Tag: School of Architecture + Cities

Congratulations to Kacper Sehnke from BA Architecture DS3.2 on winning 2023 RIBA President’s Bronze Medal and RIBA Award for Sustainable Design at RIBA Part I

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

On December 14, at the 2023 RIBA President’s Medal Ceremony, Kacper Sehnke from BA Architecture DS3.2 was announced as the winner of this year’s RIBA President’s Bronze Medal (awarded for the best undergraduate project).

Kacper’s outstanding project The Council for Ecosystem Restoration was chosen from 147 entires from across the world. In addition, Kacper’s project was awarded the prestigious RIBA Award for Sustainable Design at RIBA Part I.

In the words of Harry Charrinton, the Head of School of Architecture + Cities:

“Kacper’s two awards reflect his remarkable creativity and endeavour. They also embody the wit and care of his tutors, and as well as acclaiming Kacper’s work, congratulations are owed to the staff who helped him get there. Among others these include, most immediately, his Design Studio 3.2 tutors, Eric Guibert and Bruce Irwin who set the brief and tutored his project throughout. The outstanding Technical & Environmental Studies team led by Will McLean, Pete Silver and Scott Batty. The BArch Course Leader Paolo Zaide and Year Leaders Jane Tankard, Natalie Newey and Richa Mukhia, who have raised the bar, and, together with his personal tutors Nick Beech and Elantha Evans, nurtured Kacper’s talent and confidence throughout the course.”

Architecture + Cities Research Seminar: Shengkang Fu “Creative Placemaking in Heritage Sites: The Case of Wudadao, Tianjin, China” | Monday, December 11, 2023 at 1pm (GMT) | Online

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Monday, 11th of December 2023 at 13:00 (GMT)

Where: Online

The final Architecture and Cities research seminar of the semester will be held next Monday, 11 December, 13.00 – 14.00. Shengkang Fu, one of our PhD researchers will present preliminary findings from her PhD in a seminar titled: ‘Creative placemaking in Heritage Cities: The Case of Wudadao, Tianjin, China.’

The link to the seminar is here.

Architects’ Journal publishes a piece on “The Growing Space” by MArch DS20 led by Maria Kramer & Corinna Dean

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

The Growing Space is a 68m2 Douglas fir lightweight timber structure which adds to the existing cluster of buildings making up Cody Dock’s community hub. It runs a programme to expand the charity’s reach, running gardening and workshops for local schools, as well as space for rent.

The architecture was developed as part of a collaborative process. It has a structure of frames with cross-bracing and dry construction with all elements pre-cut with 3D-printed pegs reducing the construction time to 10 days. The base has six pad foundations with paving slabs, wrapped in polycarbonate, allowing the activities within to permeate out.

Architects’ Journal

To read the article in full please visit here.

Featured image by Edmund Sumner via Architects’ Journal

Technical Studies Lecture Series: Sho Ito “Nature’s Treasures: Celebrating Earth’s Natural Resources” | Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 18:00 (GMT), M416 + Online

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Thursday, 30th of November at 6pm (GMT)

Where: M416, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS + Online

Sho Ito is a registered architect, educator in the UK and the founder of Studio ITO: Interdisciplinary Thought Operations (www.s-ito.co.uk / Instagram: @studio__ito) a design and research studio working with large-scale housing developments in Cambodia, café renovations in London to private homes in Tokyo. Ito graduated from the Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA). He has extensive experience and knowledge in both the academic and architectural industry, having previously worked at Stirling Prize-winning offices, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, dRMM (de Rijke Marsh and Morgan) and AHMM (Allford Hall Monaghan and Morris) in the UK across the commercial sector.

Nature’s Treasures: Celebrating Earth’s Natural Resources is Ito’s research agenda and personal interest where he attempts to analyse and understand ‘space’ that is inherently linked to the extraction of natural resources. Furthermore, exposing how the commodification process of the strategic systems and infrastructures developed in place allows corporations to manipulate and financially gain from resources that should be democratic. Ito explores the unknown and the hidden through critically analysing and articulating conditions that are spatial through multiple scales, from the territorial, urban, block, and building to the room.

By facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration, the lecture seeks to generate discussion and awareness that responds to balance the needs of current and future generations while safeguarding the planet’s ecological integrity.

For details contact Will McLean

w.f.mclean@westminster.ac.uk

“The Growing Space” by MArch DS20 led by Maria Kramer & Corinna Dean featured in Architecture Today

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

Masters Architecture students at the University of Westminster have completed a lightweight, prefabricated timber structure that forms part of a therapeutic gardening project in east London.

Designed by the Live Design Studio for Masters Architecture students at the University of Westminster, The Growing Space forms part of the bustling citizen community hub at London’s Cody Dock. Constructed from Douglas Fir, the lightweight timber structure provides a space for horticultural activities. Led by tutors Maria Kramer and Corinna Dean, the 68-square-metre project is intended as a learning platform for students to expand their role as citizen architects.

Architecture Today

To read the article in full please visit here.

Featured image by Edmund Sumner for Architecture Today

Architecture + Cities Research Seminar: Sean Griffiths “On Architecture and Language” | Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 1pm (GMT) | Online

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Thursday, 30th of November 2023 at 13:00 (GMT)

Where: Online

At the next Architecture and Cities Research Seminar on Thursday, 30 November, 13.00 – 14.00, Sean Griffiths will speak “On Architecture and Language”.

The link to the seminar is here. 

Technical Studies Lecture Series: Mohammed Rahmany + Abderrahim Elmani from AWMA “Recent Projects”, Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 18:00 (GMT), M416 + Online

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Thursday, 23rd of November at 6pm (GMT)

Where: M416, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS + Online

Based in Brixton, AWMA is an experimental design collective that explores key themes prevalent within social, spiritual, economic and urban realms – from celebrations to challenges – across the cultural spectrum with work that connects people and places. 

Mohammed is an architectural thinker and maker. Having worked for acclaimed international architecture firms over the years, he has played an instrumental role in projects, ranging from airport terminals, residential developments, sports stadiums, and several mixed-use spaces across the globe. Abderrahim is an architectural designer and dreamer. He has worked on a variety of scale projects, ranging from one-off private houses to large mixed-use master plans. His experience has been gained through several award-winning architecture practices, all of which have given him a real insight into the field. Abderrahim’s appetite for a holistic and considered approach is fundamental in any undertaken programme.  

Both Mohammed and Abderrahim are graduates of the University of Westminster and we are delighted to welcome them back to talk about their experience as a young design practice. 

For details contact Will McLean 

w.f.mclean@westminster.ac.uk 

Technical Studies Lecture Series: Scott Batty + Urna Sodnomjamts “The Architecture of Retrofit”, Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 18:00 (GMT), M416 + Online

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Thursday, 16th of November at 6pm (GMT)

Where: M416, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS + Online

Scott Batty is an architect with 30 years of experience making, building, designing, and shaping the profession of architecture. As part of The Technical and Professional Studies team Scott has developed the curriculum including initiatives for students to monitor live building sites and he has devised the University of Westminster Sustainable Design Principles. Scott’s work with students has been presented to the Architect’s Climate Action Network (ACAN). Scott Batty has recently initiated and led student and staff visits to the Fire Service Training College, Moreton-in-Marsh for ‘Fire Experience Days’ funded by AXA insurance. These visits provide an invaluable and unforgettable insight into fire and the built environment and have recently featured in the RIBA bulletin.

Scott has first-hand experience with domestic retrofit, and he has developed an innovative design approach to the selective fabric and service domestic upgrade. Scott has stylishly retrofitted his own house and continues to monitor the house for thermal comfort and energy savings.

Urna Sodnomjamts is a recently qualified Architect with three years’ experience as a Part II architectural assistant working for firms such as dMFK, Hut Architecture and Matthew Lloyd Architects. In practice, Urna has worked on retrofit schemes using design & build and traditional procurement with particular sensitivity in understanding client quality requirements and construction viability. Urna is an active researcher in innovative, sustainable construction methods informed by low-tech, environmentally conscious communities. In 2018 Urna co-founded the Association of Mongol Architects a non-profit organisation for architects and architecture students. Urna published some of her research on the vernacular tradition of the Mongolian ‘Ger’ or ‘Yurt’ in Environmental Design Sourcebook by Will McLean and Pete Silver, RIBA Publications 2021.

Urna previously taught part-time as part of the technical studies team and she has recently joined us at the School of Architecture and Cities, University of Westminster as a lecturer in Regenerative Technical and Environmental Design.

Architecture + Cities Research Seminar: Asa Thomas “Mediating Mobility at the School Gate: Interpreting London’s School Street Schemes” | Monday, November 13, 2023 at 1pm (GMT) | Online

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Monday, 13th of November 2023 at 13:00 (GMT)

Where: Online

The next Architecture + Cities research seminar will be held online on Monday 13, November, 13.00 – 14.00. At this seminar, titled ‘Mediating Mobility at the School Gate: Interpreting London’s School Street Schemes,’ Asa Thomas will present work conducted as part of his doctoral research at the Active Travel Academy on school street closures in London. The link to the seminar is here. 

ArCCAT Student Representatives + Square Mile Farms: How to farm vegetables from hydroponic wall installed at Marylebone Campus

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

In 2022, the students in the School of Architecture + Cities received the funding from the Green Fund Scheme to install the hydroponic (green) wall at Marylebone Campus. The University of Westminster’s Centre for Education and Teaching Innovation (CETI) set up the Green Fund Award together with the Sustainability Team to support the students’ sustainability related projects.

The hydroponic wall demonstrates a sustainable method of growing plants without soil, by using water through which nutrients are pumped. This method produces crops quicker and uses 90% less water than soil-based growing methods, as well as requiring no pesticides. The ability to grow plants indoors also allows ‘farmers’ to control temperatures and lighting schedules to improve plant production.

This year, the ArCCAT student reps have been trained by Dhiresh Tailor, Farm Operations Manager at Square Mile Farms, to look after the hydroponic wall, including how to carefully monitor the nutrient solution, and adjust iron and PH levels weekly.

University of Westminster News

The ArCCAT student reps who took part in this initiative are Anna Prideaux, Architecture and Environmental Design BSc Honours; Julie Beech, Interior Architecture BA Honours; Antoni Canyelles, Architecture BA Honours; Maja Kurantowicz, Architecture MA; and Marie Laura Polselli, Interior Architecture MA student.

To find out more about this event please visit here.