Finsbury Park

Result

Benson & Forsyth has won a competition to help with the re-development of a significant north London site. The result follows an RIBA design competition organised on behalf of City North Islington Ltd, a subsidiary of Business Design Centre Group.

The ‘City North Site’ is located on the north eastern edge of Islington, and adjacent to Finsbury Park Station, one of the busiest transport interchanges in London outside of Zone 1. The Council (London Borough of Islington) identified this site as having the potential to act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the wider Finsbury Park area. Competitors were set the challenge of producing concepts for the site, to include high quality public spaces and a range of land uses, in order to diversify the existing mix of uses.

Describing their winning concept, Gordon Benson said : “The proposal is contextually defined both locally, and at the scale of the city. At street level the scheme repairs and reinforces the fragmented urban fabric. The taller elements of the composition address and frame views of significant Landmarks, redefining the identity of the site and the specifics of its location.”

Benson & Forsyth will now work closely with the client group to work up their competition concept and ideas. The other four competing practices were Studio Egret West, John McAslan & Partners and Panter Hudspith Architects.

Overview

This competition seeks expressions of interest from architects with exceptional design skills for the City North Site, a significant site covering approximately 0.95 ha adjacent to Finsbury Park Station, London N4.

Category Project Competition / Competition Result
Type Urban Design Project Competition
Genre Redevelopment, Urban
Country London, UK
RegDeadline 29 January 2008 GoogleCal iCal
29 January 2008 (Must be Received)
Eligibility Architects

Description
Promoted by the RIBA Competitions Office on behalf of the Business Design Centre Group (BDCG), the competition seeks to identify an architect on the basis of a preliminary concept and an appropriate design approach. The winner of the competition will be appointed to work closely with the client to develop a design and obtain detailed planning consent for the site’s redevelopment.

The 'City North Site' is located on the north eastern edge of Islington, and adjacent to Finsbury Park Station, one of the busiest transport interchanges in London outside of Zone 1. The council (London Borough of Islington) has identified this site as having the potential to act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the wider Finsbury Park area. Proposals will need to improve the quality of public spaces, as well as provide a range of land uses including residential, retail, offices, conference space, restaurants and cafes in order to diversity the existing mix of uses.

Criteria for Selection
Stage one selection will be based upon the following criteria :
- Design Quality
- demonstrable inspiration and creativity in recent work
- Resource & Experience
- experience and ability
- evidence of capacity to deliver the project
- Communication
- response to and compliance with requirements set out in this briefing paper
- experience of /approach to working collaboratively /community consultation

Jury
To be announced

Judging Process
Stage 1 : Expressions of Interest (requirements set out below)
Stage 2 : A shortlist of 5 teams invited to produce concept designs. Assessment will involve an interview with the judging panel.

Prize
Those shortlisted to stage two will each receive an equal honorarium of £5,000

Entry Fee
None

Entries
Expressions of interest should comprise no more than 20 single sided A4 pages, bound, providing the following information :
1. Full contact details of the practice, identifying one point of contact for the competition
2. Introduction to the practice and motivational statement
3. Three client referees
4. Details of relevant projects, including illustrations
5. Details of the current level of Professional Indemnity Insurance

Timetable
Meeting to select shortlist : w/c 4 February 2008
Brief issued to shortlist : w/c 11 February 2008
Deadline for concept designs : w/c 10 March 2008
Final judging (including interviews) : w/c 17 March 2008

Promoter
Business Design Centre Group (BDCG), RIBA

Official Website
http://www.architecture.com/...