Take Back the City Coalition is launching an international competition for architects, planners and urban design consultants to submit a design to transform Belfast’s largest publicly owned site: City of the Future.
With the potential for 950 gentle density homes in the area of highest social housing need in Belfast, entrants are being encouraged to submit design concepts to help transform the site formerly occupied by Mackies, once one of West Belfast’s largest employers.
Plans for the 25 acre vacant site will be judged by a panel of local and international experts. Following a period of community engagement, the winner of City of the Future will receive a £10,000 prize which will be announced in October 2022, and will have the opportunity to take their design to master-plan stage.
Submissions for City of the Future can include novel or innovative methods including short films, technical drawings or other formats. The designs will be judged on the six principles of development which have been developed by Take Back The City through a participative community engagement process. The six principles are: a healthy place to live; adapting to the challenges of a changing climate; an inclusive community; co-creation in design; local employment and skills; self-management and autonomy.