Watch ‘Helping Hands’ and read Peter O’Neill’s stirring poem that was read out at the awards ceremony.
Liverpool-based practice, Studio MUTT, has won the 2023 Davidson Prize, responding to a brief that called on submitting teams to offer better solutions for addressing homelessness across the UK and Ireland.
Studio MUTT formed part of a multi-disciplinary team comprising research and development company Neighbourhood, homeless services provider The Independence Initiative, education and training institution Hugh Baird College, poet and accessibility consultant Peter O’Neil (whose stirring poem you can read below), Dr Polly Wootton of Islington Hostel Outreach, filmmaker Amber Akaunu, and poetry society and event organisers Dead Good Poets Society.
The submission titled, ‘Helping Hands’, focused on the pressing need for improved temporary homeless accommodation and support services in Bootle, Liverpool, with particular attention given to young people leaving the care system. The latter focus, was a response to findings from the team’s research, in which they found that, according to data from the National Audit Office, a third of young people leaving care experience homelessness within two years, while a quarter of homeless persons in the UK have previously lived in care. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that 41 per cent of care leavers were not in education, employment or training, compared to the national average of 15 per cent for all 19-year-olds.
Responding to this, ‘Helping Hands’ makes use of a leftover spaces next to the Hugh Baird College in Liverpool. A typical urban block, the site already plays host to numerous organisations that provide support to vulnerable persons, including those who are without a home.
In an attempt to better connect these support systems, the project links the back ends of these organisations, creating an infrastructural web of support, while also orientating each organisation to look into a generously landscaped communal courtyard.
In one corner of the site, shared accommodation for those leaving care has been provided, individual homes have been spread across the site in order to reflect an increased sense of independence.
Helping Hands were one of 47 teams who submitted for the prize. Three finalist projects, from a long list of 16, were selected by the jury at a preliminary judging stage, with each team each given £5,000 to develop their initial proposals and create a two-minute film — see the film from Helping Hands, below. The winner also received £10,000.
“The idea of homelessness is unsettling to all of us, but the care and quality of creative thought behind this year’s submissions to The Davidson Prize has helped push the debate forward with innovative and workable solutions,” commented Sadie Morgan, founding director at dRMM and Chair of the 2023 Davidson Prize jury. “Collectively, this year’s entries show the value of multidisciplinary design thinking to a subject that needs tackling now. Choosing an outright winner was tough; what tipped it for Helping Hands was the sense of people working together on the ground, building on existing community infrastructure, and taking collective responsibility for a better future.”
“The level and quality of engagement with service users and providers was extremely impressive, and the judges applaud the idea of a project deeply rooted in place,” she added. “The solution applies design intelligence to tap into and join up local support networks – with tangible and visible results.”
Call to arms / Access all area’s / Criptic Crossword
By Peter O’Neill
Categorically label me, i ain’t that thing you thought through,
A.I.B.U, as is stands I’m talking binary,
Either death or disability will fall upon thee guaranteed,
This body of mine mind more than able
’till ignorance turns the table on its side and builds a wall or staircase,
“Sorry” is the Architect’s fault,
Lame excuses given each day,
Disableists who support a way of keeping me confined,
Side of the room, these wheels of mine represent a freedom of mind, I’m no fire hazard or ranter,
What would you say to a Black or Gay only counter or doorway,
Where you get served, wait in the queue, parking reserved,
Think it does me a favour, one size fits all,
Untrue, one size fits no-one not no one at all,
Burn you if you’re in the camp where salving your conscience is build me a ramp too little too late implementation,
Attitudes the gate the gateway to inclusion,
It’s what i propose an even playing field,
Just games i suppose,
A throw of the dice would see you this way,
Left out by left wing materialists,
Ah sorry the buildings a Century old,
Really do you think this conditions new,
Antiquated an age old cold excuse to repeat the patterns a rope noose of abuse,
Seriously what matters to ‘em the less travelled individual tapestry, makes up a life worth living not spent,
Platitude or bad attitude i greatly resent,
To resend this message of mine ‘till all hear clear,
Together we bind stronger to know of the words I hear every day,
I was born like this what made you that way,
Entropic myopic lens never correct,
Rose tinted glasses patronising inflect,
You scared to be near me in case i infect,
Major defect, a Dis to ability that disses me,
Sour meal disrespect ability,
Broadcast of subconscious ennui,
I am bored by the board games you play,
Spin of the wheel i’m heading your way,
Fact is it is i’ll be with you one day to your door,
Now please let me in instead of applause.
