Today NLA is launching international ideas competition Reimagine London, inviting all multi-disciplinary teams and London enthusiasts to present the best new ideas for the city.

Reimagine London seeks new ideas that will shape the future of the capital as a resilient and 24-hour city. Entrants are invited to submit a one-page summary, poster, or a video pitch, selling their idea for the city – however ambitious, blue sky and no holds-barred. 

There will be a £10,000 prize fund for the best new ideas for London. Members of the public will be able to vote online (and in person) for their favourite shortlisted idea, from which a People’s Choice prize will be awarded. In September the international jury will meet to decide remaining prizes including a Young Londoners Prize for an idea developed by or with under 25s.

All shortlisted ideas from the competition will go on public display at a ‘Reimagine London’ exhibition opening at The London Centre in September - a central London gallery highlighting the people, places and buildings that make London a world class city. Shortlisted ideas will also go in front of the high-profile jury of designers, innovators and city makers, and be open to the public vote. In addition up to 10 shortlisted applicants will also have the opportunity to present their idea at an NLA ‘Reimagine London’ PechaKucha event, coinciding with the exhibition. 

The judging panel includes: Adam Nathaniel Furman, a multi-award winning artist and designer based in London; Johanna Agerman Ross, the Chief Curator of the Design Museum; Nikki Linsell, COO at Public Practice; Rob Heasman, CEO of The Earls Court Development Company (ECDC), the organisation responsible for driving the regeneration of the former Earls Court Exhibition Centre site; and Emily Prideaux, Executive Director at Derwent London. Emily is a chartered surveyor, Director of The Paddington Partnership and NLA Expert Panel Member. Derwent London is one of London’s most innovative office specialist property regenerators and investors and is well known for its design-led philosophy and creative management approach to development. Other judges will be announced in the coming months.

Reimagine London follows the launch of the New London Agenda, a framework for best practice in city-making, drawing on over 350 interdisciplinary experts. The Agenda identifies ‘Six Pillars of Place-making’, which will form the basis of the selection criteria for the competition. These are: focus on health; plan for future generations; think beyond boundaries; value diversity; leverage innovation; and work in partnership. Entries will also be judged against their originality, and their potential to create meaningful change for the city.
 

Launched in collaboration with the LDN Collective, Reimagine London is designed to reinforce London’s reputation as a world-leading centre for innovation, and drive valuable debate about the future of the city as it enters a new development cycle which offers the opportunity to address wider issues of planetary, social and spatial justice.