RIBA reveals student medal winners for 2014

Poohtown by Nick Elias»1920s Slough is revisited to capitalise from the economy of ‘happiness’ as an alternative industry, using Winnie-the-Pooh as a metaphorical protagonist,» said Elias, speaking to Dezeen last year. «A trail through deserted lands and timid orchards, a shunned landscape turned to wasteland, tracing the river of lava up to its source; the volcano rests below, its breath heating rock and water.»
Flow, 1944 by Simon DeanThe Dissertation Medal was also awarded this evening to the student judged to have   carried out the best research project – Jasper Ludewig from   the University of Sydney for his paper   Made Ground: A spatial history of Sydney Park. Poohtown by Nick EliasIn Elias’ hand-drawn images, the city is transformed from an industrial sprawl into a fictional wonderland filled with familiar characters and friendly architectural structures, designed to appeal to human emotions. Poohtown by Nick EliasThe Bronze Medal goes to Kingston graduate   Simon Dean, whose final degree project proposes a bathhouse set amongst the rocks formed out of   the solidified lava from   the 1944 eruption of   Mount Vesuvius. Flow, 1944 by Simon DeanEntitled   Flow, 1944, the project includes a series of models that imagine how the passing of time could have shaped the form and size of the bathhouse, which appears to have been carved out of the landscape. «Without a doubt, the projects deserve to be rewarded not only for their accomplished words, images and models, but also for revealing the intellectual and experiential dimension architecture brings to daily life,» he said. Flow, 1944 by Simon DeanThe nominations included projects   from 317 schools of architecture located in 61 countries. Related story: RIBA President’s Medals Student Awards 2013 all go to one London schoolPoohtown by Nick EliasNick Elias is the recipient of the Silver Medal for his project Poohtown, which reimagines the post-war town of 1920s Slough, England, using the fictional scenes of AA Milne’s classic tale to create architecture that promotes happiness. Comprising six essays,   Ludewig’s   dissertation discusses   a series of practices, beliefs and tools centred around   Sydney Park, using a method of historical inquiry developed by Australian geographer, historian and theorist Paul Carter. The winners and commended entries will go on show at the RIBA Practice Space   at   66 Portland Place tomorrow.