News

‘Made for Me’ wins NLA’s Reimagine London competition with a vision for interconnected hubs for accessibility

In collaboration with Edge Urban Design, Matter Space Soul, You See Media and Mend, our submission ‘Made for Me’ has been named the Overall Winner of the ‘Reimagine London’ competition, which attracted submissions internationally.

‘Made for Me’ proposes interconnected hubs for accessibility, retrofitted into pre-existing spaces and transport interchanges throughout London. The hubs could provide mobility and sensory aids, provide accessible toilets, provide seating, quiet rooms, lockers and information to support people in their daily lives and their journeys across the city.

Our Design and Economics teams worked on this proposal alongside the wider team, which was selected from over 100 submissions globally and 25 shortlisted entries that aimed to address real issues London currently faces. Those involved in the ‘Made for Me’ collaboration reflected on the proposal’s success:

Senior Director, Economics, Richard Laming, said:

“We invented ‘Made for Me’ to make London inclusive and equitable. Inclusive design benefits everyone – as all people will have access needs within their lifetime – and ‘Made for Me’ is a proposal that places accessibility at the forefront of city making. It’s incredible to see that how this vision has already resonated with so many, and we’re already focused on the next steps to help bring this idea to life.”

Director, Design, Jeff Nottage added:

“Our idea is the catalyst for a wider vision to kickstart London as the world leader in inclusive and accessible city design. Just as London currently hires electric scooters and bikes, mobility and sensory aids like wheelchairs and noise reducing headphones could be accessed in the same way. Hire an aid from one hub and drop it off at another. We can create rapid change through interconnected ‘Made for Me’ hubs across the capital. Hopefully, winning this competition can be launchpad to make this idea a reality.”

Hannah Smart, Founder Director at Edge Urban Design said:

“We are flabbergasted and delighted in equal measure! It is incredible - from one tiny acorn of an idea, co-created in a team 1:1, amplified through incredible collaboration with our friends, we will create a catalyst to change the world. What an incredible honour for the whole of our team.”

Natasha Reid, Matter Space Soul, said: 

"So often the everyday experience and impacts of disability and neurodiversity is overlooked in the design of places today. Made for Me is about responding to these unheard voices and needs, to make a more inclusive and equitable city for all. So that everyone feels like they matter."

Liane Hartley, Director, Mend said:

"Our built environment is where we live out our everyday lives, but for many, the way our cities, towns and places have been designed presents stark challenges to people's mobility, accessibility and lived experience. We believe it is time to create lived environments; that recognise diverse human needs and are built for our collective wellbeing and quality of life. Because in being Made for Me it is actually made for everyone too.”

Lawrence Barraclough of You See Media said:

“For You See Media, being part of the Made for Me team has been an incredibly enriching experience. Beyond the articulation of thoughts and ideas, films can express passion and emotion like nothing else. We often make films about ideas, or things that already exist. Made for Me was about a dream to make cities more accessible to everyone, and now – after winning the NLA “Reimagine London’ competition- this dream is on its way to become a reality.”

As part of the opportunities now available to the Overall Winner of the Reimagine London competition, the team looks forward to presenting the proposal to a selection of London’s leaders and decision-makers at the London Real Estate Forum next week.

This accomplishment marks an important step in the ‘Made for Me’ journey towards providing a pathway to a more inclusive and accessible London and we look forward to continuing to develop this vision. If you would like to discuss how this proposal could support future projects or briefs – particularly for local authorities or other transport bodies – please get in touch with Senior Director, Economics, Richard Laming, or Director, Design, Jeff Nottage.

Alongside ‘Made for me’ as the overall winner, we’d like to also congratulate ‘Youth-Led Empowerment Network’ for winning the Young Londoners Prize and ‘East London Waterworks Park’ who came out on top for the ‘People’s Choice Winner’.  Find out more about ‘Made for Me’ and the competition winners on NLA’s website.

19 September 2024