Coventry University students' success at national awards
Design Concrete is a national student competition which encourages students to explore the benefits of designing sustainably with concrete.
The 2024 competition challenge was to design a sustainable concrete artist's studio or exhibition space within a restored quarry site and teams of Architectural Technology and Architecture students from Coventry University claimed first and second prizes.
The winning team – whose project was called Organic Prefabrication – was made up of Architectural Technology student and CIAT student member Miles Neale, and Architecture students Thomas Jackson, Charlie Brooker and Umar Mahmood.
The judges praised the team as a "standout winner" and added in their comments that they "developed their designs with such technical rigour, logic and well-informed decision making that really stood out", as well as noting the students' "exceptional attention to detail and critical thinking".
The winning team are also leaving a lasting legacy on the competition as part of the work they created is being used to shape a mandatory element of Design Concrete in future years.
Second prize was also taken by a team from Coventry comprising of Melania Irofte, Mohammad Fouani, Natalia Bujek and Sasha Farnsworth's effort titled Flying Through the Fens.
The judges described the project's "very elegant and materially-efficient design inspired by the wings of birds and very achievable in concrete".
Two further Coventry University groups were also shortlisted.
Ahmed Al-Mallak, lecturer in Architectural Technology and Architecture, said:
This achievement stands out not just because of the collaboration between Architectural Technology and Architecture students but because of their genuine commitment to experimenting with design as a tool for societal and environmental change.
The students showed how architecture can move beyond aesthetics to address pressing issues like sustainability. Their work reflects a deep interest in making a tangible, positive impact on the world, and that spirit of innovation and responsibility makes their success genuinely remarkable.
