Erect Architecture announced as winners of the RIBA and Vauxhall One’s international design competition

Associated media

Following a unanimous verdict from the judges, the winner of the RIBA and Vauxhall One’s international design competition has been announced. London-based Erect Architecture and J&L Gibbons will now work with Vauxhall One to re-design the public realm in the Vauxhall area of Nine Elms on the South Bank.

Over the last month the three shortlisted entries have had a chance to expand their initial ideas, along with a Green Infrastructure Audit from the Mayor’s Office, before presenting back to the judging panel. In winning the competition Erect Architecture have landed a five-year programme of work in which they will work with the Vauxhall One team to realize their plans.

In the judges’ opinion, the winning plan demonstrated understanding of the site, history and context, offered exceptional design flair and innovation, and exhibited excellent understanding of Green Infrastructure. In addition the design was quirky and fun. The design entitled The Promenade of Curiosities, focuses on the creation of a Vauxhall Walkway and improvement to the Vauxhall Gardens and Railway Arches.

Chris Law, Public Realm and Development Director for Vauxhall One, commented:

We were absolutely delighted with all the entries. It shows what level of design interest there is in Vauxhall. But the Erect/ J&L Gibbons entry was really special. It has so many quirky and innovative features. We really want to make a difference by regenerating Vauxhall through green and sustainable measures and their entry was outstanding.

The competition was judged by a panel of specialists (including Sue Illman, president of Landscape Institute, Stephen Crisp, head gardener to the US Ambassador, Christopher Woodward, director of the Garden Museum, as well as Doreen Lawrence, mother of Stephen Lawrence) and entries were judged on a number of criteria including opportunities for green intervention, inventiveness, viability and complementing of existing planning to ensure a joined up and considered public realm for the entire area.

The aim is to create a striking new identity for the area in and around Vauxhall – a stretch of land dubbed the ‘Missing Link’ between the new US Embassy and London’s South Bank. Vauxhall is at the heart of Nine Elms on the South Bank, the £15 billion opportunity area between Lambeth Bridge and Chelsea Bridge which includes Vauxhall town centre, the new US Embassy and Battersea Power Station.

For more information, please visit www.nineelmslondon.com or www.ribacompetitions.com