RIBA Competitions is the Royal Institute of British Architects' unit dedicated to organising architectural and other design-related competitions.[1]

Architectural design competitions are used by an organisation that plans to build a new building or refurbish an existing building. They can be used for buildings, engineering work, structures, landscape design projects or public realm artworks. A competition typically asks for architects and/or designers to submit a design proposal in response to a given brief. The winning design will then be selected by an independent jury panel of design professionals and client representatives. The independence of the jury is vital to the fair conduct of a competition.

The objective of a competition is to explore a range of different design options to select the best response to the design brief, which would not be possible by pre-selecting one architect.

The competitions process is often used to generate new ideas, create blue-sky thinking, stimulate debate, raise the profile of the project and allow an opportunity for emerging talent to grow as well as established design practices.

History

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In 1871 the RIBA appointed a special committee to draw up the first set of model rules and regulations for competitions. A Competitions Committee was set up in 1883 to monitor competitions and a revised version of the rules and regulations was published at this time.[2]

In 1967 the RIBA set up a Competitions Working Group who decided not just to monitor competitions but actively promote them and persuade clients to use them.[3] From 1971 onwards a permanent Competitions Office was established at the RIBA.[4]

RIBA Competitions is the only organisation in the UK who has maintained a steady flow of competitions as part of the normal working environment and to have studied the competition system in depth.[5]

Project list

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RIBA Competitions has been responsible for delivering some of the most high-profile building projects in the UK and abroad through competition, such as:

Civic and Commercial

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Culture, sport and leisure

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Education, health and the community

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Housing and regeneration

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  • Clayfield Affordable Homes
  • Redevelopment of JCB's Heavy Products site[17]
  • Timber Wharf[18]

Public realm, artworks and structures

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References

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  1. ^ RIBA Competitions
  2. ^ Mace, Angela (1998). Architecture in manuscript, 1601-1996: A Guide to the British Library Manuscripts and Archives Collection. Mansell. p. 267. ISBN 0720121957.
  3. ^ Strong, Judith (1976). Participating in Architectural Competitions. The Architectural Press Ltd. p. 4. ISBN 0851395147.
  4. ^ Mace, Angela (1998). Architecture in manuscript, 1601-1996: A Guide to the British Library Manuscripts and Archives Collection. Mansell. p. 268. ISBN 0720121957.
  5. ^ Strong, Judith (1976). Participating in Architectural Competitions. The Architectural Press Ltd. p. 1. ISBN 0851395147.
  6. ^ Bourne Hill Council Offices Salisbury
  7. ^ RIBA Bar
  8. ^ Toyota GB Headquarters
  9. ^ Brockholes Nature Reserve Visitor Centre
  10. ^ London Velopark
  11. ^ The Collection Lincoln
  12. ^ The Hepworth Wakefield
  13. ^ The MAC Belfast
  14. ^ Corpus Christi College Auditorium
  15. ^ St Thomas' Hospital re-cladding
  16. ^ Kentish Town Health Centre
  17. ^ Redevelopment of JCB's Heavy Products site
  18. ^ Timber Wharf
  19. ^ Kielder Observatory
  20. ^ Pylon Design Competition
  21. ^ The Royal Park Drinking Fountains