Press release: 'Castles in the air' to become real housing developments in European architecture competition

6 February 2007

Contact: Gemma Crisp on 020 7070 6770

CABE has today announced the launch of Europan 9 UK and the details of three development sites, in Stoke-on-Trent, Sheffield and Milton Keynes, for which young architects and urban designers from across Europe are being invited to submit fresh designs for housing schemes.

Europan is Europe's largest housing competition open to design professionals below the age of 40. Winners have the opportunity to turn their vision into reality by working with the site sponsors.

The theme for Europan 9 UK is sustainable cities and new public spaces. Judges will look for: housing design which is resource efficient and will adapt to climate change; the thoughtful design of public space; and design which makes a positive contribution to local communities.

The sites are very varied: the first phase of a waterside regeneration scheme in Stoke-on-Trent, a skyline development just outside Sheffield city centre, and a development site within the expansion area of Milton Keynes.

The biennial competition is run by CABE with partner organisations English Partnerships, the Housing Corporation and Communities and Local Government. Europan 9 UK will be judged by a team of experts including architects, urban designers, developers and clients. The panel includes Peter St John, (Caruso St John Architects), Neave Brown, (Neave Brown Architects) and Christine Hawley, (dean of the Bartlett UCL).

Welcoming the launch of the competition, CABE commissioner and former Europan judge Louisa Hutton said:

'Europan gives imaginative young design professionals the chance to really engage with the social and economic changes in our towns and cities. In turn, site developers have the opportunity to benefit from their innovative thinking. Europan 8 UK showed how the competition format can work, for example, the winners of the Oldham site have since set up their own architecture practice and are working with the developers to progress plans there.'

Loop Architecture and Harry Dobbs Design Ltd, the winning team for the Europan 8 Oldham site, are now working with the site sponsors and developers. The team worked at competition stage with interior designer Rachel Basha. James White of Loop Architecture commented:

'Winning Europan 8 UK was a great achievement for us and a turning point, allowing us to   set up our own practice. Key to our success was working closely with a multi-disciplinary team.  We really enjoyed exploring our ideas fully during the competition and our advice for entrants of Europan 9 would be to do the same.'

Notes to Editors

  • Europan 9 UK was launched on Tuesday 6 February 2007 at The Rich Mix Cultural Foundation, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA.
  • CABE with its partner organisations English Partnerships, the Housing Corporation and Communities and Local Government has endeavoured to select competition sites that are both realistic and achievable with each site begin part of the government's Sustainable Communities Plan.
  • CABE is the government's advisor on architecture, urban design and public space. As a public body, we encourage policymakers to create places that work for people. We help local planners apply national design policy and offer expert advice to developers and architects. We show public sector clients how to commission buildings that meet the needs of their users. And we seek to inspire the public to demand more from their buildings and spaces. Advising, influencing and inspiring, we work to create well-designed, welcoming places.

The three sites are as follows:

Stoke-on-Trent - City Waterside

The competition site is within the first phase of the City Waterside scheme in Stoke-on-Trent, on the slope of a hill near the Caldon Canal in the heart of the city. City Waterside aims to challenge perceptions of the area in order to attract people back from the suburbs and surrounding towns. An innovative, high density mixed use proposal is required to create and sustain economic and social opportunity. It will need to take advantage of the site's green views and waterside location and reflect the holistic vision for City Waterside.

Site Sponsors: RENEW North Staffordshire and the City Waterside Project Group.

Sheffield - Skye Edge

The competition site is within a large inter-war housing estate on the ridge of a hill to the south east of Sheffield. The site has panoramic views over the city and the Peak District National Park. The Skye Edge project is part of a wider regeneration project, being led by Sheffield City Council, to create a strong private housing market. The challenge is to create new housing that will improve the quality of life for existing communities. The development will create a new skyline for the city. Designs should contribute to a well-integrated, high quality sustainable neighbourhood, with strong links to the city centre and surrounding communities.  

Site Sponsors: Sheffield City Council and Great Places Housing Group.

Milton Keynes - Fairfield

The competition site is within the Western Expansion Area of Milton Keynes. The vision for this area is of a desirable place to live, work, learn and relax that is well integrated to the existing built up area of the city. The challenge for entrants is to design a development that encompasses different housing densities and caters for a range of social and economic groups. The development must be structured around a public transport spine and integrate a school. Judges will be impressed by designs with a legible layout that reflects the high quality landscaping and urban design principles of Milton Keynes, but also has a clear identity of its own.

Site Sponsors: Milton Keynes Council

The Europan 9 UK Jury Members are:

  • Barbara Dunsire - Architecture MK and Winner of Europan UK 4 and 5
  • John Pringle - Pringle Richards Sharratt Architects
  • Jim McMillan - Great Places Housing Group
  • Neave Brown - Artist and Architect
  • David Rudlin - URBED
  • Ton Schaap - Gemeente Amsterdam
  • Peter St John - Caruso St John Architects
  • Christine Hawley - Dean of Bartlett, UCL
  • Carol Ainscow - CEO, Artisan