George Clarke launches new design challenge in his home town
George Clarke has returned to his roots to help his hometown kick off its 60th birthday celebrations. George was in Washington New Town, Sunderland to launch a special design competition for school children in the town where he grew up and described launching the challenge as “off the scale brilliant".
The competition which is being run with Sunderland City Council, helps kick off a year of celebrations being planned to help Washington New Town mark its big birthday in July 2024. Designated a New Town on 24 July 1964, Washington was hailed at the time for its innovative and forward-thinking residential designs for homes, as well as the establishment of long lasting communities. It became part of the then Borough, now city of Sunderland 10 years later.
In recognition and celebration of this landmark date, George Clarke, his charity MOBIE and Sunderland City Council are inviting young people from schools across Washington to come up with their own vision of an innovative residential community for the next 60 years.
Young people taking part in the competition will be asked to design a 21st century super sustainable 'courtyard' style housing scheme, with houses for all ages designed around a pedestrianised courtyard square - in line with the essential features of the original 1960s plan.
George Clarke said:
*“Home is the most important piece of architecture in our lives. It crafts the way we live, and how we grow as families and communities."
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Clarke added:
*“I have believed this to be so true and important for as long as I can remember, and in many ways I was inspired by my family home and upbringing in the Washington village of Blackfell and the amazing community that we enjoyed there."
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*“It is an absolute honour and pleasure to be a part of Washington's 60th Anniversary celebrations and to launch this special design challenge for the young people who live here now."
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*“I set up MOBIE, my education charity six years ago to inspire and engage as many young people as possible to think about home design, for them to discover and train for the many varied fantastic career paths and opportunities that the Built Environment industry offers to absolutely everyone regardless of their interests, talents or backgrounds."
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*“This is our fifteenth student design challenge, and it is especially unique because usually they are open to everyone, to all schools, colleges and universities wherever you live or study, but this one is just for students in Washington. We are asking for designs and community masterplanning ideas for the homes here for the next sixty years."
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*“We always get a tremendous response to our home design challenges and I am continually blown away by young people's creativity, imagination and sheer brilliance when it comes to designing places that not only look beautiful, but that provide high living standards and make a significant contribution to the net zero economy. From past experience we are never disappointed and I am truly excited and looking forward to seeing what the students from my home town come up with."
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*“MOBIE will be offering loads of support with design classes and workshops to help schools with the challenge so please get in touch. Let's show the rest of the country what young designers in Washington are thinking for their future in this amazing town."
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Councillor Sean Laws, who is chairing the steering group planning the 60th birthday celebrations said:
*“As Chair of Washington Area Committee and the Washington 60 steering group I have been very keen to ensure that we mark Washington's 60th anniversary of being a New Town in a bigger and better way than anything we have done before and pay a fitting tribute to a key part of the City of Sunderland*."
* I am delighted George has agreed to be part of the Washington 60 celebrations we are organising and will be delivering a superb project aimed at inspiring the young designers and builders of the future. I'm looking forward to being able to announce further plans soon for how we will celebrate the history and heritage of Washington whilst also planning for the next 60 years by bringing in investment and unlocking the huge potential of our town*."
The closing date for submissions is Wednesday 19th June 2024, in time to judge the entries, announce the winners and present the prizes at Washington's 60th anniversary celebrations in July. Please submit your design ideas and presentations digitally to home@mobie.org.uk. The challenge brief can be requested from the same e-mail address.
You can submit your ideas and solutions in whatever visual medium you prefer - Concept Boards, Drawings (hand or CAD), Models or Videos. You should include a short description of your home and courtyard designs and why you chose the design and features in your entry. Please title your email ‘Washington 60th Anniversary Challenge' and include your full name, teacher/tutor’s name, school/college name and an email address.