We are delighted to announce the winner of the second annual WW+P Future of Transport Student Prize to Maja Oparnica an MArch graduate from the Sheffield School of Architecture.
At the Worshipful Company of Architects Installation Lunch on Thursday September 22, WW+P COO Geoff Bee presented the Prize to Maja for new project The Social Interchange. Geoff said “Maja's work was particularly well received by the judging panel, demonstrating a clever and inventive reinterpretation of existing road infrastructure, transforming a historical blight into an opportunity to grow local communities centered on affordable public green transport, utilising and building upon lessons learnt from the 15-minute cities movement”.
Maja’s MArch project draws on Coventry’s industrial heritage and history of car and bicycle production, using a speculative approach to imagine the future of the city’s transport infrastructure. On an urban scale, the project reimagines Coventry's city centre, repurposing the Ring Road for public transport and cycling, while transport hubs are created at each of the junctions. On a building scale, the project explores one of the hubs in more detail. The existing car park is turned into accessible public space, while the building is conceived as a series of interconnected terraces. Through combining transport and community spaces, the project emphasises the role of the hub not only as a point of transit but a destination in itself.
Maja is a recent MArch graduate from Sheffield School of Architecture whose projects have mainly focused on working simultaneously at the local and city scale, combining architecture, infrastructure and urban design. Through her designs, she has explored how carefully working with the existing urban fabric can help create better connected and more accessible spaces.
The runner-up prize was awarded to James Ford an MArch graduate from the Bartlett School of Architecture. James’ research analysed the cultural history of the Thames and explored a seasonal program in relation to historic events that have taken place on the river. The program of architecture is designed to engage the users with the cyclical seasonal changes that occur in the Thames environment throughout the year. A proposed new pier creates a performative architecture piece that can express and celebrate the environmental changes that take place within the river Thames ecology on a daily, weekly or even yearly basis.
Chris Williamson said, “James' project showed what could be achieved if there was genuine desire to encourage passenger river transportation. By thinking differently, utilising nature and the incredible environment the river offers, as a positive motivational travel factor, this project shows that TfL's desire to hit 20million water journeys per year by 2035 could be achieved, or even surpassed.”
During his MArch James undertook research focused on transport infrastructure. The research into transport explored historic approaches to travel and the Integration of hybrid programmes challenging the banality that exists within current approaches to Transport.
The Weston Williamson + Partners Future of Transport Student Prize is awarded for the best research or design proposal studying future modes of travel and their impact on the environment. The award is presented in partnership with the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects one of the City of London’s Livery Companies. The Company promotes quality architecture in the City of London and the architectural professional globally, as well supporting education through awards and prizes.
The Future of Transport Student Prize represents our passion for transport, and our commitment to promoting ways to move people from cars onto safe, efficient and well-designed transport systems. For over 35 years, since designing London Bridge Station, we have been involved in some of the most important international transport projects, projects that have changed the way people live, work, rest and most importantly move. We are always looking towards the future, supporting new ideas and the next generation of talent.
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