ADAPTIVE REUSE IDEAS COMPETITION 2023/24

The Brief

The Dundee Institute of Architects is pleased to announce the second edition of the DIA Young Architects and Designers Competition, an architectural ideas competition for new architects, architectural designs and architecture students within the DIA area.

The Keiller Centre in Dundee was once a populated and busy shopping centre embedded within a city block in Dundee City Centre. Over the decades, its usage and footfall has declined and, although still very much a functioning shopping centre, there is a high level of unit vacancy and it is underused.

Now under new management, it is time to breath new life into The Keiller Centre and the urban context in which it sits.

With aspirations to forge deeper connections with its historical roots within the city, the centre strives to be a constant open ear for stories and conversations, in hopes of fostering a greater sense of community in the city centre. This endeavour seeks to establish The Keiller Centre not only as a commercial entity but also as a cultural and creative nucleus, where the tales of the city intersect and flourish.

The DIA have been working alongside the new management in order to help generate new ideas about The Keiller Centre via the Adaptive Reuse Young Architects and Designers Competition.

Whilst the scope of ideas to be generated in the competition remain open to the interpretation of the designer, tackling a building looking to reimagine itself will bring a real-world element to the competition.

Adaptive Reuse and a New Future

Develop an idea for the future of The Keiller Centre that aims to establish a secure and sustainable future, to bring new life into a city block in the centre of Dundee. The full brief can be downloaded below:

Important Dates

Competition Launch: Wed 18th October 2023 6:30pm
Submission Deadline: 26th February 2024 9pm

Results Announcement: DIA AGM March 2024

Eligibility

The DIA Young Architects and Designers Competition is open to architects up to five year post Part III, architectural designers and students of architecture based in the DIA region. Those who no longer live in the area, but studied there and fit the criteria otherwise are also eligible. Individuals may submit solo entries and teams of up to three may collaborate on a single entry. There is also scope to include an art or design student of any media, or someone who is up to five years post graduation of art or design. This can be in addition to up to three architects etc. All team members must fit either criteria, and entries must include either one architecture student or architectural designer or architect up to five years post part three.

How to Enter

Participants will be invited to submit their entries via Airtable at the following link: