The Australian Institute of Architects’ ACT Chapter has launched a new competition set to shake up housing options for Canberra’s growing population.

In collaboration with Defence Housing Australia (DHA), the Land Development Agency, and the Environment and Planning Directorate, the Institute established the New Experimental Architectural Typologies (NEAT) competition to generate ideas for innovative and affordable compact dwellings suitable for the 21st Century city.

Architects, graduate architects and students of architecture are invited to submit viable concepts for attached housing, small scale apartments and individual house types that respond to contemporary lifestyle, sustainability, affordability issues and that offer greater housing choice than might be possible under Canberra’s current planning regulations.

‘Canberra is a unique city, created by architects and planners, and designed to grow and change with the population. One hundred years since foundation, it is time to consider new, bold options to account for demographic diversity and environmental concerns,’ ACT Chapter President, Andrew Wilson said.

‘We now need to look to the next 100 years, to create viable housing options that cater for the diversities of our population (age, income and mobility, for instance); make the most of new and emerging building materials and techniques and provide new use for infill and greenfield sites within our city.’

In addition to a prize pool including individual international travel grants worth up to $10,000, entrants’ submissions may be considered for implementation through the ACT Community Services Directorate and DHA – bringing the projects to life.

Ideas generated through the competition will provide a tangible basis for the ACT Planning Authority to consider in the drafting of future planning regulations.

‘It’s a great opportunity to incentivise architects and planners to provide exciting outcomes for Canberra. What can we look like in our next century using new technologies for urban infill?’ Minister for Planning, Mick Gentleman MLA said.

Registration closes Tuesday 30 September with final submissions due by Thursday 23 October. Competition finalists will be exhibited as part of Design Canberra from 18 – 22 November.

For more information on how to enter the competition visit the website (link removed as it is no longer available).