royal Docks Ideas Competition' to find innovative design proposals that would transform the Royal Docks into a multi-functional, 'liveable' space. Comprised of three docks in East London - Royal Albert Dock, Royal Victoria Dock and King George V Dock - the Royal Docks is the largest enclosed docks in the world with a water area of nearly 90 hectares. The judging panel want entrants to incorporate green infrastructure and water sensitive design ideas into their proposals in an effort to make the area more resilient against environmental, social and economic challenges and to transform it into a world class location.
Redundant docks have proved to be ideal regeneration projects - Canary Wharf, Salford Quays and the Albert Dock are all waterside-led regeneration success stories. But the docks at the centre of these schemes are left untouched as big, empty swathes of water that are hardly used by the occupiers of these new developments. The Royal Docks offer the potential to provide a range of functions including water activities, parkland and development space, to enhance ecosystems, improve connections between land and water and food production.
The Mayor of London is preparing to seek a development partner to deliver a floating village at the western end of Royal Victoria Dock. At 4km, the Royal Docks are the length of Central Park, and offer almost 90 hectares of water space with enormous potential to be brought to life.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "London's Royal Docks, historically the throbbing arteries of UK trade and commerce, present a huge opportunity which I'm determined to capitalise on. My vision is to develop a world class innovation and business district, creating local jobs, homes and economic growth. On the docks we're already taking great strides to achieve this. On the water, with some imagination and creativity, the possibilities are endless."
Speaking about the competition Sue Illman, President of the Landscape Institute, said; "We hope this competition will help us to ask questions and promote debate about how we should plan and manage more 'liveable' cities and urban centres in the future. We want the competition to demonstrate how a landscape-led approach to design can transform the public realm - making cities more prosperous and resilient. Entrants need to embrace green infrastructure and water sensitive urban design and demonstrate how they can help transform the area into a better place to live and work."
Thomas Lane, Group technical editor, Building & Ecobuild said: "Ecobuild is the world's biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment. Excel, situated on the Royal Docks, has been our home for the last 4 years. It is very exciting for us to be turning our attention to this familiar neighbourhood and showcasing what a sustainable Royal Docks might look like."
Victoria Thornton OBE, Founding Director of Open-City said: "It is clear through our sustainability programme Green Sky Thinking Week that London must embrace innovative design solutions to ensure we create a future London that is vibrant and liveable for all its citizens. We are delighted to support the Open Ideas Competition that recognizes the importance of a cross-disciplinary and community enriching design."
Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham said: "London is moving eastwards and the Royal Docks offer an investment opportunity in scale unmatched anywhere in Europe. This exciting competition is a pivotal part of their reanimation.
The Docks are being transformed into a living, working community of high quality offices, workspace, retail, residential spaces, leisure and entertainment facilities. They will become a vibrant, exciting and fun visitor attraction which will draw people not just from across the capital - but across the country. They are providing a major boost for the local economy and the area fully deserves its reputation as one of the capital's must-visit places."
The judging panel includes Sue Illman, President of the Landscape Institute, Thomas Lane, Group technical editor, Building & Ecobuild, Ric Blakeway, Deputy Mayor of London (Housing, Land and Property), Peter Barbalov, Partner Farrells, Victoria Thornton, CEO of London Open City and Colm Lacey, Head of Regeneration, London Borough of Newham.
The competition is open to all individuals and teams. Entrants should not be constrained by restrictions including current planning law and land ownership issues. The design ideas should innovate, inspire and challenge, but entrants are encouraged to consider the practicalities of realising their scheme.
The competition is sponsored by Marshalls plc the UK's leading manufacturer of hard landscaping products. The deadline for submissions is 6th January 2014. The winners will be announced at Ecobuild on the 5th March 2014. The winner will receive £2,000, second prize is £1,000 and four runners-up will receive £500 each. The top 20 designs will be exhibited at Ecobuild, which takes place between from the 4th-6th March at the Excel Centre.
Further information is available by visiting http://www.landscapeinstitute.org
Notes to Editors:
The Landscape Institute
The Landscape Institute (LI) is the royal chartered body for landscape architects. It represents professionals in the UK working across planning, design and the management of urban and rural landscape. The LI campaigns to protect, conserve and enhance the natural and built environment for public benefit and is part of the government's Green Infrastructure Partnership. The Landscape Institute publishes a range of materials explaining the benefits of green infrastructure - visit http://www.landscapeinstitute.org/gi
Ecobuild
Ecobuild is the world's leading event for sustainable design and construction connecting industry professionals in order to help them to learn, network and discover new ideas and innovative solutions. It offers a comprehensive showcase of sustainable construction products and a free to attend unrivalled conference and seminar programme, with over 600 speakers. Ecobuild takes place at ExCeL London 4 - 6 March 2014. 2014 is Ecobuild's 10th anniversary. For more details visit http://www.ecobuild.co.uk
Mayor of London
The Mayor sets the overall vision for London and has a duty to create plans and policies to shape the development of the city and the management of its infrastructure. The Mayor wants London to be the 'best big city in the world'. His work includes making it easier for people to move in and around the city, improving London's environment, helping the capital's businesses to thrive, providing Londoners with more affordable housing and giving young people in London more opportunities.
London Borough of Newham
The Mayor of Newham, together with the Mayor of London, have jointly agreed a vision to transform the Royal Docks into a world class business centre; a world leader in high technology, green enterprise and research, and an international forum for the exchange of knowledge and ideas. The waterfront will become a hub of activity once again, a thriving leisure destination for Londoners and visitors alike. The vision is dependent on enduring development that draws the area character and heritage and is outstanding in terms of placemaking, environmental performance and design and contains a ten point strategy to unlock the areas full potential.
Marshalls plc
Marshalls is the UK's leading manufacturer of hard landscaping products and has supplied some of the most prestigious landmarks in the UK with hard landscaping solutions since the 1890s. Marshalls believes that the better our environments the better we can be and uses its expertise to create integrated landscapes which promote wellbeing to the benefit of everyone, whether it's through fairly traded stone, providing products that alleviate flood risks, to creating innovative anti-terrorist street furniture. http://www.marshalls.co.uk
Green Infrastructure
The Landscape Institute defines GI as 'the network of green spaces, rivers and lakes that intersperse and connect villages, towns and cities. In urban areas this can include domestic gardens, street trees, sports pitches, civic spaces, green roofs and walls.'
Green infrastructure is also a way of dealing with flooding, climate change and encouraging biodiversity.
The concept of 'green infrastructure' is growing in popularity as it is critical in delivering the benefits of the natural environment that have been acknowledged for centuries from the Victorian urban parks and the garden cities which brought health benefits to industrial England, to the more recent new towns and community forests.
The Landscape Institute publishes a range of materials explaining the benefits at: http://www.landscapeinstitute.org/gi
Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)
WSUD means thinking about water supply, waste water, surface water and flooding when planning and designing new places - rather than as an after-thought. It is an integrated solution to flooding, droughts and water quality, which promotes a more rational and frugal use of water alongside the creation of beautiful and resilient places. WSUD is about prioritising all elements of the water cycle when designing and developing new places. WSUD reduces flooding, harnesses the potential of flood water, cuts the demand for potable water and improves water quality - all measures which make the water supply chain more sustainable. By creating 'water sensitive cities' it is possible to address the major challenges of water shortage, flooding and pollution.
Visit http://www.landscapeinstitute.org/knowledge/Water/Landscapeandwater.php for more information about the Landscape Institute and water.
A new film, Water Sensitive Urban Design, is available by visiting the Landscape Institute YouTube channel: landscapeinstituteuk
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