The Davidson Prize Shortlist Revealed: ways of living in a post-pandemic world

27/03/2021. [London] UK
metalocus, ALMUDENA PERLAZA

The Alan Davidson Prize is held to reward innovative architectural ideas in memory of Alan Davidson, a pioneer in architectural visualization. 55 participants were presented, however, only 18 have managed to be finalists.

This year the theme was home/work, since the pandemic, working from home is a reality, therefore our way of life has had to adapt completely unexpectedly to this situation many of the companies have created hybrid working models.

Onni by Cousins & Cousins x Ekkist

20 Minute Commute by Elli Farrant Architects

The Work/Home Ecosystem by REMI·C·T Studio

Camera Lucida by Playhouse

The Module by Mole + Darc Studio

Tea Time by O'Donnell Brown

The AntiPODy by Origin 3 Studio

Two-Door City by Workhome

A Stitch in Time by Team Wobble

Work Outside by Tonkin Liu

OutsideIn by OutsideIn

A Framework for Local Growth by Ukuaji

Part N by Soffit Collective

Shifting Perspectives by Threefold + The Liminal Space

The Live, the Work and the Wardrobe by Graeme Nicholls Architects & Secchi Smith

To Work on Common Ground by Studioshaw y Finn Thomson

Com-View-Nism by New Normal

In this edition of The Alan Davidson Prize, the fact that all the participants had lived through the pandemic, has resulted in the creation of a series of more personal projects, each project contains a personal experience, in a way it is an autobiographical work.

Several of the solutions aimed to combat the feeling of loneliness generated by social isolation, within the proposed typologies we have new models of social planning and development, in addition to the creation of intermediate spaces between work and housing, both abroad. as inside buildings.

The Davidson Prize announces an 18-strong shortlist for its inaugural edition. Responding to the theme of Home/Work, 55 entrants imagined innovative solutions for living and working in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The shortlist features a broad range of new ideas for homes, neighbourhoods and communities.

The Davidson Prize is an architectural ideas prize set up to celebrate transformative ideas for the architecture of the home in memory of architectural visualisation pioneer Alan Davidson. The inaugural theme of ‘Home/Work – A New Future’ is prompted by the urgent need to reassess how we want to live and work post pandemic. Many businesses have already adopted hybrid working models as research indicates that most desk-based workers want more choice in future to work from home. But the typical home doesn’t meet the requirements to work comfortably, and redesigning domestic spaces for work is a more complex brief than simply choosing the right desk and chair. How will architects and their collaborative teams rethink our homes and neighbourhoods for different and more varied modes of working?

Among the 2021 shortlisted entries, recurring themes included hyperlocal, community-based solutions that aim to combat feelings of social isolation, with approaches ranging from adaptive typologies in urbanism to new planning and development models. Other themes included biophilia, natural light and wellbeing; retrofit and modular solutions for the separation of work and living; and the occupation of in-between spaces for work – in and around buildings and out on the streets.

The 2021 Shortlist.

– Cousins & Cousins x Ekkist.- Onni
– Elli Farrant Architects.- 20-Minute Commute
– Graeme Nicholls Architects & Secchi Smith.- The Live, the Work and the Wardrobe
– HomeForest.- HomeForest
– Mole + Darc Studio.- The Module
– New Normal.- Com-View-Nism
– O'Donnell Brown.- Tea Time
– Origin 3 Studio.- The AntiPODy
– OutsideIn.- OutsideIn
– Playhouse.- Camera Lucida
– REMI·C·T Studio.- The Work/Home Ecosystem
– Soffit Collective.- Part N
– Studioshaw and Finn Thomson.- To Work on Common Ground
– Team Wobble.- A Stitch in Time
– Threefold + The Liminal Space.- Shifting Perspectives
– Tonkin Liu.- Work Outside
– Ukuaji.- A Framework for Local Growth
– Workhome.- Two-Door City

“The universality of the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that the subject matter of the Prize: ‘Home/Work – A New Future’ was something we all experienced over the past year. As a result, submissions were, in a lot of cases, more autobiographical than what these designers and thinkers might have produced under ‘the old normal’. This has been really interesting. The shortlisted entries cover a spectrum of solutions, from adapting the home, to rethinking how we inhabit our streets, to digital tools. It will be fantastic to see all these ideas evolve at the next stage.”

The Davidson Prize judge, Alison Brooks.

“We were blown away by the quality of submissions for the Prize’s inaugural year. From macro to micro solutions, town planning to wardrobe design - it was great to see how the different teams responded to the theme. We have a really strong shortlist, and the judges will have some tough decisions to make!”

Marie Chamillard, Administrator at the Alan Davidson Foundation.

At the next stage The Davidson Prize jury panel will select three finalists from the shortlist. The panel comprises internationally acclaimed architect Alison Brooks; London-based designer Thomas Heatherwick; writer, author and television presenter Michelle Ogundehin; senior partner at Foster + Partners Narinder Sagoo; and director of the Museum of the Home Sonia Solicari. Finalists will be given £5,000 to develop their ideas in the form of a visual media presentation. The Davidson Prize overall winner will be announced in June 2021 and will be awarded a £10,000 prize.

The Davidson Prize rewards transformative architecture of the home.
It aims to promote excellent design and wellbeing and the compelling communication of these solutions. Each year entrants will be asked to consider a different aspect of the home, starting with future ways of working.