University of Bath architecture graduate, Justin Bean, has been awarded this year’s Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) President’s Medal for undergraduate students.
The RIBA President’s Bronze Medal is awarded annually to the best undergraduate project, with this year seeing a record number of 125 entries nominated by schools of architecture from across the world.
Justin graduated this summer from the BSc Architecture programme and it was his final year project, ‘Dreaming of Electric Sheep’, which led to him being recognised by RIBA.
Explaining his project and commenting on winning this award, Justin said: “Dreaming of Electric Sheep is the culmination of intensive research, analysis and iteration; an approach embraced by the Bath design studio. Our relationship with technology and how we choose to live alongside one another has never been so complex; however I believe that there is huge potential for a new architectural epoch for human and machine.
“Being awarded the RIBA Bronze Medal gives me great honour and has provided me with an incredible platform to discuss these ideas further.”
Justin’s design tutor and Teaching Fellow in the University’s Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, Frank Lyons, was at RIBA in London to see the award announced and commented: “It was a pleasure to work with Justin last year on his individual project, ‘Dreaming of Electric Sheep’. It was a provocative, wonderfully creative and thoroughly resolved piece of work that challenged us to examine carefully our relationship with technology. What a delight for him to be picking up the RIBA President’s Bronze Medal, very well deserved, congratulations.”
RIBA President Ben Derbyshire, commented: “The breadth and scale of talent evidenced in the design proposals and writings produced by this year’s winners is truly remarkable. This is an emerging generation of skilled thinkers who are able to distil complex ideas and resolve them into sophisticated architectural proposals. They are all talents to watch.”
Head of Architecture at the University of Bath, Professor Alex Wright, added: “We’re delighted for Justin. This is one of a number of design prizes awarded to our students over the last few years and this continued success is an entirely fair reflection of their dedication and ability.”
The success of students studying architecture at Bath is synonymous with the strength of this degree programme. The University’s BSc Architecture course, delivered in the Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, is ranked number one in both The 2019 Complete University Guide and the Good University Guide 2019.
Architecture at Bath has also been ranked first in at least one of the national league tables for the past decade, an achievement which no other university can match for this subject.
Further details of this year’s entries are available at http://www.presidentsmedals.com/