MoA Grand Giving Fund

The success of The Gingerbread City has allowed MoA to create a new grant-giving fund. Launched in 2019 the fund supports projects that better engage the public with architecture and help architects to be more entrepreneurial. The fund’s first recipient is ProxyAddress created by architect Chris Hildrey. ProxyAddress is a system that allows those faced with homelessness to avoid being severed from support the moment they lose an address. It uses empty or unused addresses and connects them with those who have no permanent abode, so they can access services, get identification, build financial history and avoid the stigmatisation that comes with homelessness. Chris Hildrey also joined the Museum of Architecture’s board of trustees to help develop the charity’s interest in promoting architectural entrepreneurship.

“ProxyAddress is a powerful first recipient of the fund and showcases an architect moving beyond traditional practice to work on a wider problem. It is innovative and transformative, as well as having the potential to improve lives.”

​- Melissa Woolford, founder and director of MoA

In 2019, MoA awarded cash prizes of £1000, £500 and £250 to the top three winning practices from the public vote, in order to fund a research projects within each practice. MoA intends to keep increasing the value of these prizes, adding them to its yearly grant-giving fund expanding its support for innovation, diversity and sustainable practice within architecture and the built environment. 
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Charcoalblue will use the £1000 winner’s prize to continue to fund its research into accessibility and inclusivity in performing arts venues.
Allies and Morrison will use their £500 prize to research new ways to improve material sustainability in their in-house model shop.
Arup Architects will be putting their £250 prize towards their on-going ‘Streets of the Future’ research. 

Speaking about the research fund, Elena Giakoumaki from Charcoalblue, said: “At Charcoalblue we are passionate about accessibility and inclusivity in the performing arts. This timely prize from the Museum of Architecture will assist us in our next phase of research to better understand the breadth of accessibility requirements for those who are physically, visually, aurally or mentally impaired.”