It Takes a Village Project Finalist for The Davidson Prize
- Jan 1, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 12
NOOMA Studio was selected as one of three finalists for the 2022 The Davidson Prize with the proposal It Takes a Village, developed in collaboration with Gankôgui, CENTRIC LAB CIC and the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF). The multidisciplinary team proposed an alternative housing model responding to the social and economic pressures faced by working parents during the early years of childcare.
The 2022 edition of The Davidson Prize invited teams to explore innovative housing solutions addressing the UK’s pressing social challenges. In response, NOOMA Studio and collaborators developed It Takes a Village, a co-living model centred on the collective support of families with young children.
The proposal responds to the growing pressures placed on working parents, particularly the financial and emotional strain associated with childcare during a child’s formative years. Rather than treating childcare as an external service, the project integrates shared childcare facilities, communal support networks and flexible living arrangements directly into the housing model.
By bringing together families, educators and local communities within a shared residential environment, the proposal explores how housing can actively support wellbeing, reduce isolation and foster collective care. The scheme combines private homes with shared spaces for childcare, play, learning and social interaction, creating a supportive environment for both parents and children.
Developed by a multidisciplinary team—including architects, social researchers and early-years education specialists—the project aims to demonstrate how new housing typologies can respond to the realities of modern family life while strengthening community resilience.
As a finalist proposal, It Takes a Village highlights the role of design in addressing wider social issues, proposing housing as an infrastructure of care that supports families, nurtures early childhood development and builds stronger neighbourhoods.
