Architecture Competition: Open Call: New London Architecture and King’s Cross launch a public competition to find the best new community offer for 2-storey premises within the Estate
King’s Cross, London’s 67-acre creative neighbourhood, has today launched a competition in partnership with New London Architecture (NLA). It is inviting individuals, community groups, established and emerging enterprises and organisations to put forward ideas and proposals for how they could transform an existing premises on Beaconsfield Street into a new community offer.
The premises total 1,200 square feet over two floors. The ground floor has a basic fitout and is equipped with a small kitchen and bathrooms, having previously been used as a facility for people working on the Estate. The first-floor space offers a blank canvas and is ready to be fitted out to meet the needs of its future users. Both floors have their own entrances onto Beaconsfield Street, allowing for flexible use of the spaces.
King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership (KCCLP) is keen to allocate both floors for great, new uses that will deliver positive outcomes for local residents and local communities and create stronger community links across the Estate and surrounding neighbourhoods. The NLA will run the public competition and, together with the help of an expert judging panel, search for the best new community offer.
This winner is likely to be a concept which meets clearly identified community needs and which addresses gaps in existing provision. KCCLP is particularly keen to see the premises support and benefit members of the community that have yet to fully benefit from, the ongoing transformation of King’s Cross.
About the public competition:
• The competition is open to all. Individuals, groups and organisations are all encouraged to submit their ideas and proposals.
• Individuals, groups and organisations may choose to come together and collaborate on their proposals.
• Proposals need to deliver positive outcomes for local residents and local communities and create stronger community links across the Estate and surrounding neighbourhoods.
• Entrants are encouraged to research existing facilities within the local area to ensure their proposals address gaps in existing provision and meets identified community needs.
• KCCLP is particularly keen to see the Beaconsfield Street premises support and benefit members of the community that have yet to fully benefit from, the ongoing transformation of King’s Cross.
• All competition entries are free of charge.
• The competition will have two stages. The best proposals will be shortlisted and the relevant entrants invited to progress to the next round. Short-listed entrants will be awarded up to £1,000 and invited to work with KCCLP, to develop their proposals more fully.
• The deadline for initial submissions is 28th February 2022
The competition judging panel will be made up of key figures from London and the local area. The judging panel includes:
Robert Evans (Joint Managing Partner, Argent LLP)
Anthea Harries (Head of Assets, King’s Cross)
Rosa Rogina (Director, London Festival of Architecture)
Cllr Danny Beales (Cabinet Member for Investing in Communities and an Inclusive Economy, Camden Council)
Ranya Lamani (Participation Champion, Camden Giving)
Further judges to be announced
With the competition, King’s Cross welcomes all proposals on potential uses for the space. These could include:
• Fix it café and upcycling space, to support circular economy principles of reuse, repair and recycling
• A space/service to support people’s physical and mental health
• Educational space/offer, hosting homework clubs and/or short courses
• Other facilities for young people
• Childcare provision
• A space/service to support local sole traders/start-up maker businesses
• A space to support creative arts
Following the initial submission of entries, KCCLP and NLA may explore ways to bring together ideas and entrants that appear to be complementary, to deliver stronger proposals and help competition entrants hone their proposals.
To enter the competition, and for more information the community and wider sustainability ambitions of King’s Cross, check out the New London Architecture website here.
Robert Evans, CEO of King’s Cross and Joint Managing Partner of Argent, said: “We are incredibly proud of our part in the ongoing transformation of King’s Cross. Today, the King’s Cross Estate boasts a world-class university, inspiring businesses, wonderful homes, an eclectic range of shops and restaurants, two schools, sport, leisure and community facilities. Bold new architecture complements powerful historic buildings and world-class public realm and King’s Cross has a distinctive sense of place and community.
As we start the construction of our final phase of buildings, we want to harness the talent, creativity and knowledge of individuals and organisations, existing partners and potential partners, to find the best new community offer for existing two-storey premises along Beaconsfield Street. We would love to allocate and develop the premises for great new uses that will deliver real benefits to local people in King’s Cross.
We don’t know what the competition will bring. We are confident however that we will see some fantastic proposals that both challenge and inspire us. I would encourage everyone to get involved. This is your chance to help shape a new community endeavour, for King’s Cross.”
Councillor Danny Beales, Cabinet Member for Investing in Communities, Culture and an Inclusive Economy at Camden Council, said: “Camden’s diverse communities make it the special place it is – and a key part of the glue holding them together is the community facilities and spaces where people can get to together to meet, support each other, learn, work and socialise. Competition entrants could respond to this brief in so many different ways – we know for example, that affordable workspace for start-ups is really needed in the borough and also of the life-changing impact spaces that support our families, children and young people can have. If you care about Camden, have big ideas and want to make a difference, I encourage you to get involved and put forward a proposal for this competition.
Download the information related to this competition here.
