This year the RIBA East Midlands Education Group received a total of fourteen submissions from the region’s RIBA-validated schools of Architecture for its Student Awards in Parts 1 and 2.
The prize for Part 1 has been awarded to Ross Burns from the University of Nottingham and for Part 2 to Simon Green from the Leicester School of Architecture, De Montfort University. Both winning students will receive their certificates and £100 prizes at the RIBA East Midlands Awards event next year.
The judging panel described Ross Burns' work, The Isle of Awakening, as:
"A standout submission representing a high-quality Part 1 design that met all aspects of the student awards brief/criteria. A range of traditional hand drawings and models woven into a series of story boards illustrating a clear understanding of place and context. The design displayed a strong tectonic approach to materiality and architectural expression."
The judges described Part 2 award winner Simon Green's project, Retired and Apprentice Steelworker Housing, as:
"An excellent range of media, views and models have been used to illustrate a bold and imaginative design solution responding strongly to both the design brief and site context. Both material and structure combine to reflect the industrial heritage of the local area. A contemporary tectonic response."
The runners-up were Conor Vale from the University of Nottingham (Part 1) and Christopher Walker from the Leicester School of Architecture, De Montfort University (Part 2). The panel felt that all of the work submitted represented a very high standard of design and presentation. Submissions included a diverse range of 2D and 3D work at a variety of scales using a mixture of traditional hand drawing and computer aided drawing techniques, alongside some excellent physical models and rendered visuals of outstanding quality
The judging panel, led by RIBA East Midlands Education Group Chair and Regional Director of Watson Batty Architects, Richard Crowson, also comprised Anya Sutton, Director of Thread Architects and David Hickman, Director of Hickman & Smith Architects.
