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RIBA President’s Medals Student Awards 2021

8 December 2021

RIBA President’s Medals Student Awards 2021 Winners

RIBA reveals winners of 185^th President’s Medals

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 President’s Medals, the annual awards for the world’s best architecture student projects, now in its 185^th year.

The RIBA Silver Medal (for the best design project produced at RIBA Part 2 or equivalent) is awarded to Tiia Partanen (University of Strathclyde) for The Cloud Cooperative.

The Cloud Cooperative looks at the rise in data collection, internet surveillance and infrastructure, and storage on the cloud, which have caused people to lose control of their data. Envisioned through the actions of future activist movement The Cloud Cooperative,T iia’s project seeks to challenge the current data monopoly and explores the creation of a secure, ethical new internet.

Commendations in the RIBA Silver Medal category:

Janusz Moore (De Montfort University) for Ruincarnation.
Daniel Pope (The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL) for The Earthen Land Registry.
Finian Reece-Thomas (Kingston University) for An Art School in Enugu.

The RIBA Bronze Medal (for the best design project produced at RIBA Part 1 or equivalent) goes to Ben Foulkes (The Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL)) for Seeding Swanscombe Marshes.

Ben proposes the construction of an ecological courthouse at the site of a planned theme park, acting as a preventative method for its further development. Seeding Swanscombe Marshes also looks at the regeneration of salt marshes in the area and the eventual degradation of the building through its natural materials, which will have ecological benefits to the landscape.

Commendations in the RIBA Bronze Medal category:

Rachel Caul (University of Cambridge) for Reclaiming the Ruin.
Conor Lawless (London Metropolitan University) for The Workers’ Enclave.

Oliver Skelton (University of Nottingham) for Making Do.

The RIBA Dissertation Medal is awarded to Richard Adetokunbo Aina (Architectural Association) for A Culture of Craft: West Africa UNObjectified.

Richard’s dissertation explores how and why West African objects of particular tribes were crafted within their respective contexts and infrastructures, and how these sacred objects have been removed and dissociated. The Lobi peoples were selected by Richard as the thesis case study for their inherent craft and artistry, and disenfranchised artifacts.

Commendations in the RIBA Dissertation Medal category go to:

Ian Davide Bugarin (London Metropolitan University) for Bodies Split in Two: Contested Monsters and Queer Space in the Philippines.

Manuela Reitsma (Polytechnic University of Turin) for The Secular House: A Manual for Preservation and Seismic Improvement of Vernacular Stone Dwellings in Bhutan.
Ben Sykes-Thompson (Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL)) for ‘Overlooked Sounds’: Reinterpreting Traditional Japanese Architecture as Aural Space (High Commendation).

Recognising the importance of climate action in the development of architectural design proposals, the RIBA has awarded the RIBA Awards for Sustainable Design for the third year. At Part 1, the award went to Gergana Negovanska (Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture) for The Last Straw: A Case for Reuse, Ratho Community Centre. At Part 2 it went to Nicholas Honey and Robert Thackeray (Newcastle University) for Reclaiming Playtime.

The Serjeant Awards for Excellence in Drawing have been awarded to Desislava Cholakova (London Southbank University) for Cathedral of Trade at Part 1, and to Elliott Afoke (Oxford Brookes University) for The Dalston Hub: A Vertical Market at Part 2.

RIBA President Simon Allford said:

“The RIBA President’s Medals celebrate the best work of students from 102 architectural schools around the world. 2021 marks the 185^thanniversary of these awards which are both a contemporary celebration of excellence and a remarkable archive of architectural preoccupations.

I remember my partners and I eagerly anticipating the result of our Silver Medal nominated project thirty-five years ago. I was therefore delighted to be part of this year’s judging process. The judges and I were impressed by the quality and commitment of all the entries, which explored many pertinent topics – from the climate emergency to cultural identity and the increasing impact of technology. Congratulations to all of our very talented winners and I look forward to seeing their progress in the years to come.”

Background:

In 2021 the RIBA President’s Medals had the highest ever number of entries in their 185-year-old history: 338 entries nominated by 102 schools of architecture located in 31 countries.

This year’s judging panels included:

Silver Medal:

Chair: Tracy Meller (Partner at Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners; Honorary Professor of Architecture at the University of Nottingham, UK)

Simon Allford (RIBA President; Co-Founder and Director at Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, UK)
Harry Charrington (Head of the School of Architecture and Cities at the University of Westminster, UK)
Ed Frith (Master of Architecture Course Leader at the Arts University Bournemouth, UK)

Lina Ghotmeh (Founder and Principal Architect at Lina Ghotmeh Architecture, France)
Mina Hasman (Associate Director & Sustainability Lead at Skidmore Owings & Merrill Europe)

Bronze Medal:

Chair: Tracy Meller (as above)
Ben Cowd (Co-Founding Partner of Saraben Studio; Subject Head – Postgraduate Architecture at the Leicester School of Architecture, UK)
Angela Dapper (Principal Architect at Grimshaw, UK)

David Howarth (Co-founder of DRDH Architects, UK)
Rossana Hu (Founding Partner at Neri & Hu, China)
David Ogunmuyiwa (Mayor’s Design Advocate at Greater London Authority; Founder and Partner at Architecture Doing Place, UK)

Dissertation Medal:

Chair (in absentia): Lesley Lokko (Founder & Director of the African Futures Institute in Accra, Ghana; Visiting Professor at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL)
Non-voting Chair (ex officio): John-Paul Nunes (Head of Education Projects, RIBA)

Emanuel Admassu (Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation of Columbia University, USA)
Hugh Campbell (Head of the School of Architecture of University College Dublin, Ireland)
Emma Cheatle (Senior Lecturer of Architecture at the University of Sheffield, UK)

Previously on e-architect:

29 July 2021

RIBA reveals judges for the 185th President’s Medals

RIBA announces judges for 2021 President’s Medals

Thursday 29th of July 2021 – The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has revealed the judges for the 185^th President’s Medals, the world’s most prestigious awards in architectural education. The medals are now open for entry to architecture students around the world.

This year the RIBA is inviting the highest ever number of schools of architecture to participate in the awards – 442 schools (111 of which are RIBA validated), located in 85 countries.

The 2021 judging panels will select the winners of the Dissertation Medal, Bronze Medal and Silver Medal and up to three commendations in each category, as well as the Serjeant Awards for Excellence in Drawing and of the RIBA Awards for Sustainable Design.

The panel for the Dissertation Medal comprises:

Chair: Lesley Lokko– Founder & Director of the African Futures Institute in Accra, Ghana; Visiting Professor at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL

Emanuel Admassu– as above
Hugh Campbell– Head of the School of Architecture of University College Dublin, Ireland
Emma Cheatle– Senior Lecturer of Architecture at the University of Sheffield, UK

Yesomi Umolu– Director of Curatorial Affairs and Public Practice at the Serpentine Galleries, London, UK

The Bronze Medal panel comprises:

Chair: Tracy Meller– as above

Ben Cowd– as above
Angela Dapper– Principal Architect at Grimshaw, UK
David Howarth– Co-founder of DRDH Architects, UK

Rossana Hu– Founding Partner at Neri & Hu, China
David Ogunmuyiwa– as above

The panel for the Silver Medal comprises:

Chair: Tracy Meller – as above
Simon Allford – RIBA President Elect; Co-Founder and Director at Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, UK
Harry Charrington – as above

Ed Frith – Master of Architecture Course Leader at the Arts University Bournemouth, UK
Lina Ghotmeh – Founder and Principal Architect at Lina Ghotmeh Architecture, France
Mina Hasman – Associate Director & Sustainability Lead at Skidmore Owings & Merrill Europe

Judging of the three awards will begin in October 2021 and winners will be announced in the first week of December 2021.

RIBA President Elect Simon Allford said:

“I am delighted to join the judging panel of the 2021 RIBA Silver Medal, 35 years after I was jointly nominated in the same category with Jonathan Hall, Paul Monaghan, and Peter Morris – a moment that marked the inception of AHMM. These awards are an important celebration of student endeavour and provide a valuable architectural archive. I look forward to joining the esteemed judges to select the world’s best work, produced by talented and hardworking students from across the globe.”

The Bronze and Silver Medals are awarded to the best design projects completed by students during, respectively, RIBA Part 1 and Part 2 courses (or equivalent), whereas the Dissertation Medal rewards accomplished written work produced at either RIBA Part 1 or Part 2 (or equivalent).

For more information on the 2021 President’s Medals, and to view the work of past winners and nominees visit: www.presidentsmedals.com.

Background

The RIBA President’s Medals were established in 1836 and are the RIBA’s oldest awards, regarded as the most prestigious awards in architectural education worldwide. The RIBA is committed to supporting students through its bursaries and scholarships programme and celebrating excellence in architectural education. RIBA Future Architects is our network and community for future and emerging architects, designed to support, inspire and provide a voice during the transition from study to practice. Follow us on Instagram @RIBAEducation for advice and information about studying architecture, exclusive events and opportunities.

RIBA President’s Medals Student Awards 2020 information / images received 290721

Previously on e-architect

RIBA President’s Medals

RIBA President’s Medals Student Awards 2020 Winners
RIBA President’s Medals Student Awards 2020 Silver Medal winner Robert Beeny, University of Westminster, for Devil’s Valley Geothermal Co-operative:

photos courtesy of RIBA
RIBA President’s Medals Student Awards 2020

RIBA President’s Medals Student Awards 2018 Winners
RIBA Silver Medal winner Sonia Magdziarz, Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL:

photo courtesy of RIBA
RIBA President’s Medals Student Awards 2018