November 12 2007
The government has revealed plans for an international competition to find architects and designers for its 10 proposed eco-towns of up to 20,000 homes.
Housing minister Yvette Cooper has signalled that the two-phase contest will be launched by the end of the year with the winners selected early next year.
Cooper wants each town to contain a variety of architectural styles and building types.
She has said the towns should be “the antithesis of the monolithic, identikit aesthetic which is too often associated with new housing”, and stressed that each should draw on its local history and character, and also provide jobs and services.
Developments in Scandinavia and the Netherlands are likely to feature as inspiration — the prime minister is known to be impressed by Hammarby Sjöstad in Sweden.
The competition’s first phase will focus on design principles, while the second phase will concentrate on individual town designs.
http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3096787