NEWS RELEASE

9 July 2003

Press contacts: RIBA: Melanie Mayfield 020 7307 3662/07790 588776 [email protected] LSDA: Anne Nicholls 020 7297 9017/07785 598269 [email protected]

Students win top architectural prizes for alternative designs for Arsenal Football Stadium

Pupils and students from three schools and colleges in North London were awarded prizes by the President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for their work creating alternative designs for Arsenal Football Stadium, as part of a national Designs on Britain project, in a special ceremony at the RIBA on 26 June. The event - part of Architecture Week (20-29 June) - was attended by pupils from the 14 participating schools and colleges, architects from leading professional firms and by Doreen Lawrence, who’s son Stephen had intended to become an architect.

Designs on Britain is the result of a special collaboration between school and college students across the country and top UK architecture practices. The aim is to provide young people, particularly those from disadvantaged neighbourhoods, with an experience of working with top professionals on real projects, to stimulate an interest in architecture and design, and to provide motivation for learning and future careers.

Prizes were awarded to schools, colleges and individual students, in the following categories: best vision; best proposal for public art; best proposal for a structure; best proposal for a scheme; and best single entry from a school. There was special award from the RIBA president for the most original ideas.

The president’s prize (for 14-16 year olds) for the most original idea was awarded to pupils from Islington Green School who have been working in partnership with architects, Allies and Morrison. The students designed new buildings for the old Arsenal Football Stadium. Continued …………..

The President’s prize (for 16-18 year olds) for the most original idea was awarded to pupils from St. Aloysious RC College, Highgate, who have been working in partnership with architects, HOK Sport. The students have designed a new bridge linking the new Arsenal Football Stadium to the underground station.

Additional prizes included the following: C school for their master plan for a pedestrianised street in the centre of Belper, (working with Mansel Architects). Joint winner of ‘best single entry from a school’. Luke Barlow won joint ‘best proposal for public art’ for his ‘canopies’ entry. C Christ the King Sixth Form College, Lewisham, for their model and plan for the development of Convoys Wharf as an arts park, with murals, sculptures and a design for a bridge across the Thames (working with the Richard Rogers Partnership). Joint winner of ‘best single entry from a school’. Christopher Waddams was joint winner for his art studio/museum entry in the ‘best vision’ category. C , Bakewell, for their designs for structures in the gardens of Chatsworth (working with the University of Sheffield). Joint winner of ‘best proposal for a structure’. Rob Novelli was joint winner in the ‘best vision’ category for the ‘treetops’ entry. C City and Islington College’s sixth form centre, for a two-tiered football pitch for Arsenal Football Stadium, which will allow two Premiership matches to happen at the same time (working with Alsop Architects). Joint winner for the ‘best proposal for a structure’ category. Photo attached. C Matthew Musgrove from Highfields School, Derbyshire, for his ‘exploding tree’ entry for the Matlock Quarry project (working with Derbyshire Council Council). Joint winner of ‘best proposal for public art’.

The Designs on Britain initiative is organised by Artsinform in partnership with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA). The partnership will provide a downloadable teachers' pack, produced by Artsinform and funded by the Learning and Skills Development Agency, accessible from the Artsinform website at www.artsinform.com. The teachers pack is designed to enable all UK schools to organise similar projects, linking school students with architects on significant urban and rural projects.

Speaking about the project, Frances Morrell, Joint Chief Executive of Arts Inform said: “The purpose of this project is to enable students to understand through hands-on experience something about the world of urban and rural design and perhaps even work in that field themselves one day. We are incredibly grateful to Will Alsop, Marco Goldschmied of Richard Rogers Partnership, Rick Mather and all the other architects who have given their time for free.”

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Paul Hyett, President of the RIBA presenting the awards said: “The RIBA is delighted to partner Arts Inform on this national initiative, following the success of our collaboration on the Designs on London project two years ago. It is wonderful to see young people contributing their ideas and solutions to some of the most sensitive projects under way in the country at the moment. This is a great opportunity for those involved to learn about the value and pleasure of design and, of course, demonstrates that everyone, however young or old, has a vital role to play in the design of the urban environment in the UK.”

Judges comments: “These structures were fantastic. The judges were impressed by the quality of the models, which explored the intricacy of spaces without the constraints of style. There was a great deal of flair and imagination in the ideas and how they were presented” (City and Islington College sixth form centre).

“The canopies project was a strong response to the challenge of the brief, which was to revitalise a down-at-heel town centre shopping street once the blight of traffic congestion had been removed through the construction of a relief road.” (Belper School)

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For further information and images, please contact: RIBA: Melanie Mayfield 020 7307 3662/07790 588776 [email protected] LSDA: Anne Nicholls 020 7297 9017/07785 598269 [email protected]

The attached photograph is of the design for Arsenal Football Stadium, from City and Islington College’s sixth form centre.

Notes to Editors

1. Designs on Britain is generously sponsored by Amber Valley Borough Council, Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation, Cambridge Education Associates (CEA), Derbyshire Community Foundation, Derbyshire County Council, Rolls-Royce plc, Jonathan Vickers Charitable Settlement, Hugh and Eleanor Paget, Urban Renaissance in Lewisham and the Moose Foundation for the Arts.

2. Participating architects: Allies and Morrison, Alsop Architects, CZWG, Derbyshire County Council, Glenn Howells Architects, HOK Sport + Venue + Event, Mansel Architects, Professor Jeremy Till from University of Sheffield, Rodney Melville and Partners, Rick Mather Architects, Richard Rogers Partnership and Timothy Associates.

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3. Participating schools: BIRMINGHAM: Broadway School, Perry Barr; Holte School, Lozells DERBYSHIRE: Belper School; Highfields School, Matlock; Lady Manners School, Bakewell LONDON: Haberdasher’s Askes’, New Cross; Northbrook School, Lee; Christ the King School, Lewisham; Thomas Tallis School, Greenwich; Kidbrooke School, Greenwich; City and Islington College sixth form centre; Islington Green School, Islington and St Aloysious RC College, Islington

4. The projects were: BIRMINGHAM Aston - Proposals for Aston Hall and Park masterplan. DERBYSHIRE Belper - A relief road is planned for the Belper area, which will have the effect of cutting out through traffic from Bridge Street in Belper. In this context, what – if any – changes should be made to Bridge Street. Students are invited to make proposals. Chatsworth - Proposals for a structure for the grounds of Chatsworth which would either serve as a point of contemplation or a gardening reference library. Matlock - Proposals for the development of the Cawdor Quarry in Matlock. LONDON Arsenal Football Club Proposals for the re-development of the old Arsenal Stadium, sections of which are listed. Proposals for the development of the new Arsenal stadium. Proposals for housing and an office building in the area of the new Arsenal stadium. Convoy’s Wharf - Proposals for a masterplan of the Convoy’s Wharf area in Lewisham. Greenwich Heritage Site - Proposals for a masterplan of the Greenwich Heritage Site, particularly considering the areas between the main buildings and with reference to making the site as a whole work better for the community as well as visitors from outside the area. New Cross - Proposals for a masterplan of New Cross Gate. Stephen Lawrence Academy - Proposals and/or public art for the Stephen Lawrence Academy in Lewisham.

5. Arts Inform is an Arts Council England (London) agency whose mission is to bring the arts industries closer to the education system. For further information visit www.artsinform.com Arts Inform, 11-15 Betterton Street, London WC2H 9BP Tel:020 7866 8136.

6. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) represents around 30,000 members in the UK and abroad. Its purpose is to advance architecture and promote excellence in the profession, hich it does through a broad range of professional and cultural programmes. For further information visit www.architecture.com RIBA, 66 Portland Place, London, W1B 1AD Tel: 020 7580 5533. Architecture Week 2003 is organised and managed by Arts Council England and is an Arts Council England and Royal Institute of British Architects joint initiative, in association with the Architecture Centre Network. For further information on Architecture Week (20-29 June 2003) visit www.architectureweek.org.uk

7. The Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) is a strategic national resource for the development of policy and practice in post-16 education and training. It was previously known as the Further Education Development Agency. The work of the LSDA covers research, policy advice, professional and organisational development, and curriculum support for all learning providers involved in post-16 education and training. These include those working in further education and sixth form colleges, school sixth forms, adult and community education, and work-based education and training. The work of LSDA is supported by a grant from the Learning and Skills Council. For further information see the web site www.lsda.org.uk LSDA, Regent Arcade House, 19-25 Argyll Street, London, W1F 7LS Tel: 020 7297 9017.

8. Designs in Britain happens every two years. The next competition will be held in 2005.

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