AJ Student Prize 2024: Norwich University of the Arts

About

Undergraduate

Joshua Rogers

Course BA (Hons) Architecture
Studio/unit brief Suffolk’s Ecological Imaginaries
Project title Assemblage of Boundless Walls

Project description This project investigates the (dis)assemblage of the medieval ruins of Dunwich in Suffolk and proposes a moveable stonemasonry school that retreats from the cliff edge as sea erosion progresses. To protect the extant ruins, the project renegotiates the boundaries of the site, devising a process that migrates them away from danger. Existing walls are disassembled, and their stone fragments relocated to safer locations, where they are (re)assembled. The ‘Boundless Walls’ assembly process informs the activities of the School of Stonemasonry. The work of the school is not only to protect the ruins from cliff erosion, but also to train, resell and promote local craftsmanship skills. Stonemasonry trainees live on the site, in pods that move with the ruins, activating a shifting ruin-scape.

Tutor citation Joshua’s project serves as a model for how communities can inhabit eroding landscapes, offering a blend of resilience, education, and cultural stewardship. It encourages us to rethink our approach to heritage conservation in the face of environmental change. George Themistokleous, Marco Fiorino, Romanos Tsomos, William Chen

Postgraduate

Jacob Cherry

Course MArch Architecture
Studio/unit brief The Terra, the Mare and the Oecumene
Project title Re/Generation Station

Project description This project is sited in Falmouth, Cornwall, where there is the opportunity to harness tidal power from an underwater ‘canyon’ in the Carrick Roads estuary. The foundations of the building are inspired by the fortifications around the site, whereas the structure of the building is inspired by the maritime history of the location. Unlike a traditional power station, the Re/Generation Station is a multipurpose facility. It will be the first tidal power station in England, providing a sustainable source of power for the local population of Falmouth, Penny and Flushing. It is a bridge between the land, the sea and the in-between, and helps regenerate the native flora and fauna.

Tutor citation Jacob’s work is an example of a well-researched project that is defensible in both its siting and programme. The research explores the chosen site through multiple perspectives and includes a diverse community of human and non-human guests. Claudia Morgado, KB Izac Tsai, Will Chen, Romanos Tsomos, Matt Sawyer, Pierre d’Avione