Television personality and architect George Clarke has launched a design competition challenging Scotland’s youth to support a cutting-edge £25m complex needs facility in Bertha Park near Perth.
Young Scots are being invited to submit ideas on what a new inclusive community and sustainable building project should include as part of a challenge organised by the Ministry of Building Innovation and Education (MOBIE), a charity established by the Amazing Spaces presenter.
Bertha Park High School and neighbouring primary schools have already signed up to take part in the challenge which is open to schools in Perth and Kinross as well as colleges and universities across Scotland.
Young people will be challenged to design an attractive and sustainable community for future living and education while creating an environment that enables disabled people to flourish at Bertha Park.
George remarked: “I’m delighted that MOBIE and Capability Scotland is challenging young people across Scotland to design this amazing new community at the Upper Springland campus.
“It’s brilliant that they are being asked to imagine this new community and submit their design ideas. I hope this challenge will give them a taste for design that they’ll be able pursue further and that they can follow the development over the coming years as it comes to life.
“Capability Scotland is putting in place the foundations for a facility that will change the way that people with complex needs live and it is exciting that young people are being asked to be part of the development of the facility and new community.
“The design challenge is focused on community development, sustainable design and the use of new technology. It is open to all ages from primary school to post graduate covering a broad range of tasks depending on an individual’s design interest.”
An interactive workshop recently took place at Bertha Park High School with keynote addresses from George Clarke, Capability Scotland CEO Brian Logan and Sheena Devlin, Perth and Kinross Council’s head of services for children, young people and families, to kick-start the project.
The workshop session was attended by representatives from Capability Scotland’s Upper Springland residential facility and their schools and college online together with the local high school and primary students working from Bertha Park High School.
Further workshops are planned in the coming months.
Stephen Oswald, Capability Scotland project lead, commented: “George Clarke’s vision that design should be accessible to everyone and have the power to transform and enrich lives is exactly the reason we got involved with MOBIE – as we believe this too.
“It’s fantastic to have such a well-known figure in the industry backing our project and praising the various levels of co-design we are undertaking to make the full Bertha Park project an exemplar build.
“Our engagement with MOBIE will help build key relationships with future neighbours which was an important part of our ambition.
“The imagination of our youth is impressive and something we were keen to capture throughout.
“Ultimately this is about making sure that our new development and the wider community are well connected and we’re really keen to tap into each age group and unleash their imagination.”
The closing date for competition entries is March 31, 2023.
For more information on Capability Scotland’s ambitions at Bertha Park visit www.capability.scot/about/resources/bertha-park
