The following 'Frequently Asked Questions' have been formulated to provide further assistance to competition entrants. The questions and answers featured on this page include those submitted by competition entrants prior to the deadline on the 28 February 2007.
The list of questions are displayed below, to navigate to the answer click on the [Answer] link.
Entering the Competition
- Who is the competition open to, how do I enter? [Answer]
- What do I get if I win? [Answer]
- Will my entry be judged anonymously? [Answer]
- Who is on the Jury Panel? [Answer]
- Who is on the technical panel? [Answer]
- Will the winning entry be built? [Answer]
Design Brief
- Within the design brief you state that that all innovative/'cutting edge' ideas must also be deliverable, please can you explain what you mean by this? [Answer]
- What should be included in the building costs submitted? [Answer]
- The competition brief has requested an indication of building costs, how detailed should this report be? [Answer]
- How are you defining low running costs? [Answer]
- Can you expand on what you'd like to see for social sustainability, flexibility, quality, smart homes? [Answer]
- What is the target market for the housing? [Answer]
- What is Letchworth Garden City's current housing density? [Answer]
- Can the competition entrant decide whether to submitt designs for a single house or a group? [Answer]
- If designing for a group of houses should a sample plan for the layout of the group be submitted? [Answer]
- The brief indicates that buildings should not exceed three storeys but that the roof space can be used as living space. Should the roof space be used as living space must this be included in the three storeys? [Answer]
- The brief indicates ‘gross internal floor area' however no property area has been defined. Is this information available? [Answer]
- Is the objective of the competition to design an entire development? [Answer]
- As the competition is not site specific, please can you give an indication as to the typical size of possible developments? [Answer]
- In relation to the actual construction of entries would you be willing to consider an entrant bringing forward a developer for the project? [Answer]
- Would you be willing to consider an alternative layout to the sample site available on the website. [Answer]
Entering the Competition
Question: Who is the competition open to, how do I enter?
Answer: There are two sections to the international design competition. One area is open to property practitioners and academics from across the world. The second area is open to undergraduates and postgraduates currently studying on a property based course either in the UK or elsewhere in the world.
Separately but related, we will shortly be launching a design competition for secondary and primary school children in Letchworth Garden City.
Question: What do I get if I win?
Answer: The competition sponsors have made available a prize fund of £25,000. It will be the responsibility of the Jury Panel to determine how this prize fund is distributed. Although it is aniticipated that prizes will be awarded in both the students and practitioner categories.
Question: Will my entry be judged anonymously?
Answer: Yes, it is important that the designs are judged on their own merits, therefore, all documents and designs should be sent to the RIBA without names, motto's or distinguishing marks of any kind.
Question: Who is on the Jury Panel?
Answer: The Jury Panel includes a representative from each sponsor plus two practising architects and representative from CABE:
- Stuart Kenny, Director General. Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation
- Kevin Thompson, Chief Executive. North Hertfordshire Homes
- Peter Chlapowski Dip. Arch. Msc. RIBA, Director. PCKO Architects
- Lynne Sullivan. Broadway Malyan
- Dickon Robinson CBE, Commissioner. Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE)
Click here for a mini-biography of for each member of the Jury Panel.
Question: Who is on the technical panel?
Answer: The technical panel will shortlist the entries for the final jury panel. The technical panel has still to be appointed but will include Peter Chlapowski, Lynne Sullivan, Nick Wright (Head of Development North Hertfordshire Homes), Tracy Harvey (Head of Planning and Development, Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation) and Roger Godden (Head of Property Services, Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation).
Question: Will the winning entry be built?
Answer: It is our intention to work with some of the entrants to build their submitted designs, which may include the winners. The final decision on which ones will be built will be dependant on factors, such as cost and planning permission.
Design Brief
Question: Within the design brief you state that that all innovative/'cutting edge' ideas must also be deliverable, please can you explain what you mean by this?
Answer: We want to encourage new and exciting designs addressing the sustainability and environmental impacts from new build housing. However, we also want to build some of the housing designs. Your designs, therefore, will need to demonstrate forward thinking but also be capable of being built.
Question: What should be included in the building costs submitted?
Answer: We expect the following to be included as a minimum, but any special design features should be identified and costed separately:
- Building the superstructure but excluding the cost of foundations
- Hot and cold water and heating services
- Waste systems
- Below ground drainage of foul and rainwater systems within the curtilage of the property
- Power and lighting systems, but excluding the costs of the utility bodies
You may find the following web sites a useful starting point:
www.ricsbooks.co.uk
www.ciob.org.uk
www.priceguidesdirect.co.uk
Question: The competition brief has requested an indication of building costs, how detailed should this report be?
Answer: As a guide cost reports should consider the following:
PROPOSED COST BREAKDOWN (£/m²)
Main structure including partitions
External finishes and cladding
Roof structure and covering
Stairs
Windows and doors
Building services
Fitting out, kitchen (excluding appliances) bathrooms etc.
Internal finishes
External structures, porch/ bin stores etc / integral to the building
Any special design features
Total cost per £/m² *
* Floor area should be calculated within the external walls but ignoring internal walls and partitions.
However schemes offering a less detailed analysis are still welcomed providing that proposed specifications are clearly defined and considered in an overall cost report.
Question: How are you defining low running costs?
Answer: Running costs considered should include heating, electricity, waste, maintenance and water. We are seeking your response on how these maybe in minimised for the householder through the designs and use of modern technologies. The submission should identify how running costs will be addressed and the levels anticipated. We have not defined ‘low' to allow flexibility and balance between the potential alternatives but we do expect solutions to be quantified.
Question: In the competition objectives you state that housing designs must achieve an energy benchmark of at least Level three for 'The Code of Sustainable Homes' Would proposals achieving a higher level be looked upon more favourably?
Answer: As stated all designs should achieve an energy benchmark of at least level three, however it is the desire of the sponsors to create a truly environmentally friendly sustainable development, as such proposals of level six of 'The Code for Sustainable Homes' will be at an advantage.
Question: Can you expand on what you'd like to see for social sustainability, flexibility, quality, smart homes?
Answer: The aim of the competition is to deliver high quality housing which people will wish to live in. This means designing housing that meets not only their present needs but can be changed as their circumstances change, perhaps becoming less mobile or having children. At the same time we wish to ensure that everyday tasks in the homes are easy and simple for all householders.
The term 'Social Sustainability' originates from the Johannesburg Earth Summit 2004, it is based on ensuring quality of life. Its implications are wider than just minimising or reducing the traditional ecological impacts, it goes one step further concentrating on ensuring the welfare and culture of people is balanced within the sustainability agenda. (The RIC's research article below looks at what this means in the 3rd world - i.e. light in homes, good ventilation, good design, respect for heritage etc)
Smart homes is a concept developed by the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust enabling, with the use of technology different systems through out the home to communicate with each other. The aim is to make everyday tasks easier or simpler.
Further information can be found at www.rics.org
Question: What is the target market for the housing?
Answer: The housing is aimed primarily at local people through a range of tenures- from outright market sale to affordable tenures such as shared ownership and social rented housing.
Question: What is Letchworth Garden City's current housing density?
Answer: As an estimate the density of housing in Letchworth Garden City is between 20 to 30 per hectare.
Question: Can the competition entrant decide whether to submit designs for a single house or a group?
Answer: Yes, competitors are free to select
Question: If designing for a group of houses should a sample plan for the layout of the group be submitted?
Answer: Yes, we expect competitors to show how their properties would relate with others.
Question: The brief indicates that buildings should not exceed three storeys but that the roof space can be used as living space. Should the roof space be used as living space must this be included in the three storeys?
Answer: The roof space, if used for living, would be included in the number of floors
Question: The brief indicates ‘gross internal floor area' however no property area has been defined. Is this information available?
Answer: The area of the properties including gardens will vary with the site and as such the information is not available.
Question: Is the objective of the competition to design an entire development?
Answer: You can design an individual house or a group of houses. Although the idea of the competition is not to design a development site but a unit that would then be developed further based on the individual characteristics of each site.
Question: As the competition is not site specific, please can you give an indication as to the typical size of possible developments?
Answer: Sites currently under consideration vary in size from 6 to 60 dwellings.
Question: In relation to the actual construction of entries would you be willing to consider an entrant bringing forward a developer for the project?
Answer: There are no specific sites at this stage and no specific commitment to build an entry. However successful entries may be built by North Hertfordshire Homes
Question: Would you be willing to consider an alternative layout to the sample site available on the website.
Answer: Yes, the sample site layout is for illustrative purposes only and we would welcome alternative layouts.
The competition sponsors are not responsible for the content of any external internet sites