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Cartwright Pickard Architects win UK Living Steel Competition

Cartwright Pickard Architects have been announced as the UK winners of the Living Steel International Architecture Competition – the global competition which aims to inspire innovative sustainable housing using steel.

Over 1,100 entrants from 88 countries entered the competition, generating interest from the world’s leading architects.

Cartwright Pickard were awarded a 50,000 Euro prize and will now develop the design concepts for a highly sustainable steel-framed modular housing scheme using off-site construction, for a site in the Thames Gateway. Construction work on this demonstration project is expected to start in 2008 and will provide 32 new affordable homes.

The two other competition winners were Andrade Morettin Arquitetos Associados, appointed for a site in Brazil, and Israeli practice Knafo Klimor Architects for a project in China.

Scott Chubbs, Living Steel Programme Director, said, “The Living Steel International Architecture Competition for Sustainable Housing presented a challenge to the world’s architects to design effective and efficient housing for Brazil, China and the UK, using what we believe is the most effective material for meeting this critical need.”

Commenting on Cartwright Pickard’s designs, Chair of the Judges, Andrew Ogorzalek said, “We appreciated Cartwright Pickard’s concentrated effort to design a comprehensive family of suitable dwellings using off-site construction. The jury looks forward to a collaborative development process among the architect, developer and steel fabricators, with this design being the vehicle to meet the needs of the UK market and advance the proposed modular strategy.”

Cartwright Pickard’s winning design uses a highly flexible steel-framed modular system, which allows easy replication and adaptation to different sites. It would be fast, efficient, safe and would help to address the global shortage of labour skills capable of delivering good quality housing. The scheme would incorporate a variety of attractive external spaces to create a sense of place and community and it has a strong sustainability theme throughout.

The concept design features green roofs, solar panels, biomass heating, prefabricated bathroom pods, pre-installed claddings, and balconies integrated into the modules that would be positioned to provide sunshading.

Other elements of the winning design include:

• Ease of expansion – houses can easily be extended through their life cycle
• Improved quality – off-site construction delivers high quality housing with zero defects
• Low running costs – a high degree of insulation, energy saving features, building orientation and a central heating plant minimise running costs
• External amenity spaces – communal spaces with attractive landscaping, play areas, roof terraces and balconies offer a variety of safe outdoor areas
• Roof top sun room – a bright and unique room would offer a flexible space away from the main living areas of the house
• Sense of community – the ground floor spaces in the apartment blocks could have a commercial value or be used by residents for work units or communal functions
• Pooling resources – as well as a communal heating system, a communal cycle pool could be open to residents through a booking process. Car pools could also be introduced for the appropriate density
• Spatial quality – the spaces created would be bright and airy with generous floor to ceiling heights
• Flood plain – work spaces are located on the ground floor of the apartment buildings, with sleeping spaces above. This strategy also applies to the houses, offering protection from significant water surges
• Peaceful environment – all living spaces face into the development, away from the roadside.

www.cartwrightpickard.com
www.livingsteel.org

ENDS

Editor’s Notes

For further PRESS information, please contact: CP/07/47a

Joanne Bridges, Bridges Communications
PRO – Cartwright Pickard Architects
Tel: 01423 520111
Fax: 01423 520152
email: jbridges@bridgescommunications.co.uk

1. Living Steel is a worldwide programme to stimulate innovation in the design and construction of housing. Its International Competition for Sustainable Housing was launched to develop innovative approaches to meet sustainable housing needs.

Underlying the competition was a desire to address the economic, environmental and social aspirations of a growing world population. The competition was developed under the guidance of the International Union of Architects (UIA).

2. Cartwright Pickard has offices in London and Leeds, and has recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Since the practice was formed, it has developed an international reputation for its work in housing, off-site construction and sustainability. Its awards and accolades include:

- Best Housing Association Development – National Homebuilder Awards
- Best New Affordable Housing Scheme – Housing Excellence Awards
- UK Design Award – American Institute of Architects
- RIBA Award for Architecture
- Civic Trust Awards
- Royal Fine Art Commission Trust Building of the Year.