HOME OFFICE News
Release (084/2009) issued by COI News Distribution Service on 8 May 2009
The winner of a
Home Office backed competition for architecture and design
students to design a public space to minimise the effects of a
terrorist attack, has been announced by Security Minister Lord West.
Peter Hughes successfully combined the development of a public
space that could support a number of social uses with a design
that considered minimising fatalities in the event of a terrorist
attack to win the 'Public Spaces, Safer Places' competition.
Lord West congratulated Mr Hughes, who is currently undertaking
his Part One qualification in architecture, having graduated from
Sheffield University last summer, during an award ceremony at the
Home Office.
Lord West said:
"I want to congratulate Peter and thank all the entrants to
this unique competition. In particular, I want to draw attention
to the innovative work that Peter has done. His design integrated
counter terrorism measures into a redeveloped social space. This
approach is to be encouraged for the next generation of architects
and designers in order to better protect our crowded spaces.
"The designing-in of counter terrorism protective security
measures to new buildings and space at the earliest concept design
stage will be crucial to the future of safer crowded places.
"I would also like to thank the RSA, RIBA and NaCTSO who,
through this competition, have successfully raised awareness of
designing-in counter terrorism among the architects and designers
of the future."
The competition - part of the RSA's Design Directions
student award scheme - asked competitors to think about security
features and safety issues when designing a fictional public
space. Competitors were asked to consider and include innovative
counter terrorism measures in their designs.
The competition attracted 92 entrants. The winner received a
£1,000 prize and a number of outstanding entries have been on
display to a wide range of stakeholders in the Home Office London
headquarters building this week.
Chief Executive of the RSA, Matthew Taylor said:
"Design Directions challenges designers to use their skills
in dealing with disorder, complexity and intractable social
issues. Working with the Home Office on this project has been a
great opportunity to expose young designers to some of the
specific challenges of the public realm today, particularly the
crowded urban context. How to answer in equal measure the high
expectations of elegant, busy and animated public space and the
increasing tensions and technicalities of security is the
challenge here. Peter Hughes's solution combines inspiring
symbolism with an ingenious, tactical organisation of space."
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The competition brief presented architecture and design
students with a fictional terrorist attack in a space
approximately one hectare in size. They were asked to respond with
proposals for a new public space on the site with well-considered
design proposals that are appropriate to the space and the
buildings/interiors that will surround it. Central to this, is the
integration of security features, protection for the space, the
buildings and those that use them that does not compromise the
integrity of the environment's design aesthetic.
2. The competition is a response to one of the recommendations
Home Office Security Minister Lord West made last year in his
review of how best to protect crowded places from terrorism. In
particular, the need to do more to raise awareness of counter
terrorism measures among professional bodies, such as architects
and designers.
3. The competition has been developed in collaboration with the
Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and
Commerce, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the
police National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO).
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