RIBA "iHub" competition entry, runner up from 71
international entries
Eastern Way, Daventry, Northamptonshire
Client: University of Northampton
Status: shortlisted competition entry
The ‘iHub” competition was run by the RIBA on behalf of the University of Northampton. The competition stakeholders also included the Building
Research Establishment (BRE), East Midlands Development Agency,
West Northamptonshire Development Corporation, and Daventry District
Council.
The competition was for an iconic, landmark building to house conference
and exhibition facilities, café, restaurant, and 60 innovation start-up offices.
The proposals had to strictly comply with a budget of £5.2 million, and as there was an emphasis on sustainability it also had to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating.
The competition was had 2 stages, attracting 71 international entries, from which only 5 entries were shortlisted.
"... the judges were extremely impressed with your scheme and your presentation, and did place your scheme joint second."
“The variety of the building designs on show to the judges was quite spectacular, with many entries demonstrating the highest possible standards of excellence and innovative thinking in the fields of construction and sustainability. It has been an extremely difficult process narrowing this list down to the five shortlisted finalists.”
The principal concept of our design proposal is the inherent friction between
town and country, in effect between urban and rural, which Daventry and the
site itself encapsulate. The main building had a more sculptural feel whilst
the innovation units were clearly urban in their look and feel.
Therefore our proposal is an elemental scheme based around the proposed
canal route, that dissipates the required accommodation into three pieces,
two of which have an urban, business-like quality, and one iconic piece that
makes reference to the surrounding landscape. The combination of these
buildings created an impressive canal-side ‘place’ which the judges commended.
“The scheme was admired for the waterside place making....we admired the
urban feel of the canal side massing”
There is a suggestion of the dynamic and creative in the facades of the flexible
innovation unit buildings. Although simply constructed, flexible (due to the
structural grid), and energy efficient, with a slight canal-inspired industrial feel,
they bring a colourful excitement to the scheme with their random yet
controlled façade fenestration. These elevations are composed of solar shading,
glazing, fixed panels, balconies, and opportunities for company signage /
graphic identities.
The scheme surpassed the brief by achieving a carbon neutral status thanks
to a combination of fundamentally sound orientation and planning, key
environmental strategies, use of materials, and sustainable elements.
The judges commented: “You presented a strong, clear, low energy strategy.”
The landscape concept refers to the rural condition, reflecting the typical
agricultural patterns of the area with ‘traces’ in the landscape, thus creating
a variety of external spaces (from orchard to meadow) for different activities.
We would like to thank the following for their assistance in this competition entry:-
- Emission Zero (environmental consultants)
- Halcrow Yolles (structural engineers)
- Locus CM (cost management consultants)
- Mark Cowell (landscape designer)