The finalists are:
GS Architecture
Polysmiths
Peerada Liew Studio with Nuraddin Kazimov
Makower Architects in collaboration with Common Works, Velocity, Light Follows Behaviour and Aspect Studios.
The two-stage competition, open to multidisciplinary teams of architects, designers, artist, engineers and creative practitioners, sought proposals to transform the space beneath the bridge on Clapham High Street into a ‘bold, welcoming gateway’ for the area.
The competition was organised by Clapham Society and This is Clapham (Clapham BID) and follows Lambeth Council’s recent announcement of plans to upgrade Voltaire Road next to the bridge.
The ‘utilitarian’ railway bridge was built in the mid-19th century and is close to both Clapham High Street station and Clapham North tube station. It crosses over the Clapham High Street stretch of the busy A3 road. The underside of the bridge suffers from congestion and poor air quality.
Designs for the upgrade were expected to play a strong placemaking role, to enhance the surrounding environment, and to promote a ‘welcoming, vibrant public realm and a distinctive sense of place.’
Clapham Society chair Jake Johnson, who chairs the jury, said: ‘The Gateway to Clapham competition has inspired an incredible range of ideas, from poetic reflections of Clapham’s layered history, to bold and contemporary gestures that look to its future.
‘The shortlisted schemes demonstrate the imagination and care that this special place deserves. We would like to thank all of the teams who took the time to participate and share their creativity with us.’
The judging panel also includes Julia Barfield, director of Marks Barfield Architects; Sinclair Johnston, consultant at Ayesa UK; Jeremy Keates, manager of This is Clapham BID; and Petr Kaiser, founder of Best of SW London.
The shortlisted teams will each receive an honorarium of GBP £1,200 to participate in the second phase of the competition, during which proposals will be further refined in response to general and proposal-specific feedback.
The winning concept will form the basis for future implementation, subject to funding and planning approvals.
The contest comes less than a year after a team led by GPAD and POoR Collective won a contest for a £2 million upgrade of Battersea’s Falcon Road Bridge 2.5km to the west. Artist and designer Yinka Ilori competed a competition-winning overhaul of the nearby Thessaly Road railway bridge as part of the London Festival of Architecture six years ago.
Clapham is an inner-London town centre of around 50,000 inhabitants. Local architectural landmarks include Studio Voltaire by Matheson Whiteley, Clapham One by Studio Egret West and dRMM’s Stirling Prize-shortlisted Clapham Manor Primary School.