International Open Ideas Competition: Market Square, Newport - a renewed place and space

The RIBA Competitions Office is organising an International Open Ideas Competition on behalf of Newport City Council and Newport Unlimited, working in partnership with the Welsh Development Agency and the Design Commission for Wales. Submissions are invited from architects, landscape architects, engineers, town planners and urban designers for a new public space and its surrounding urban built form in the Market Square area of Newport, South Wales. Collaboration between these and other disciplines (e.g. public artists) is actively encouraged, as are submissions from students who are registered on appropriate courses.

1. Aspirational Statement The City of Newport is undergoing tremendous change. Newport Unlimited, the only Urban Regeneration Company in Wales, was established in 2002 to work in partnership with Newport City Council to drive forward regeneration and bring the City into the 21st Century. October 2004 saw the completion of the showpiece Riverfront Theatre & Arts Centre, adjacent to the competition site. Planned for completion in 2006 is the dramatic new Usk Footbridge designed by Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners which will open up further possibilities for the regeneration of the river frontage. This competition provides an exciting opportunity for innovative and imaginative designers to showcase their creative talent in exploring the potential of an important ‘gateway’ site and to be part of this long term creative vision for Newport.

2. The Design Challenge Newport Unlimited has completed a Masterplan with a team led by Skidmore Owings & Merrill Inc. (SOM) ‘Newport 2020 Unlimited Vision: A Masterplan for Central Newport’. The Masterplan focuses on the River Usk being reinstated as the heart of the City, reuniting the urban fabric of the city with the river and creating a high quality river edge that will be both a local and regional attraction. The Market Square/Castle Area is identified within the Masterplan as being a Priority Area for change. It is intended that a radical redesign of Market Square and the provision of new built form will transform it into a high quality contemporary urban ‘place’; it is one of the most challenging tasks facing the City Council in terms of public space and new build provision within the City Centre. The complete masterplan can be viewed on the web site of Newport Unlimited at the following URL: www.newportunlimited.co.uk. Specifically the Market Square/Castle Green Area is reviewed in detail within Chapter 5 Priority Areas, page 5-13 & 14. One of the fundamental objectives of the regeneration of the City Centre is to reconnect the commercial core with the West Bank of the River Usk. The River itself is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - a valuable wildlife habitat with extensive mudflats and a tidal range of 6 metres - it provides a dominant landscape character within the City

This competition is an excellent opportunity to provide ideas for the creation of a dynamic new urban space framed by new built form. This should enable the provision of more flexible and robust development opportunities and so reconnect the historic core of the City with the river’s edge. In promoting this competition, Newport City Council and their partners challenge teams / individuals to generate design ideas that will:
􀂃 successfully reclaim an area that is currently dominated by highway.
􀂃 reinvigorate and rebalance the built form with new architecture and public realm.
􀂃 reconnect the Grade II listed Market Hall to the riverfront.
􀂃 extend and improve the pedestrian and cycle access along the river’s edge.

3. Vision for Market Square The winning designs will be those which respond best to the City Council’s and Newport Unlimited’s Vision for Market Square - namely that it should be a dynamic, inspirational space which people will want to use and provide a revitalised connection to the riverfront. The design solution should respect and enhance the setting of the Market Hall, whilst proposing new buildings that will reinvigorate the area and encourage a vibrant sense of place/space to emerge.

4. Context Historically, South East Wales, and Newport in particular, has always been an important communication hub. The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal was built through the area in the 1780’s and became the engine of Newport’s growth, bringing coal and iron from the eastern valleys to wharfs on the River Usk. The railways took over from the canal in the period from 1850 onwards and followed the same alignment. As rail transport and the use of the riverside wharfs declined, the area was cleared in the 1960’s and a major road intersection (the Old Green roundabout) was built. At this stage there was no M4 and Town Bridge was one of only two bridges across the river in Newport - this was the main route into England from Wales. Newport has never therefore really ‘owned’ this section of the River Usk. The land immediately adjacent to the river was cleared in the 1980’s and the ‘Steel Wave’ sculpture by Peter Fink erected. This space remains cut off from the City Centre, and is little used. The Riverfront Theatre was completed in Autumn 2004 on a site to the south of the competition area, but again, access is only possible across a complex and discouraging road junction over Uskway (the main north-south road). This is a four-lane highway; there are also two, two lane slip roads that have to be crossed. As the ‘northern gateway entrance’ this is a poor welcome to Newport. It currently provides no celebration of arrival. People entering the city by car are greeted by a traffic speed camera which enforces their speed rather than through the geometry of the road design or the quality of the public realm. A new and welcoming celebration of arrival is needed at this important gateway to the city centre.

5. The Design Area The aspiration for the new Market Square is to reconnect the Market Hall with the River Usk via the demolition of the adjacent highways and provide a new northern gateway to Newport City Centre. By limiting vehicular access to Town Bridge, it will be possible to reconfigure the Old Green interchange with the removal of the existing northbound and southbound slip ramps immediately in front of the Market Hall. This will release valuable land for a new civic space enabling future development opportunities. As well as transforming the surrounding area into a more pedestrian-friendly environment, this will also strengthen the views to the Market Hall and enhance access to the Castle, two of the City Centre’s most important landmarks. The design area is partially located within a Conservation Area and is currently semi- pedestrianised with controlled vehicular access. The design area is indicated on the accompanying CD-ROM (available upon payment of the appropriate registration fee -see Section 9) and encompasses the entire open space defined by the existing built form and highway infrastructure. The existing design area ‘features’ currently include:
􀂃 a dominant public highways infrastructure, including slip roads (with parking beneath) and associated pedestrian subways/walkways to the adjacent Old Green Roundabout junction.
􀂃 surrounding Victorian architecture of varying quality and a tight urban grain to the west
􀂃 a hard riverside edge created in the 1980’s
􀂃 the ‘Steel Wave’ , a dominant sculpture by Peter Fink, adjacent to the river’s edge.
􀂃 a seating area with sculpture ‘This Little Piggy’ …went to market - a life-size pig cast in bronze by Sebastian Boyesen, 1993/1994.
􀂃 a number of semi mature trees in raised planters. The relocation of the sculptures should be considered within the proposals and there should be no proposed demolition of existing architectural built form.

However, more consideration should be given to new built form in terms of massing and architectural quality around a new civic space.

6. Planning Context In addition to the Newport Unlimited /SOM Masterplan, there are a number of documents produced by the City Council as Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) available on the Newport City Council website for information / context. These documents are not prescriptive for this competition and entrants should not get unduly distracted by the amount of information available for the city centre. Whilst this information may be used to inform ideas submissions competitors should not be constrained by proposals identified within these documents. The draft Public Realm Strategy is currently going through the statutory consultation process in order that it can be adopted as SPG in March 2006. It sets out key design principles that the City Council will use for development proposals within the City Centre. It identifies the improvement and redesign of Market Square, referred to as the Market Gateway, as an opportunity to reconnect the City with the riverfront. Crucially, the space is highlighted as facilitating a new highways infrastructure approach, slowing down traffic to facilitate more positive pedestrian movement. However, the Council believes that the spectrum of design responses to Market Square is wide ranging and should not therefore be confined to the proposals identified within the conceptual work illustrated in the Public Realm Strategy.

7. Developing a Design Concept To meet the Council’s vision for Market Square, the design will be required to improve the physical appearance of the area and make bold innovative steps towards rationalising the highways structure in conjunction with the provision of new built form. The end product should create a dynamic, inspirational new space/place within the City Centre that is reconnected with an enhanced riverfront.

8. The Design Framework - Constraints Entrants will be expected to take into account the following constraints:
1) The existing buildings must be retained.
2) The main north-south route, Uskway, must be retained with a capacity of four traffic lanes, though competitors can change the alignment of those lanes within the design area, consistent with use by all reasonable vehicles within a 20mph limit.
3) Entrants should put forward outline proposals (in terms of massing of form and architectural treatment for buildings) to be developed within and around a new public space, giving due consideration to likely servicing arrangements.
4) Entrants must make allowance for five bus stops to be provided within the area, with vehicle links to Skinner Street at the southern end of the area, and onto the Old Green roundabout at the northern end.
5) Entrants are not required to replace existing uses (i.e. car parking) within their proposals or provide additional car parking for any proposed new development.
6) Entrants are required to work with the ARUP Old Green Preferred Option which identifies the removal of both slip roads to the Old Green Interchange.
7) The River Usk is a SAC and a SSSI - entrants are asked to assume that the line of the existing riverbank is a fixed element, though improved access for boat use on the river would be welcomed, other interventions within the river are not permitted due to its sensitive conservation status.

9. Appendices (supplied on CD-ROM upon Registration) 1) Site Photographs 2) Historic Maps 3) Aerial photos. 4) Ordnance Survey CAD Base 5) Topographic survey. 6) Extracts of City Centre Masterplan. 7) Extracts of Public Realm Strategy 8) Listing description of Market Hall. 9) Arup’s proposals for the removal of the Old Green roundabout and replacement with a bridge/traffic lights. 10) Design Area – More detailed brief 10. Method of Submission & Competition Rules Invitation Newport City Council and Newport Unlimited, working in partnership with the Welsh Development Agency, the Design Commission for Wales and in association with the RIBA invite ideas for the remodelling of the Market Square and surrounding area and the reconfiguration of the Old Green interchange/transport infrastructure.

Eligibility
The competition is open internationally to architects, landscape architects, engineers, town planners and urban designers. Collaboration between these and other disciplines (e.g. public artists) is actively encouraged. Students of these disciplines are also welcome to enter the competition. No member or employees of the promoting body nor the assessors nor any partner, associate or employee of them shall be eligible to compete or assist a competitor. Intention to Build There is no firm commitment by either Newport City Council or the other partner organisations involved to implement the winning scheme. The purpose of the competition is to inspire a way forward in resolving a complex set of issues and to help raise the profile of the Market Square and surrounding area. Competition Format The Competition will take the format of a single stage, Open Ideas Competition. A Jury Panel (see below) will meet to assess the anonymous design submissions against the Promoter’s Vision for the Market Square area and the Design Framework Constraints contained within this briefing document. Up to six schemes will be short-listed and then subject to anonymous exhibition at the Landscape Institute’s annual conference, which is to be held in Cardiff from 15 to 16 March 2006. An outline of the Conference is available to download from the Competitions Office web site - www.ribacompetitions.com. Members of the public will also be given the opportunity to see and comment on the anonymous design proposals prior to the final assessment.

Comments solicited from these consultation exercises will be made available to the Jury Panel and taken into consideration during the final assessment process. In evaluating the short-listed entries, the Jury Panel will consider whether the proposed schemes provide:
􀂃 a dynamic and inspirational space.
􀂃 a positive reconnection of the City Centre to the riverside edge.
􀂃 improved accessibility and circulation.
􀂃 a solution which respects the adjacent listed building and conservation area but complements this with new urban built form and appropriate architectural treatment.
􀂃 a more positive sense of arrival to the city from this northern gateway
􀂃 a sustainable, deliverable solution. Jury Panel The Jury Panel composition is expected to be comprised of representatives from the following organisations: Affiliation Name City of Newport Cllr. Ken Critchley (The Right Worshipful Mayor of Newport) Design Commission for Wales Landscape Institute Newport City Council Newport Unlimited Welsh Development Agency RIBA Architect Adviser Kevin Murphy (Director, Aaron Evans Architects Ltd.)

In the event that a Jury Panel member is unable to continue to act through illness or any other cause, the Promoter in consultation with the RIBA, reserves the right to appoint another Jury Panel member. A Competitions Officer from the RIBA will also attend the Jury Panel meetings to answer procedural matters, but will not be a voting member of the Jury Panel. Prize Money The Promoter will award the following prizes at the conclusion of the competition: First Prize: £2,500 Second Prize £1,500 Third Prize £750 Timetable The programme, which may be subject to variation, is as follows: Competition Brief available Mon 9 Jan 2006 Deadline for competitors to raise questions about the Competition Brief. Fri 27 Jan 2006 Answers to be circulated to all competitors. Fri 3 Feb 2006 Deadline for competitors to register for the competition. Thurs 23 Feb 2006 Submission deadline for design boards. Thurs 2 Mar 2006 Jury Panel meets to select shortlist. w/c 6 Mar 2006 Anonymous public exhibition of schemes w/c 13 Mar 2006 & w/c 20 Mar 2006 Jury Panel meets to select 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed teams. w/c 3 Apr 2006 Prizewinners announced. w/c 10 Apr 2006 Registration Fee and Deadline You may only enter the Newport Market Square Competition if you are officially registered through the RIBA Competitions Office. On receipt of the appropriate registration fee (£35.00 for professionals and £7.50 for students inclusive of VAT) the Competitions Office will issue you with a CD-ROM containing the supplementary information listed under Section 9 (Appendices), an Official Declaration Form and Official Envelope. Competitors should also complete the 'OS Data Use for 3rd Parties' form (available to download from the RIBA Competitions Office web site) and include it along with their registration payment. The supplementary information can not be issued until this form has been returned. Cheques should be made payable to RIBA Competitions - please note that we do not have credit card facilities. In order to allow sufficient time for teams to receive the supporting material, registrations will close on Thursday 23 February 2006.

Questions
Questions relating to the Competition Brief should be submitted in writing to the RIBA Competitions Office to arrive no later than 5.00pm on Friday 27 January 2006. Submission Instruction 􀂃 Competitors should use up to two, lightweight, A1 foam boards to illustrate and explain their proposed design solution. These should be in portrait format and must include a site plan of an appropriate scale of the design area, together with illustrative perspective and three-dimensional sketches. Electronic copies (Pdf format) of the A1 design boards should also be submitted on an accompanying CD-ROM.

Anonymity
􀂃 The design submission should be submitted without name, motto or distinguishing marks of any kind. The submission should be accompanied by the Declaration Form and placed in the ‘Official Envelope’ also issued at the time of registration. On receipt, the RIBA Competitions Office will place a number on each team’s design boards and a corresponding number on their ‘Official Envelope’. The ‘Official Envelopes’ will only be opened once the Prize Winners have been selected.
􀂃 A successful competitor must be able to satisfy the Promoters that he/she is the bona fide author of the design he/she has submitted. Submission Method 􀂃 The submission of each competitor is to be contained in a single package and is to be sent, carriage paid to: Newport Market Square Competition, RIBA Competitions Office, 6, Melbourne Street, Leeds, LS2 7PS
􀂃 Overseas Competitors should note that for Customs purposes no commercial value should be assigned to the design submission. Failure to do so may result in your submission being delayed and/or returned to you unopened, as the RIBA will not be liable for any charges otherwise incurred.
􀂃 Your submission should arrive no later than 2.00pm GMT on Thursday 2 March 2006. Late submissions will not be accepted and it will not be possible to submit entries via e-mail. Competitors should note that First Class post does not necessarily guarantee next-day delivery and should plan their submission schedule accordingly.
􀂃 Competitors requiring proof of delivery should enclose in their package a stamped, sealed envelope addressed to a third party. This will be posted upon receipt of the submission.
􀂃 Competitors are strongly advised to retain copies of all design material submitted. Whilst the Promoter and the RIBA Competitions Office will exercise all reasonable care, they will not be liable for loss or damage to drawings that may occur either in transit, during exhibition, storage or packing Disqualification A submission shall be excluded from the

Competition:
􀂃 If it is received after the latest time stated under Submission Method.
􀂃 If, in the opinion of the Jury Panel, it does not substantially meet the requirements of the Competition Brief.
􀂃 If a competitor shall disclose his or her identity, or improperly attempt to influence the decision.
􀂃 If any of the mandatory requirements of the Competition Brief and Rules are disregarded. Copyright
􀂃 The ownership of Copyright in the work of all competitors will be in accordance with the Copyright and Patent Act 1988.

Announcement of Awards
􀂃 At the conclusion of the competition the RIBA will publish the winning names after communicating it individually to each of the competitors. All the designs may, by agreement, be retained for a further period by the Promoter for the purposes of exhibition and publicity. A date will be announced to competitors after which submissions may be collected.
􀂃 The Promoter or the RIBA may publish illustrations of any design, either separately or together with other designs, with or without explanatory text. Enquiries All enquiries regarding the Newport Market Square Competition should be made to the RIBA Competitions Office: RIBA Competitions Office, 6, Melbourne Street, Leeds, LS2 7PS T. +44(0)113-234-1335 F. +44(0)113-246-0744 E. [email protected] W. www.ribacompetitions.com The Promoters should not be solicited for information as this may lead to disqualification from the competition.