Latest News
The first Wildlife Design Competition to be run in Holbeck Urban Village in Leeds has been decided. Winning entry, Garnett Netherwood Architects, a practice from Leeds beat off tough global competition with their innovative ‘Urban Takeback’ design, a tree-house style tower block recycled from old buildings.
The competition captured imaginations internationally with entries conjured up by talented architects, artists and designers from global cities as far and wide as Mumbai, New York, Seoul and Rotterdam, all competing to design the best animal habitats fit for city-living wildlife in Leeds.
A mockette of the winning design decided by judges Geoff Ward, Chair of RIBA Yorkshire and a partner with Stephen George & Partners and Pippa Hale, artist, curator and director of the Northern Art Prize will be made of mixed materials to convey the recycled nature of the concept. It will be unveiled at 6pm on Thursday 28 May at an event to kick start Holbeck Urban Village’s first public Urban Gardening Weekend on 29-31 May. Judge Pippa Hale, will make the announcement within the apt setting of new art installation ‘Wonderwood’, also to be revealed on the same day for the first time by The Culture Company and artists/ architects Amenity Space.
The Wildlife Design Competition was created in response to the fact that bird song has all but disappeared from many cities and towns, and in general, wildlife in the UK is in decline, prompting urban villagers in Holbeck, to consider what they can do to improve the chances of hearing a dawn chorus or catching sight of the elusive local otters.
Neil Oxlee, 26, of Garnett Netherwood Architects says they entered the competition because they knew the area well and felt that they could contribute a design which fitted with the context of Holbeck Urban Village and its needs. ‘We are proud to have been selected from such an impressive array of designs produced by global cities notorious for their pioneering creativity. We wanted to produce a sustainable structure which was responsive to its local environment. Creating something positive out of demolished buildings by recycling their old materials was the driving force behind our concept and we thought this man-made tree would encourage a variety of species to reclaim the urban landscape and thrive off each other like they would within a woodland environment.”
Competition judge Geoff Ward commented “The ‘Urban Takeback’ design had the right balance of ambition alongside a sensitive understanding of the local environment. The skyscraper-style structure resonates with the Italianate towers which are well known Leeds landmarks and I was impressed with its aspiration to accommodate a number of species. Also, its high visibility gives it potential to be a focal point for engaging the community which lends it that special edge”
All 31 of the entries for the Wildlife Design Competition will be framed and on display from 27th May at the following venues in Holbeck Urban Village for one month.
Cross Keys
Round Foundry Media Centre
Project Space Leeds
Pavilion
Out of the Woods
The Engine House
For more information about the Wildlife Design Competition click here
To view the winning design and other entries on our Flickr gallery click here
The Holbeck Urban Village team are currently seeking a developer to create the winning scheme safe-guarding the future of wildlife in the area. If this sounds like you contact us on the form below!
