Westminster Architecture students win AIA UK Student Charrette Prize for sustainable urban design

Five second-year Architecture BA Honours students at the University of Westminster have won the AIA UK Student Charrette Prize 2024. Working as a team with peers from universities across the UK, the students won the award for their sustainable urban design solution for London's Strand Aldwych area.

The AIA UK Student Charrette is an annual one-day design competition for second and third-year Architecture students. During the day, students work in groups to meet a design brief without the aid of digital technology. This year's 29th annual event was held on 26 October at Kohn Pedersen Fox, London, and it centred around tackling urban challenges through sustainability, community engagement and social equity.

Westminster Architecture BA Honours students Clevy Bento, Sarah Tolba, Fiona Gyamfi, Maame Frimpong and Zanda Timberlake joined forces with peers from the University of Dundee and the University of Reading to create a design which reimagined London's Strand Aldwych area as a dynamic public space while prioritising heritage and sustainability. The team, named The West Group to honour Westminster, were mentored by practising architect Gregory Fonseca to develop their ideas using only hand-drawn plans and physical models, before presenting their winning design to a professional jury.

According to AIA UK, which is a leading professional body for accountants and finance professionals, The West Group's project took first place for their proposal's "seamless blend of community engagement, sustainability and sensitivity to the site's context".

The West Group's win builds on the University's tradition of success in design charrettes, following Westminster students' victory in the 2023 competition with their Green Network project.

About winning the charrette, second-year student Fiona Gyamfi said: "Receiving the AIA 2024 Charrette Award was surreal! To be able to represent Westminster and win by utilising every skill and support they've given us was incredible. Such an amazing opportunity. Never think twice to put yourself out there and try new things!"

Teammate Sarah Tolba also shared her experience of the day. She said: "The competition environment was new to us, and we quickly learned that good teamwork was needed to resolve design issues under such intense pressures. Thanks again to all our tutors whose guidance truly helped us visualise our design!"

Another student Clevy Bento added: "Being part of a competition is always a good chance to grow academically or even professionally. Expand your skills or narrow your dreams!"

On the students' success, Dr Paolo Zaide, Course Leader for the Architecture BA Honours course, said: "It is fantastic to see our second-year students taking on a live design challenge and working collectively with students from other universities on questions about public space in a part of historic London. The charrette is a great way to bring students across the country together and to test their creativity in a different environment. Congratulations to the team and thank you to the AIA for offering this opportunity!"

The students' design contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.

Find out more about Architecture, Interiors and Urban Design courses at the University of Westminster.

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