A teaching team from the University of Bath was presented with the Standing Conference of Schools of Architecture (SCOSA) Innovation in Architectural Education Award at a ceremony held on 25th April at the University of Kent.
The winning team teaches the Regenerative Cities Studio, as part of the Master of Architecture course within the Department of Architecture and Civil engineering. The award was made in recognition of the national impact of the studio in architectural education, and specifically in the area of multi-disciplinary collaborative teaching.
There is fierce competition for the awards, with nominations open to all 66 schools of Architecture in the UK. The winning team is led by Professor Alex Wright, with the other members being Jayne Barlow, Anne Claxton, Steve Fisher, Rupert Grierson, Matthew Harrison, Andy Jarvis, Alan Kean and John Martin.
The studio requires architecture students to make proposals based on the principles of regenerative design. Initially students chose a city to study, with the master planning proposals completed in Semester 1. Students then make individual building design propositions in semester 2. The studio integrates design and expertise in various areas including: architecture, environmental design, landscape, public realm, structures, materials and carbon.
Prof Wright commented:
Eight of the nine members of the team are part-time staff and I’m delighted that their contribution as educators and practitioners has been recognised by the award. I think the team also owes a huge debt of gratitude to our students, whose outstanding achievements in recent years was sure to have been a big influence on the judges.
Prof Wright was also the recipient of the inaugural SCOSA Lifetime Contribution Award last year, in recognition of his sustained impact on architectural education both nationally and internationally.