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Architecture students win first and second place in international design contest
Joint-winners Marco Possos and Mimi Kwan, who are both undertaking Masters degrees in Architecture, worked as a team on their project, entitled Cooperation Street, for Architecture Design (AD) magazine's international competition. Their work has now been published in AD's latest issue: Designing for the Third Age: Architecture Redefined for a Generation of 'Active Agers'.
In addition fellow Leeds Met students Amy Featherstone and Robyn Holden - runners up in the contest - have also had their work published in the issue, while students Rob Miller and Alessandra Upton were commended for their entry.
The competition, which was hosted by AD and the University of Portsmouth's School of Architecture, encouraged students internationally to consider possibilities for different housing scenarios and to think creatively about how society may live in the future and how living spaces must accommodate changing needs and expectations.
Marco, who is a fully-qualified Colombian architect, said: "Cooperation Street was a real team effort from myself and Mimi. The main drive for it was the fact that community life is being lost and isolation is becoming a big issue not only for vulnerable people but for everyone. What we proposed was a reinterpretation of a terraced housing block, with a combination of different sized houses in order to accommodate people and families with different ages in one community. The street design also encompasses a common building, which would house the likes of a launderette, a meeting point, a multimedia room and a cafe to encourage community life; - but this building changes according to the community it serves.
"Our prize was a trip to Versailles to visit the headquarters of competition sponsor Bouygues Bâtiment International, where we also presented our project to directors in the research and development department."
Mimi added: "Our project is designed towards integration in and around public spaces where people can work, play and function together. Through designing for connection, we aimed to tackle issues of loneliness and isolation that currently exist with many individuals as society continues to become more and more dependent on advanced technology where human to human interaction is diminishing."
Runners up Amy and Robyn were awarded £125 and a year's subscription to AD magazine.
Amy said: "This was a joint project between myself and Robyn and it was a great experience to learn how to work collaboratively."
Robyn added: "The chance to be a part of the competition in the first place was an exciting notion, so we were delighted to be shortlisted with many others in our tutor group. To take second place was a great achievement and we feel very, very proud of ourselves."