NE1 LTD TEAMS UP WITH RIBA TO LAUNCH URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION

Designing a family of street furniture perfect for all. NE1 Ltd and the Royal Institute of British Architects, RIBA North East has set a challenge for designers across the region to come up with ideas to transform street furniture for city centres, making it ideal for everyone including older people to use and navigate but still aesthetically pleasing and in keeping with both modern and traditional street scenes across Newcastle and other city and town centres. The design brief idea came from politicians and user groups who want city centres, including Newcastle, to be fully inclusive and ‘old people friendly’.  RIBA North East seized the initiative and launched a competition to invite ideas to make this possible. NE1 Ltd was invited to be involved because of its work and interest in improving the public realm in Newcastle City Centre.  Recent additions to the Newcastle streetscape that NE1 has championed include the creation of the permanent Newcastle City Marina, as well as several pocket parks across the city including some permanent, some temporary additions including the Bobby Robson Memorial Garden at St James’ park and the NE1 Quayside Seaside, summertime pop up beach on the Quayside. Designers have until 8 August to express their interest in submitting entries and the final submission deadline is 12 September. NE1 Ltd is putting up £600 in prize money – with the winner receiving £500 and the runner up £100.  The hope is that the ideas generated could in time be incorporated into the design of Street scapes in Newcastle and other UK towns and cities. Peter Buchan, Regional Chairman, RIBA North East commented: “Life expectancy for both men and women is already over 80 years and is increasing and by 2035 almost a third of the population of this country will be over 60. Through its Centre for Ageing Newcastle University has taken a pioneering role looking at the impact of these changes across all aspects of the city. “In promoting this challenge we would like to focus on design excellence and functionality for all, while recognising the changing age profiles of our communities.  We hope the StreetScape competition will encourage designers to come up with a wide range of street furniture suitable for all users that could be incorporated into both old and new parts of town and city centres without looking out of place.” Commenting on the competition and NE1’s involvement, Adrian Waddell, Director of Operations at NE1 Ltd said: “NE1 is delighted to be involved in the competition as we are fully committed to improving the Newcastle StreetScape for all its users.  The design competition offers an interesting challenge for designers, and we hope that some good ideas for functional furniture that also looks good will come out of it, and over time be incorporated into Newcastle and other cities and towns in the UK and overseas." Full details of the competition and how to enter can be found at http://www.architecture.com/WhatsOn/September2014/Streetscape.aspx