Caring for Older People - International Student Design Competition

The RIBA are working with DWA Architects to launch the DWA Architects Caring for Older People Design Competition. DWA Architects are one of the leading designers of Care Homes in the UK and are currently celebrating their 20th Anniversary.

DWA Architects are organizing this ideas competition, open to all architectural students, to mark this event. The competition is jointly sponsored by DWA Architects and BUPA Care Homes.

The winning entries will be selected by Professor June Andrews of The Dementia Services Development Centre of Stirling University, Neil Hunt the Chief Executive of the Alzheimers Society, Lyth Watson the Director of Business Development of BUPA Care Homes and David Ward the Chief Executive of DWA Architects.

The theme of the competition is designing for older people in 60 to 70 years time. DWA Architects have been designing care homes for older people for 20 years, but how will they look in the future? Will the care home concept be similar to that of today? Will care homes still be located predominantly in built up areas? Will the facilities provided be the same? How will social, economic and environmental sustainability affect the design? Will the current culture be the same? We have seen design standards for the physically disabled develop and become the norm. Design standards for those who live with other forms of disability, including Dementia are now being formulated. What form will these take and how will these shape the care home of tomorrow? How will furniture and landscape design be affected?

None of us can see into the future, but we can all imagine. We therefore invite you to use your imagination and show us your ideas. Furthermore, you can ignore the tangle of legislation and just base your concept designs on your ideas of what form care for older people should take in an ideal world.

Winning designs will receive awards of £3,000 (1st), £1,500 (2nd); and £1,000 (3rd). All architectural students may enter. Entries should be anonymous and comprise no more than 2 x A1 boards with an accompanying design statement.

Full details will be available on the RIBA Competitions Office website from the launch date of 5 January 2009 with entries to be submitted to the RIBA Competitions Office by 6 March 2009. The judges will assess the entries and the winners will be notified by 16 March 2009. An awards ceremony will be held at the RIBA HQ, London at the end of March 2009 and an exhibition will follow.