A FOLLY FOR LONDON

In the vein of the great history of British satire we announce a free-to-enter and totally open ideas competition for A FOLLY FOR LONDON, alternative and equally absurd designs for the public space being sacrificed for the proposed Garden Bridge.

To be as accessible as possible the brief for the competition is very short and the format for entering is simple. This is about creative responses and thinking about the city rather than jumping through hoops and following strict rules.

Think about the best piece of transport infrastructure and design on which you could spend £60m of public money for the environmental and community benefit of London. Then reverse those ideals and design your perfect Folly For London.

DATES:

The competition period runs from July 7 and closes at midnight August 28.

CRITERIA:

• Cost at least £60 million of public money to construct; proposals may cost much more, but if so be sure to add vague promises of private funding.
• Take up as much of the site (marked in red) as possible. This is existing public greenspace and it needs to be built on. Your design should narrow the Thames footpath resulting in maximum overcrowding and removing as much existing nature from the site. There are mature trees here, but don’t worry about them - feel free to remove them if you need!
• Largely use environmentally damaging and unsustainable materials in its construction, but Follies which have the pretence of being a ‘green’ project will be eligible for a special ‘greenwash’ prize.
• Obstruct as many free and accessible views as possible from the South Bank and Waterloo Bridge. Think about those wonderful vantages of St. Pauls and Somerset House. Now block them!
• The Folly should aim to maximize commercial land values and raise house prices in the immediate vicinity.

JUDGING:

In early September the judging panel, including architectural writer & critic Owen Hatherley and leader of the Green Party Natalie Bennett, will look at the entries and announce an overall winner & ‘greenwash’ winner.  We intend to exhibit works with a physical exhibition and online galleries through the media. Details of the dates and modes of exhibition will be announced closer to the close of the competition. A prize will be announced in due course, but the true incentive for entering should be to engage in thinking about the issues affecting London and joining in with satirical and powerful public protest. We cannot guarantee any public funding, sly behind-the-scenes negotiations or endorsements by celebrities to have your Folly For London constructed.

HOW TO ENTER:

All you need to do is put your idea down on two sheets of A4 or A3 paper in any style you want to work with – sketching, watercolour, computer render, CAD drawing, montage, photographs of a model or any other process.  Then, separately, write down a description of your design in up to 250 words and then either post or email your idea to us using the contact details below. You are more than welcome to enter anonymously if you so wish, but if you want to be eligible for the prizes then do please include your name and contact details for administrative purposes which we promise not to make public.

DELIVERY:

Please send us your two images, text, contact details and clearly state if you wish anonymity, to:

email: [email protected]

postal: (TBC – will be announced imminently)

Proof of posting will not be accepted as proof of receipt. Applicants requiring proof of delivery are advised to use a recorded delivery service.
All costs incurred by postal/courier services (including customs charges and any import duties) must be paid for in advance by the artist. After will refuse to take delivery of any work that may incur charges.

SMALLPRINT:

You can be based anywhere in the world, no restrictions. Group entries are welcome.
You do not need to have any qualifications – we welcome entries from schoolchildren to professors and everyone between.
You must be the author of submitted work in respect of all rights in the work including ownership, copyright, moral rights, the rights of the people, names, trademarks, designs or works of art depicted. You agree that the work and words submitted may be exhibited both digitally and physically in galleries. A Folly For London reserves the right to use the submitted entries in various media for non-commercial purposes & promotion of A Folly For London/campaigning against the Garden Bridge.
Works will not be returned and will be physically & digitally archived by for A Folly For London for future public record.
The author will be credited for their work, wherever practical, unless anonymity is requested. The author will retain complete copyright of their work and words.
A Folly For London shall not be liable for any loss or damage of posted work, whether or not caused by their negligence.

MORE INFO:

www.afollyforlondon.co.uk