‘Forgotten spaces’ contest to play role in regeneration of city

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is offering prizes of £5,000, £2,000 and £1,000 for winning entries in the contest, which is focusing on pieces of neglected land in Sheffield.

RIBA’s effort comes after a similar project was staged in London last year. Although proposals are unlikely to ever become reality, it is hoped ideas generated will stimulate regeneration.

The project is sponsored by city development company Creative Sheffield, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, Meadowhall shopping centre owners British Land and engineers Buro Happold.

Organisers said a “forgotten space” could be small or large and take in locations such as a roadside verge, wasteland, an unused car park, derelict building or even a pedestrian underpass.

Emma England, regional director of RIBA Yorkshire, said the London competition had proved a “highly successful concept”, which led to a variety of ideas for neglected sites in the capital.

Sheffield has been chosen as the next location for the initiative because it has seen several successful architectural regeneration projects in recent years, including its railway station redevelopment.

Ms England added: “We believe that Sheffield is the perfect fit for the Forgotten Spaces Ideas Competition. It’s a fascinating city with a long history of delivering ground breaking architecture, with a creative talent across all disciplines that we’re looking to tap into.

“RIBA seeks to champion better buildings and communities through architecture and our members, and Forgotten Spaces is a great way to get citizens talking about their city and the hidden potential of under used spaces.”

RIBA said that although Sheffield was “home to some of the best contemporary public spaces and architecture in the region” there were still “plenty of overlooked and neglected sites” for competitors to focus on.

Judges from the Institute will work alongside staff from Sheffield’s Hallam University to sift entries which are invited from students, artists, planners, architects and designers from across the country.

The competition has also been run in association with Sheffield Council, and its community assemblies, which take responsibility for work in their own part of the city.

Each assembly has been asked to nominate a space in their area for possible ideas and a list of these sites will be given to those entering the competition, although they are free to choose their own location if they wish.

Coun Penny Baker, Sheffield Council’s housing, planning and regeneration spokesman, said: “This is a great initiative by RIBA and Sheffield Hallam University to stimulate imaginative designers to turn their talents to corners of the city which may get missed by big projects and initiatives.

“I am delighted that our community assemblies are participating and very much look forward to seeing the ideas.”

Sheffield Hallam University spokesman John Palmer added: “Sheffield Hallam University has a particularly strong reputation in architecture, the built environment and sustainability and we look forward to seeing the entries and proposals to improve and utilise Sheffield’s forgotten spaces.”

Shortlisted proposals will be displayed in a public exhibition at the newly refurbished Crucible Theatre in September 2011.

The results will be announced at a winners’ reception event at the end of September which RIBA said was timed to tie in with the national Stirling Prize, the highest accolade for architecture, which will be awarded at Rotherham’s Magna Centre on October 1.

The full Forgotten Spaces 2011 competition brief is now available from the RIBA Yorkshire website www.architecture.com/forgottenspacessheffield

The competition registration deadline is Wednesday March 30 this year with the competition closing for entries on Thursday May 12.