Student Design Awards 2024 Winners

July 23, 2024
4:51 pm

The AfH Student Design Award is an annual design competition for students and 2024 marks our 16th year.

As well as promoting good design, AfH is committed to encouraging the next generation to become passionate about the quality of design for health and social care settings. And our goal is to celebrate the opportunities for innovation and experimentation and to bring together students from different disciplines to share their creative ideas.

AFH STUDENT DESIGN AWARDS 2024 WINNERS

This year we had 67 submissions from 22 courses over 13 schools, including 4 overseas from the China, Japan, Sweden and USA.

There were 22 awards made across 6 categories and includes 5 overall awards.

Category Awards

HE Diploma Award

3 submissions from:
KLC School of Design / West Dean

JUDGES COMMENTS

Studio Soleil has delivered a cohesive and comprehensive project, tracing a clear journey from site analysis, through to concept development, materiality and thoughtful design choices.

The group demonstrates sensibility towards the building users` both physical and psychological well-being, exploring key accessibility guidance and understanding the impact of geometry and biophilic design on the users` mind.

JUDGES COMMENTS

Revolve Creative demonstrates a sympathetic response to users by carefully considering the threshold between personal life and work and by including accessible, all gender spaces within their proposal.

The concept of Decompression is extremely pertinent to the works within the RHN and to conversations about staff and patient mental health.

BA Architecture Award

12 submissions from:
Leeds Beckett University | University of Fukui, Japan | Xi’An Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China

JUDGES COMMENTS

A strong response to mental health challenges facing children and their families in China.

Very strong scheme, with a strong narrative thread from concept to final design.

JUDGES COMMENTS

A powerful response to care of critically ill children and ther families using carefully considered approaches to create a very strong design response.

Very well developed and resolved scheme.

BA Interior Design Award

23 submissions from:
Arts University Bournemouth | KLC School of Design-West Dean University | London Metropolitan University | Middlesex University | UAL Chelsea

JUDGES COMMENTS

I am quite excited about the idea of an internalised ‘external’ space which can have a controlled and adpative environment…while re-purposing a fabulous piece of urban infrastructure.

A focal point for the overall design, the birds nests offer a place to retreat to and offer the user choice and are made of natural materials.

Spatial division and lighting are addressed with pieces of art, which enliven the space and make it unique.

JUDGES COMMENTS

A great re-use of a historical department store as a shelter for women and children.

Uplifting interiors have been created by careful consideration of finishes.

A detailed collection of precedents is useful, showing furniture and lighting throughout the project.

JUDGES COMMENTS

Great connection between technology and space.

A very practical approach which can be implemented today.

BA Landscape Architecture Award

5 submissions from:
Leeds Beckett University

JUDGES COMMENTS

Very high standard of work. Clearly presented, confident graphics.

Good analysis of the site context and usefully shows the red line to the detailed design work area.

Strong concept for de-culverting the Brook and building a new public open space along a re-formed naturalistic water course, creating a strong approach to the station.

Excellent visuals and in the development of the planting and hard landscaping aspects.

JUDGES COMMENTS

Excellent concept for enhancing Shipley with doorstep landscapes and a strategy to reduce the dominance of vehicles.

Good anaylsis of the local area and town’s character and strong ideas for reconfiguring and greening the existing spaces between buildings.

Nice development of visuals to illustrate the character of spaces, and the use of a model.

Positive exploration of construction and planting detail.

MA Architecture Award

18 submissions from:
California Baptist University | Chalmers University of Technology | Leeds Beckett University | Newcastle University | Northumbria University

JUDGES COMMENTS

Relevant, captivating and convincing. What a wonderful project.

The ‘day in the life of’ storyboard alongside the photograph and poetry is a very powerful way to portray the design and very much draw you in to the scheme and builds a personal connection with the end users of the space.

JUDGES COMMENTS

Beautifully presented and articulated with consideration of clinical need, patient wellbeing and family respite.

The building physically anchored back to the landscape with the continuous roofscape and the selection of stone and angularity inspired by the location and cliffs are sensitive to the environment so as the building sits nestled comfortably in its location.

JUDGES COMMENTS

Excellent consideration of users and a nicely developed final design.

A well thought through solution that gives consideration to the materials used for their environmental and wellbeing properties.

The concepts for design development are very clear, a robust solution with lovely ideas such as the bedroom furniture on rails to allow for adaptability of spaces.

MA Interior Design Award

6 submissions from:
Middlesex University | UAL Camberwell

JUDGES COMMENTS

An innovative look at what creates a domestic and living space.

Lovely concept surrounding the use of tea bringing people together and using the senses.

It was well communicated with engaging graphics.

JUDGES COMMENTS

This project was clearly and thoughtfully presented. It was sensitive to the user and the experience of moving through a variety of spaces and environments.

An interesting brief and choice of site that feels quite appropriate for that specific environment (of Oxford Street). Repurposing part of the existing building for the ASC is an exciting opportunity to tackle sustainability issues at the same time.

The Overall Awards

Best Drawing

JUDGES COMMENTS

This project is described using different drawing and visualisation styles to express different elements of the design.

The mix of the sections, axis, plans and thematic drawing are lovely and thoughtfully done.

JUDGES COMMENTS
Impressively artistic response, with comprehensive exploration of site and brief.

Best Concept

JUDGES COMMENTS
The research and development of the concept is very clear.
The translation of the 12 step programme for addiction therapy to architectural spaces demonstrates an impressive understanding of the variety of spaces needed in this type of facility.

JUDGES COMMENTS

Powerful brief and selection of existing building with the vision to focus on the histrocial references and perception of a place as opposed to isolating this to a physical building but then uses the selected existing building to turn that around.

Judges Special Award

JUDGES COMMENTS
A clear presentation of aims from the start with well structured and clearly labelled sheets to tell the story of the development of the project.
Has considered the experience of different users breaking these down into different categories in terms of ages and what their individual needs might be, and how they would use the space over the day.

JUDGES COMMENTS

Given the decline of banks on the high street but the increase in social challenges around finance and cost of living and the impact this can have on mental health and wellbeing this is a really important idea to have taken forward and reimage what the bank as a built form could now be.

Sue Francis Special Award for Art and Architecture

JUDGES COMMENTS
Relevant, captivating and convincing. What a wonderful project.

Best Presentation in the Student Seminar

JUDGES COMMENTS

Strong and powerful presentation showing in depth knowledge of the concept for edible landscapes and engaging local communities.

Confident interaction with the audience.