Jake Cripwell, a student on the Master of Architecture (MArch) (RIBA pt II) course and part of Design Studio 22 at the University of Westminster, made it to the finals of the 3D Reid Student Competition which took place on Thursday 22 July.
Jake was one of five students shortlisted for the prize following a selection from 33 entries across the UK. This year, finalists presented their projects virtually and the panel asked that entries reflected their new judging criteria. These include ‘Impact’, identifying whether the projects have meaning and assess societal concerns such as environment, culture, wellbeing and inclusivity; ‘Innovation’, to deduce whether the project represents new ways of thinking and whether it explores new technologies, materials, and environmental impact; and ‘Communication’, identifying whether the students’ project speaks to the viewer, and if the imagery and words are well-conceived and embrace new ways of communicating ideas.
Jake’s project, titled ‘The Creeping Seaweed Gardens’, was influenced by the disappearance of allotment settlements in Berlin and the frequency of flooding in the area. Allotment settlements were illegal communities known as ‘Green Slums’ that formed within the city’s allotments in the 20th century as many lost their homes to bombing and expulsion. Coupled with this, the figures concerning the frequency and intensity of flooding events are a great concern in Berlin. With few soft surfaces and flood defences in place, urban planners have been prompted to envision ways of turning the city into an ‘urban sponge’ which would be capable of handling storm weather and flooding.
In response to these findings, Jake’s project seeks to re-introduce Berlin’s gardening culture, welcoming a previously lost community back to the heart of the city. His proposal celebrates the river and its flooding nature by hosting the production of freshwater seagrass called eelgrass and blue-green algae spirulina which both help to filter polluted river water and provide urban habitats for wildlife.
The production site would be operated by residents through the process of cultivating and drying the seaweed, using eelgrass cladding panels and perforated skins to enrich the facades of the river. Jake’s proposal also includes urban wetland, which would help to alleviate flooding events through storing, dissipating and cleansing storm water, as well as becoming a recreational and ecological space.
Jake explained that through his project, he hopes that Berlin’s riverside would become an active and communal destination, changing the city’s relationship with the waterfront. His drawings celebrate a new riverscape where the river plays a key role in shaping the future of Berlin.
Talking about the competition, Jake said: “I was up against some very good competition, and unfortunately was not able to take the top prize. It was however an amazing opportunity to meet and present my work to a body of professionals, who were very complimentary of the project and its presentation. It was a shame not to have won, but it was a really good experience and I am grateful to my tutors Nasser Golzari and Yara Sharif for the nomination.”
Find out more about Architecture, Interiors, and Urban Design courses at the University of Westminster.
