KPF/AF Student Travel Award 2011

Sponsored by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), and organised by The Architecture Foundation, the Student Travel Award was established in 2004 as a means of supporting the development of talented UK architecture students by enabling them to undertake international travel and research.

Now in its seventh year, the KPF/AF Student Travel Award for 2011 will be based on the theme of ‘Work/Life Patterns of the Future,’ encouraging students to explore the ways in which we work and live, and how these will be affected and informed by the design of buildings and urban spaces.

Participants will be asked to present a project which examines the progression and transformation of our cities in response to the continual evolution of new technologies, changing attitudes to how we work, and the implications of urban spaces on our professional and personal lives. The project can be specifically developed for the award or presented from the participants existing portfolio.

Travel bursaries will be presented to the two students who display the most outstanding insight into the future of our cities, with a first prize of £1,750 and a second prize of £1,250 being awarded to the winners. The successful designs will need to demonstrate an ability to meet the current demands of contemporary society, whilst also accommodating for future change, which will require a thorough understanding of the social, economic and environmental demands of an urban environment.

The competition is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at architecture schools in the UK, including year out students and those graduating in 2011.

KPF Principal John Bushell comments, “We are delighted to continue our association with the Student Travel Award. KPF holds a genuine commitment to nurturing emerging talent and encouraging creative thinking about urban spaces and the design of buildings. This programme provides us with the ideal opportunity to support promising new architects. The award offers students the real benefits of international research, by acknowledging the importance of observing and learning from other examples around the world, whether historical or contemporary.” To date, the bursaries have been used to travel to India, China, Japan and America. 2010’s winner Nandi Han, who visited Lhasa in Tibet, comments , “The travel award gave my research project real momentum and enabled an unforgettable first-hand experience of people and communities, which is the core of urban design practice.” This year’s jury will include: Mustafa Chehabbedine, John Bushell and Brian Girard from KPF; Sarah Ichioka, Director at The Architecture Foundation; James Pallister from The Architects’ Journal.

The deadline for submissions is May 6, 2011 and details regarding the entry requirements can be found at the website below:

www.architecturefoundation.org.uk