New Prize Idea

The Bio-Buildings Challenge

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What is The Bio-Buildings Challenge?

A £10M programme of challenge prizes incentivising the design of futuristic but functional public buildings that are made of bio-fabricated components and powered by nature. The winning designs will be the first-of-their-kind integration of natural materials and systems that embody the values of sustainability and environmental consciousness while being a living testament to human ingenuity and creativity. The prize is in part inspired by Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, whose iconic designs were inspired by nature.

The problem

The Bio-Buildings Challenge aims to harness the power of biology to address the issue of sustainability and environmental consciousness in the construction of public buildings. Traditional construction methods and materials often have a negative impact on the environment and contribute to climate change. The challenge seeks to promote the use of natural materials and systems in the construction of functional structures that live in harmony with their environment.

Bio-buildings are not just a necessary response to our pressing environmental concerns, but they also represent a powerful symbol of human ingenuity and our ability to find solutions to the most challenging problems. In the same way that the Pyramids or the Eiffel Tower are timeless symbols of human creativity and determination, bio-buildings can serve as a reminder of our commitment to sustainability and our deep connection with the natural world.

Like these iconic structures, bio-buildings can also capture the imagination of people around the world, inspiring new generations of architects, engineers, and designers to think creatively about the built environment. By challenging ourselves to create buildings that blur the boundaries between human-made structures and natural spaces, we can push the limits of what is possible and create a new vision for the future of sustainable architecture.

Why a challenge prize?

Challenge prizes encourage circular and regenerative design principles, which are essential for creating sustainable buildings and infrastructure that can support the planet and its inhabitants for generations to come. The Bio-Buildings Challenge is uniquely positioned to showcase how these principles can be implemented in practice, rather than remaining theoretical concepts. This challenge prize recognizes the need for visionary interventions and collaborations across different sectors and disciplines to make this type of sustainable project a reality.

Driving Innovation

To bring bio-buildings to life, a radical and innovative approach is necessary. However, this type of approach is often not prioritised in the private sector and may not be feasible to accomplish through academia alone. Therefore, it is essential to create a space where experts and innovators from diverse backgrounds can collaborate and experiment, taking risks to drive transformative change.

Attracting diverse talent

The Bio-Buildings Challenge provides a platform to attract talent from across different disciplines, including bio-design, architecture, materials science, life sciences, and entrepreneurship, to come together under one roof. This collaboration can unlock new ideas and approaches that may not be possible within the constraints of a single organization or sector. The challenge prize also creates incentives for these experts to work together and achieve the goal of creating sustainable and regenerative bio-buildings that benefit society and the planet as a whole.

Creating a showcase for new technologies

The first Bio-Buildings will be a magnificent achievement of sustainable architecture that will utilise natural materials and systems to construct functional structures that exist in harmony with their environment. This remarkable innovation in construction and design will represent a significant leap forward in human progress. Bio-buildings will be a living manifestation of how natural beauty and function can harmoniously coexist, serving as a symbol of Britain’s commitment to safeguarding the planet for generations to come.

The Prize Structure

The Bio-Buildings Challenge aims to bring together visionary designers, architects, botanists, biochemical engineers, material scientists, and eco-entrepreneurs to integrate emerging biological materials and systems into one sustainable design. The goal is for bio-buildings to be carbon negative throughout their lifecycle by absorbing carbon while providing critical services such as shelter and nourishment, purifying water and air, and generating electricity and illumination. The challenge seeks to incentivize building designs that fall within three broad archetypes, which offer distinctive features and provide valuable services for the British public:

1st year

The challenge’s first year will focus on our connection with the natural world. The goal is to design beautiful and tranquil spaces, such as leisure centres, community spaces, museums, or wildlife sanctuaries, where people can play, learn, and relax.

2nd year

The second year will focus on sustenance. The challenge will follow circular design principles, aiming to design garden eateries that grow, brew, or otherwise prepare nutritious food and drink to offer to visitors.

3rd year

The third year of the challenge will explore regeneration. The challenge will aim to design architecture that treats waste of all kinds to generate resources, such as clean water or green electricity, and offers services such as restrooms, mobile charging points, or powering surrounding lights at night.

While deviation from natural components will be allowed in rare exceptions, such as electronics used for harvesting power from natural sources, monitoring equipment for research purposes, or addressing safety requirements, finding alternative natural solutions will be assessed more favourably. For instance, generating light by bioluminescence rather than LEDs or designing ventilating systems that use wind and thermal buoyancy instead of electric power.

The Bio-Buildings Challenge seeks to inspire the world to embrace sustainable practices and promote using natural materials and systems in construction. By doing so, these buildings will serve as a model for sustainable construction practices for future generations.

Prize Timeline

A 3-year programme of development and demonstrations culminating with a prize to fund the construction of the best designs. Each year focuses on a different category of buildings and services. Shortlisted teams will be granted support and development funds and a prize will be to fund the construction of the winning design. Each year could be structured as follows:

Entry period (months 0-4):

Multidisciplinary teams have 3 months to enter the competition with their building proposal (followed by a month of assessment and shortlisting).

Development period (months 5-11):

Shortlisted teams spend 6 months developing and integrating the materials, testing systems in small-scale pilots, and exploring a suitable location for the building (followed by a month of assessment and winner selection).

Winner announcement (month 12):

The prize will be used to reward the winners and fund the construction of the building.

This prize idea is designed to be a conversation starter, so tell us what you think!

The best prize ideas are developed through extensive research and engagement with experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience of the problems they are focused on. We start with a first draft like the one above – then work to improve, refine and validate our thinking.

We’re particularly keen to have conversations about this idea with potential funders and organisations working in the field. Get in touch if you’re interested – or if you think you have a better idea – and we’ll schedule a call.

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