Council to launch interactive tech design competition with Architects’ Journal

Croydon Council is to launch a competition to find an innovative piece of new technology that will enhance the experience of those visiting the town centre.

The council has partnered with the Architects’ Journal for the Croydon i-Street competition, which will invite talented designers to submit an interactive, tech-led concept that will help people find their way around Croydon and provide information about events that are happening around the borough.

As well as being a useful wayfinding tool for visitors circumnavigating the area, the innovative piece of tech also needs to be interactive and easily adaptable to accommodate Croydon’s ever changing streetscape.

The competition seeks a concept design for a route between West Croydon and Fairfield Halls, which will be used as a prototype. If a workable, cost-effective and successful proposal is found, the scheme will be rolled out across the town centre.

Multi-disciplinary teams are permitted and entrants are invited to consider collaborating with a range of professionals including: architects, graphic designers, lighting experts, wayfinding experts, technology and software companies, urban planners, product manufacturers, street furniture designers, acousticians, accessibility experts and artists.

Councillor Alison Butler, deputy leader and cabinet member for homes, regeneration and planning

“Croydon is undergoing significant change in the next few years as development and regeneration activity intensifies.

“We are really excited to commission this competition which we hope will lead to an original product that embraces innovative technology and will help people navigate around Croydon as exciting change happens”.

The competition will be officially launched next week at MIPIM, a four-day international property exhibition. The annual property conference and networking event which is attended by 23,000 people from 90 countries, gathers participants from all sectors of the international property industry.

The deadline for submissions is Friday 26th May and shortlisted entries will be assessed by a judging panel made up of Croydon Council chief executive Jo Negrini; councillor Alison Butler, cabinet member for homes, regeneration and planning; Richard Waite, news editor at Architects’ Journal; Simon Allford, director at Allford Hall Monaghan Morris; Sarah Luxford, co-founder Croydon Tech City; and Dan Hill, global digital studio leader at Arup.

The panel will be chaired by BBC journalist and presenter Razia Iqbal.

Ms Iqbal said: “I am delighted to be chairing the judging panel for this exciting competition. We want to see the creation of a revolutionary product that becomes instantly synonymous with Croydon. It needs to look good, be fun to use and must prove to be a valuable tool for Croydon visitors and residents alike, as the town goes through unprecedented change.”

For more information visit the competition website here.

 

2017-03-09T14:56:25+00:00 March 9th, 2017|Recent news, Regeneration|