Three possible solutions to the UK's homelessness crisis make the 2023 Davidson Prize shortlist

Three finalists for the 2023 Davidson Prize have been announced as part of the competition’s third edition. 

According to its organizers, “the Davidson Prize is an annual design ideas competition recognising transformative architecture of the home. The prize exists to celebrate innovative design ideas, to encourage multi-disciplinary collaboration and to promote compelling visual communication.”

Entries were responding to a brief that calls for a solution to the increasing rate of homelessness in the UK and Ireland under an imaginary conceit wherein abandoned structures have been banned. Proposals were asked to select a brownfield or greenfield site or an abandoned structure that could accommodate up to 50 persons from selected demographic groups. 

“This is a terrifically strong shortlist with proposals addressing a wide range of issues around homelessness, geographic and cultural contexts and ways that architecture can help to address them,” juror and 2022 Davidson Prize winner Charles Holland said. “The teams also include people from many different disciplines, recognizing that responses need to address policy, care and economics as much as architecture.”

"The ideas were strongly communicated and boldly addressed current social and political contexts. We were left wanting more and are looking forward to seeing these proposals developed further,” his fellow juror Yemí Aládérun added. 

Each team will be given £5,000 to develop their ideas further. The winner will be announced in June as part of the London Festival of Architecture. A Davidson Prize People’s Choice Award will also be rewarded. The outright winner of the main competition receives £10,000. 

Here are this year's finalists: 

Home Building

Design team: Wild & SNaB

Description: "This proposal harnesses learning, collaboration and sustainable construction to create homes and a sense of belonging. Focusing on typical ‘left over’ sites bordering agricultural land, Home Building is a 12-month design and construction course where homeless people including ex-prisoners learn the skills to build homes. The team combines an architect with a wide range of skills at The School of Natural Building (SNaB)."

More Not Less

Design team: ZCD Architects with Madeleine Kessler Architecture and Datshiane Navanayagam, Architecture Doing Place, JCLA, Webb Yates Engineers, Charles Jegar

Description: "With the aim of improving standards of temporary homeless accommodation, More Not Less focuses on Design Codes, testing its principles on a site in Hackney, London. The team has lived experience of hidden and childhood homelessness, with expertise across policy, architecture, landscape, play, engineering, trauma counselling and broadcast journalism."

Helping Hands

Design team: Studio Mutt and Neighbourhood with The Independence Initiative, Hugh Baird College, Islington Hostel Outreach, Amber Akaunu, Peter O’Neil, Dead Good Poets Society

Description: "With a focus on the needs of care leavers, Helping Hands is a proposal for a nurturing communal landscape in Liverpool co-created by residents, neighbours and specialist support organisations. The team includes designers with experience of transitioning from care, experts offering homeless support and housing, medical professionals practising in homeless hostels, a local college, poet and filmmaker."