About Alan Davidson Foundation
The Alan Davidson Foundation is a UK registered charity that supports a wide range of causes. There is a strong focus on MND research, care and initiatives that help support those with disabling neurological conditions. It also supports architecture and architectural initiatives.
Who started the foundation?
The Foundation was founded by Alan Davidson. It benefitted greatly from his experience of MND and his passions for architecture, visual arts and technology. He was diagnosed with MND in 2012, and lost the battle to the disease in August 2018. Alan was the founder of London based architecture visualisation studio Hayes Davidson, one of the early pioneers of architectural computer graphics (CGI).
Why was the foundation started?
Alan was committed to helping people suffering from MND and associated neurological conditions, he wanted to help initiatives that improved their lives through better care and support, and funding research work to find a cure for MND. The Foundation carefully researches the organisations that it funds, with a preference for ‘open source’ research data where information is shared globally.
Who does the foundation support?
The Foundation supports a wide range of organisations, charities and worthy causes. Funding is allocated after careful research into the project to help understand the circumstances, charity or research being proposed. A meeting with the individual or organisation is then arranged to discuss in detail the area of work that requires funding. Find out more about the projects we have supported below.
What is MND?
MND, Motor Neurone Disease is a terminal condition that currently has no cure. It progressively damages the nervous system, leading to muscle wasting. As damage progresses, the condition becomes more debilitating. Communicating, swallowing and breathing become difficult and eventually a person with MND may be unable to move and become ‘locked in’. MND is often referred to as ‘ALS’ outside of the UK.
News and events
One of Alan’s final wishes…
One of Alan’s final wishes was to donate to The Long Now Foundation, Wikimedia and Electronic Frontier Foundation to support the initiatives that he greatly admired and supported.
The Davidson Prize 2021 Winner
This inaugural year saw entries of incredible high standards, which made the shortlisting and final judging very difficult but equally thrilling and inspiring. Congratulations to the winning team HomeForest.
Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability
Alan Davidson Foundation awarded a £5,000 grant to the Hospital of Neuro-disability towards a research project into the care and treatment of people who require long term-care.
The Alan Davidson Award 2021
Archiboo returns with a relaunched Alan Davidson Award for 2021. The new criterias aim to harness the power of storytelling through visual communication applied to real life projects. Judges will be looking for examples of compelling stories that are pushing project communication in new and exciting directions.
HD5K 2021 Virtual Run
On the 22nd May 2021, a wide range of runners from around the world took part in the virtual 5km run event organised by Hayes Davidson for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
The Davidson Prize 2021
The Alan Davidson Foundation is delighted to be launching The Davidson Prize 2021, a new architectural prize rewarding innovative concepts that imaginatively rethink the design of the contemporary home.
