Coinciding with 2016 being the year of Architecture, Design and Innovation, industry body Homes for Scotland has launched its first student competition encouraging innovative home designs suitable to meet future zero carbon requirements.  It is hoped that the competition will also provide a platform to highlight career opportunities within the home building industry for those from relevant built environment degrees.

An esteemed judging panel of architectural and home building industry experts will consider submissions of concept family house types which are buildable, replicable at scale and designed to meet future customer demands and expectations.  With all new homes required to be constructed to nearly zero carbon standards by 2020 in line with European legislation, entries should also ensure that they adhere to these requirements.

The competition will run to a closing date of 25 March 2016, with shortlisted students invited to present their concepts to the panel.  Finalists will also have their designs showcased at the BRE Innovation Park @ Ravenscraig, home to some of the world’s most sustainable buildings and landscapes.

The overall winner will be announced at the organisation’s Annual Lunch & Awards ceremony in Edinburgh on 20 May – the premier event in the Scottish home building calendar which already has some 800 senior industry representatives and their guests confirmed to attend.