Dezeen Competitions: AND London has partnered with Barratt London to host a competition inviting creatives to design two benches for London's Tooting Bec neighbourhood.

Springfield Village Public Seating Open Call invites designers to submit two bespoke pieces of street furniture, which should be accessible and durable.

This competition is now closed

Organisers: AND London and Barratt London
Competition: Springfield Village Public Seating Open Call
Judges: representatives from AND London, Barratt London and the local community
Registration deadline: 25 January 2026
Winner announcement: February 2026
Prizes: winners will be paid their artist fee, which will come out of the overall project budget of £40,000

Click here for more information ›

Competition overview

The Public Seating Open Call invites architects, designers and creative practitioners to propose two bespoke pieces of street furniture for Springfield Village, a new mixed-use neighbourhood in Tooting Bec, London.

The benches will be installed on hard-standing areas with foundations and should combine functionality with creative expression.

Designs must be practical, durable, distinctive, inclusive and accessible, with an innovative, sustainable, high-quality contemporary aesthetic.

They should support St George's Mental Health NHS Trust's mission by promoting mental wellbeing and the destigmatisation of mental health.

There may be opportunities to up-cycle or reuse materials from the demolition process. The appointed consultant(s) will be expected to engage local stakeholders – particularly disability groups – to ensure accessibility, and/or deliver capacity-building sessions.

Eligibility and judging criteria

Applicants must:

• be based in the UK (ties to Wandsworth are desirable)
• have experience or strong interest in participatory or socially engaged practice
• have experience in designing and delivering permanent public art
• be eligible to work in the UK
• be available for the full project timeline
• hold valid Public Liability Insurance

Submissions will be evaluated based on how well they respond to the commission objectives, including:

• distinctive and inclusive design
• connection to mental well-being themes
• community engagement and legacy
• contribution to public realm quality
• sustainability, accessibility and creativity
• show a clear understanding of the context, site and objectives
• present a feasible delivery plan within budget and timeframe

How to enter

Applicants must share a PDF in accordance with the submission requirements to [email protected].

For submission requirements, click here.

Submission deadlines

The competition was launched on 28 November 2025, with the clarification period ending on 11 December 2025.

Applicants must submit their proposal by midnight on 25 January 2026.

The selected practitioner will be appointed in February 2026, with installation to follow in late 2026 to early 2027.

The design period is throughout February 2026, and the final artworks will be approved and fabricated in April 2026. The installation will take place between late 2026 and early 27, with a launch event taking place in 2027.

About AND London and Barratt London

AND London is a real estate consultancy that specialises in cultural strategy, public art, community engagement and commercial strategy.

Barratt London is a leading residential property developer with over 40 years of experience, specialising in a wide range of developments in the capital, including state-of-the-art apartments, riverside communities, and large mixed-use regeneration schemes.

To learn more about AND London, visit its website.

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