New Creative Challenge Empowering Scotland's Youth to Design Inclusive and Sustainable Communities
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MOBIE and Capability Scotland launch creative challenge to empower young people in building an inclusive and sustainable community.
MOBIE and Capability Scotland have partnered to offer a unique opportunity for young people across Scotland to make a significant contribution to the development of a £25m complex-needs site in Perth. The challenge is open to schools, universities, and colleges, as well as individuals who wish to participate independently.
The challenge seeks innovative ideas from young people on how the Bertha Park site in Perth can be transformed into an inclusive and sustainable community through a new building project named 'Our Inclusive Community Project.' MOBIE and Capability Scotland are calling on young people to submit their designs and ideas on how to create a sustainable and affordable community that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the environment for future ones.
“I hope through the challenge, it will give the young people of Scotland a taste for design that they’ll be inspired to pursue further”
George Clarke, MOBIE's founder, said:
“I'm really passionate about architecture, design and creating homes and communities that are innovative, beautiful, genuinely sustainable, and transform the quality of people's lives. For me, the best way for us to do that is to inspire young passionate people to help define the communities of their future.
“This challenge has categories and challenges for young people of all ages, from primary schools to postgraduates, and there are a range of tasks or design issues that they can take on.
“I hope through the challenge, it will give the young people of Scotland a taste for design that they’ll be inspired to pursue further and that they can follow the development of this inclusive community over the coming years as it comes to life. Above all, I hope they have fun taking part and imagining a great place to live in the future.”
The new site will consist of 60 self-contained studio flats for individuals with complex needs, with a new primary school and high quality, energy efficient housing to follow. These will be built on the site adjacent to the existing Bertha Park High School and the creative designs identified during this challenge will feed into the build.
Bertha Park High School and two primary schools in the Perth area as well as Capability Scotland’s two complex needs facilities – Corseford in Renfrewshire and Stanmore in Lanark – have already signed up to take part in the innovative challenge.
Stephen Oswald, Capability Scotland Project Lead, said:
“Youngsters are always brimming with creative ideas and have an active imagination – which is something we’re really keen to tap into in on order to help shape this project.
“Their input will help create an inclusive place where the whole community can come together with ideas incorporating community development, sustainable design and the use of new technology welcomed.”
The challenge is in partnership with Capability Scotland, MOBIE, Perth and Kinross Council and Scottish Water; the closing date for entries is April.
“This project will revolutionise the approach to designing a new residential development and we’re delighted to be working with Capability Scotland”
Gerry Ruffles, Head of Education at MOBIE, said:
“This project will revolutionise the approach to designing a new residential development and we’re delighted to be working with Capability Scotland to bring the challenge to young people in Scotland. The homes and communities of the tomorrow will be lived in by young people and that is why I am so pleased that Capability Scotland is asking them what they want from this inclusive community of the future.”
Capability Scotland’s Upper Springland campus on Isla Road has three registered services and offers residential and respite care to 59 adults with physical and learning disabilities.
There is also a day service, as well as a hydrotherapy pool, theatre and walled gardens.
However, while the quality of care is outstanding, the site is now more than 40 years old and becoming more challenging to maintain. Climate change also means it faces an increasing flood risk from the River Tay – and the charity wants to create state of the art new flagship services.
For more information on Capability Scotland’s MOBIE project, visit the link below: