The ‘Meanwhile London’ competition – launched in November 2010 – aimed to find innovative temporary uses for three high profile sites in the Royal Docks and Canning Town in the run up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The aim of the interim activities on derelict space is to help kick-start regeneration – animating the sites, encouraging early adopters and testing the potential for community and urban integration.
The competition has brought a range of different groups of people together - local residents and community groups, developers, investors, designers, artists, thinkers and entrepreneurs – who have come up with a host of creative, dynamic ideas for the spaces.
Design for London co-ordinated and judged the competition with The Mayor of London, Newham Council, the LDA and Property Week magazine.
Competition brief
The judges were looking for temporary projects to:
• Attract people to Canning Town and the Royal Docks and bring the empty sites to life.
• Promote entrepreneurial activities, create jobs and provide opportunities for Newham’s young people and residents.
• Reflect the ‘green enterprise’ ambitions for the Royal Docks.
The competition allowed entrants to choose between 3 key sites. For more information on the sites, see the following films of site visit days, attended by potential applicants:
Royal Albert, Royals Business Park
The judging process
• 42 entries were submitted by the closing deadline of 24 January 2011.
• The longlisted entries were discussed by a panel of eminent judges and were assessed against four main categories – vision, context and methodology, community engagement and delivery.
• These judges decided on a shortlist of 12 entries.
• Following an initial technical evaluation and clarification questions, several candidates were then invited for interview.
• The winners were announced at the MIPIM international property conference on 8 March.
The 4 four winning entries are:
• Caravanserai by EXYST, Space Makers Agency, Ash Sakula and others at Canning Town.
• 21st Century Pleasure Gardens by the creators of Shangri-La at Glastonbury - Strong and Co. at Pontoon Dock.
• Industri[US] by Fluid, with Colliers International, Dare and others at the Royals Business Park.
• Royal Docks Baths by Studio Egret West at Pontoon Dock.
There are ongoing aspects of technical evaluation taking place to fully establish the viability of the ideas which will be completed before any formal lease agreements are entered into with winners.
Project partners:
Mayor of London, Newham Council, LDA, Property Week
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