North London street to get colourful and biodiverse makeover
The London Festival of Architecture has launched a design competition inviting architects, designers and artists to transform a road in Camden.
The LFA, Europe’s biggest annual architecture festival, is looking for a team to create a “colourful and biodiverse” public realm on Phoenix Road, which runs between Euston and St Pancras stations in Somers Town.
Dubbed the Greening Phoenix Road project, it will see a weekend-long road closure in June which will act as a focal point for the festival “bringing events, activities and people together”.
The brief asks teams to “experiment with what becomes possible” in a car-free environment while exploring the meanings of the the word “act” - this year’s festival theme.
The LFA and Camden council said they are looking for a design which is “bold and imaginative”, stimulating debate and creating a legacy for the area.
Five key design aspirations have been settled on following community engagement - a space which is transformed from grey to green, is safe and accessible for all, reflects the character of Somers Town, is social and playable, and well connected.
Teams have until 25 February to submit expressions of interest, with a winner to be announced in April 2022. The design will need to be fully costed, feasible and able to be delivered by June. It will remain in situ for four weeks after the festival, but might stay on site for up to a year.
The victors will be awarded £25,000, which includes a £5,000 design fee.
The scheme has been funded by HS2, which is carrying out a major £1.5bn redevelopment of Euston station so it can function as the high speed line’s central London terminus.
Last year’s theme for the LFA was “care”. Past themes have included “community”, “memory”, and “identity”.
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