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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Harringay Warehouse Architecture Competition Criticised as Exploitative

A competition brief for a pavilion to be built in the Harringay Wareh... as part of the London Festival of Architecture (LFA) has been redrawn after a backlash from several leading architects

The contest sought innovative proposals for a temporary pavilion on a 365m² former car park site in the Harringay Warehouse District, on the corner of Eade Road and Seven Sisters Road.

However, the organisers, local architect Joe Wright, artist Carolina Khouri, and James West, faced criticism because of their failure to include a design fee for the winning team.

It prompted an open letter signed by 23 leading architects which criticised the ‘exploitative and cynical’ procurement process.

In response, the organisers promised to adopt new terms with immediate effect and admitted ‘naivety in the structure of the competition’, which they claimed was based on previous ‘warehouse-based projects where people collaborate voluntarily’. 

Shortlisted teams will now each receive a £300 honorarium for their sketch submissions and all applicants will be invited to submit fee proposals for the £15,000-£30,000 structure. The organisers have also promised to only proceed with construction if enough funds are raised to pay the winning team’s fee in full.

The winning scheme – to be selected by a community vote and jury – is planned to be constructed by a team of up to 60 volunteers during the London Festival of Architecture in June. Shortlisted designs will feature as part of the event and will also be exhibited online.

The registration deadline is 8 March and submissions must be completed by 29 March.

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I was able to find several references to the letter in the architectural press, but nothing that published the actual letter. 

Much as I admire others in my profession for highlighting this perhaps on this occasion they chose an easy target. Maybe more energy should be spent on reducing the unpaid resources committed to public tenders and OJEU notices. 

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