Can you come up with inspiring and innovative ideas for the future uses of gasholder bases – the sub-surface voids left behind once an old gasholder has been demolished?
The RIBA's latest competition seeks raise the profile of the future of gasholder bases and the subsequent regeneration this will generate.
National Grid Property, which manages the company’s surplus land, has a portfolio of former gasholders which will be dismantled over the coming years. The engineered bases of below-ground holders represent large voids in the sub-surface once dismantling has occurred. These voids represent potential future health and safety hazards if left empty and unused so the default practice is to backfill the holder and leave the site level for sale to potential developers.
Backfilling the voids is both labour and resource intensive, even if the material used is from other sites where the material is surplus to requirements. There is also a high environmental cost with the transport of material and associated dis-amenity. For these reasons, there is an opportunity to investigate alternative uses of the void space.
The initial phase of the competition will require digital submissions only, with five concept designs shortlisted for further development at the second phase. Each shortlisted designer will receive an honorarium of £3,000 +VAT. The winner will receive an additional £4,000 +VAT and there may be an additional payment of £1,000 +VAT for a highly commended scheme.
The deadline for 'phase one' design ideas is 2pm on 10 October 2017.
Visit the Gasholder Bases competition website
Image: Gasholder by Matt Brown CC-BY
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