Net Zero Neighbourhood: Architects invited to enter Archiboo competition

We are calling on architects to re-imagine the future of neighbourhoods in the face of the climate and biodiversity emergency.

As part of an exhibition on the life and work of our founder, Max Fordham, we are hosting an Archiboo Architect Pitch competition.

Entrants will pitch a vision for the first net zero neighbourhood in the UK, building on the legacy of Max Fordham House, the UK’s first net zero residential home.

Successful designs will address both the need to reduce emissions and contribute to improved wellbeing in our towns and cities.

The net zero neighbourhood presents the opportunity to create resilient, people-centred places, with a mix of residential, commercial, and retail buildings, green and public spaces and supporting infrastructure.

Seven practices will be shortlisted to pitch their vision to a panel including Ali Shaw of Max Fordham, Sunand Prasad of Penoyre & Prasad, David Stronge of Peabody, Amrita Mahindroo of DROO Architects and Fran Williams of the Architects’ Journal, at the live Archiboo event on 8 March at the Building Centre in London.

The pitch presentation should:

• Be an aspirational design for an urban extension adjacent to an existing development for approx. 500 people
• Question the status quo and demonstrate inventiveness in approaching the challenges posed by the climate emergency (such as extreme temperatures, energy crisis, droughts etc.)
• Showcase how the design fits into the circular economy
• Utilise existing buildings and demonstrate how they will be adapted and retrofit for new uses
• Explore the opportunities and efficiencies that can happen with economies of scale on a neighbourhood level
• Be grounded in real-world constraints and parameters
• Illustrate a flair for “beautiful engineering” and elegant design rooted in sustainable design principles.

For more information and to enter visit: archiboo.com/events/architect-pitch-the-net-zero-neighbourhood.