Evaluation

A methodical approach to achieving good design

Brent Council and the two housing associations lacked knowledge and experience of running a design competition. They welcomed the CABE enabler’s help in agreeing parameters for the brief, deciding on quality standards, writing the competition brief and assessing the quality of the entries.

By agreeing the design criteria early in the process, Brent Council and the two housing associations pinned down what they meant by ‘good design’.

The value of the workshop

The workshop included stakeholders who were not directly involved with the project, but whose support was vital for its success. As a result of the workshop these stakeholders were more flexible, particularly in terms of the financial viability of any proposed scheme.

Catalyst Housing Group now uses a similar workshop format for other projects to involve stakeholders that are indirectly connected. They recognise the value of getting input in the development phase of the brief about management and issues around end-use.

A good design competition

Brent Council and the two housing associations agree that support from the CABE enabler throughout the process was crucial, both in structuring the competition brief and selecting a winner.

All three organisations now take steps to ensure that design briefs are well written and contain the right information.

The architects that took part in the competition said that the process was stimulating and challenged them to come up with their best ideas.