Charrette 2013 a resounding success

On Saturday, 2nd November 2013 almost one hundred architecture and
interior design students from universities across the UK attended Charrette ’13, an intensive one day design competition. The event was held at the Zaha Hadid – designed Roca London Gallery in Chelsea Harbour. 

The students were given a brief to design a new pier at Chelsea Harbour to  regenerate the area while promoting TfL’s goal for greater use of the Thames.

Ten teams worked throughout the day to produce a concept drawing, detailed plan and models to present to the judging panel. Each team was mentored by a range of design professionals from the BIID, AIA, and course leaders. Designs ranged from new retail spaces, to a new large transport hub and a pedestrian bridge across the river.

Judging the competition were George Kunihiro, FAIA; Karin Templin, partner at studioACKT; and BIID Director Dan Hopwood.
 
Third place was won by UCA Canterbury’s Interior Architecture students with a design made of several interchangeable mixed-use barges. Oxford Brookes University took second place with a flowing, interlocking jetty that stood out from the embankment.

Claiming victory was a team composed of students from London Metropolitan University’s CASS faculty of Art, Architecture and Design, and the Chelsea College of Arts, who designed a series of detachable pods that could be floated down the Thames to bring Chelsea to the rest of the city. The winning team members each won a book of the works of architect Zaha Hadid.

Refreshments and prizes were generously provided by Laufen Bathrooms.