RIBA's Forgotten Spaces

The RIBA has announced the shortlist for its Forgotten Spaces ideas competition which asked architects, designers, artists and students to find innovative solutions for utilising overlooked spaces in London and Sheffield.

The shortlist includes a range of innovative, far reaching and practical ideas.

The London highlights include proposals for festival firepits in Crystal Palace, artist-inhabited church spires across the City, climbing tunnels in Clapham and event spaces for Bethnal Green tower blocks.

In Sheffield the list includes a giant golden frame that floats down the city’s canals, Sheffield’s own version of the Hollywood sign, an urban beach in a city centre car park and a shower block for urban potholers.

With 138 submissions in London and 60 in Sheffield it is one of the largest open ideas competitions of its kind run by the RIBA.  

The RIBA will announce competition winners and award cash prizes for both competitions in autumn with exhibitions to follow at Somerset House, London and the Crucible Sheffield First prize will receive £5,000, second prize £2,000 and third prize £1,000

The full shortlists for London and Sheffield with galleries are available to view at Forgotten Space London and Forgotten Space Sheffield.