SYDNEY PUBLIC SPACES IDEAS COMPETITION
05 Aug 2020
The Committee for Sydney and the NSW Government have launched an open ideas competition that invites the public to submit ideas that will reimagine, inspire and create great public spaces across Greater Sydney. Get creative!
The Public Space Ideas Competition seeks ideas, big or small, that can enhance the way public spaces bring people together and encourage them to get outdoors.
“Don’t hold back. This is a competition to stretch our thinking about public spaces and create ideas and new ways of thinking in an evolving city.”
NSW Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the COVID-19 pandemic has increased our awareness of the beneficial role public spaces play in the mental, physical and the social wellbeing of communities.
“So much of the pandemic has been focused on what we can’t do,” says Stokes. “This is about what we can do, about seizing the incredible opportunity we have to rethink our streets, parks and public spaces into the future.
“That’s why we want you, the people of Sydney, to share your ideas on how to improve, change and create even greater public spaces across Sydney.”
Caroline Butler-Bowdon, executive director of Public Spaces at the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, adds, “We’ve seen how much value and joy great public spaces bring to people from our experience of the pandemic, but our public spaces make a difference to people’s lives 365 days of the year.
“The Public Space Ideas competition is a great opportunity to reimagine our public spaces – our streets, our parks, our community places. No idea is too small. We encourage creativity and vision.”
The competition will be judged across five categories with nine awards to be given out.
“Ideas could include transforming an existing public space or creating something completely new, but we want to hear from the community across Sydney about what they would like to see,” says Gabriel Metcalf, CEO of the Committee for Sydney.
A winner will be awarded by the minister alongside with two special categories: one for children and young people, and one for university students.
Entries will be judged by a 13-member panel that includes NSW Government Architect Abbie Galvin, AILA national president Shaun Walsh, Gehl Architects partner and managing director Henriette Vamberg, and representatives from Sydney’s universities: Elizabeth Mossop (UTS), Helen Lochhead (UNSW), Kerry London (Western Sydney University) and Robyn Dowling (University of Sydney).
The competition is open to everyone and entrants will be required to submit a 250-word description and an image of their idea, in the form of a sketch, drawing, rendering etc.
Applications close 28 August.
CLICK HERE to visit the website for more information.
Don't miss out! Enter now.
The competition is supported by Aecom and AILA.