Call for submissions for “Living with Buildings” commission

This week Wellcome Collection launched an open call for an architectural commission for our major new exhibition, “Living with Buildings: Health and architecture.” Application Deadline: February 2, 2018.

We’re looking for proposals from architects, engineers, designers and artists for a full-scale “live build” architectural project to accompany the exhibition. The concept must explore a key issue or health concern and how it might be addressed through design. Potential topics include—but are not limited to—climate change, pollution, dementia, infectious disease, obesity and shelter housing.

The commission should form part of an already-developed research project related to health, and there will be opportunities to display background research and concepts alongside the structure. What is created must be suitable for use within a museum environment, and speak to broad and diverse audiences not necessarily familiar with the field of contemporary architecture.

There is a commissioning fee of 7,500 GBP (inc. VAT) to be awarded to the winning entry and a build budget of 60,000 GBP (inc. VAT).

Panel

Sadie Morgan is a founding director of dRMM, winners of the Stirling Prize 2017 for their restoration and reimagining of Hastings Pier. Her steadfast belief in the importance of design that connects back to people and place is a central influence in our practice. Over her 20-year career Sadie has had an increasingly significant role in the advocacy of design and architecture through her professional practice and her advisory roles.

Jeremy Myerson is the first-ever holder of the Helen Hamlyn Chair of Design at the Royal College of Art, with a remit to encourage “design that improves quality of life.” His research interests focus on the role of design in social, demographic and technological change and he is an Honorary Fellow at the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing.

Emily Sargent is Senior Curator of temporary exhibitions at Wellcome Collection, London. She is curating an exhibition which opens at Wellcome in October 2018 which explores links between health and architecture, with a focus on the people who use buildings to live, heal and be human.

Vanessa Norwood is Head of Exhibitions at the Architectural Association, one of the world’s most influential centres of architectural culture and learning. Vanessa is one of the leading curators of architecture in the UK and has commissioned and curated a range of exhibitions that celebrate architecture in a wider context.

Paul Wilkinson is a clinical epidemiologist based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. His research interests include climate change and health, health effects of environmental pollution and urban health, including housing, and sustainable development.

Please note, the panel is subject to change and will be updated accordingly.

The competition deadline is February 2, 2018. Further information is available online, or alternatively contact us on lwbcommission@wellcome.ac.uk should you have any questions.