Earth's Breath: Wind and Wild

Chloe, a postgraduate student in Architecture, won the coveted prize for her work Earth’s Breath: Wind and Wild, which explores the narrative between humans and nature and asks how architecture of the future may be different to accommodate both humans and natural forces.

"It was a huge surprise when I found out I had won the Serjeant Award for Excellence in Architectural Drawing at Part 2,” said Chloe. “After seven years in architectural education, it feels amazing to have something as special as this to celebrate that time and all the hard work and effort that has been put in.

 “I am utterly thrilled to have been chosen as the winner out of such a wide, global field of excellent President's Medals nominees. My deepest thanks extends to my tutors, Prue Chiles and Polly Gould, and Newcastle University School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape for all the advice, guidance and support that has helped me receive this prestigious recognition from the RIBA."

Narratives of Change

Earth’s Breath: Wind and Wild was the outcome of Chloe’s studies in the Narratives of Change studio, led by Professor Prue Chiles and Dr Polly Gould. It explored what an ecologically routed mode of practice might look like and the tools and techniques that might be deployed to rethink our  might energy future.   It also reinterpreted the role of the architect not simply to build, but to empower and entice the wider community, through clear, powerful narratives, imagery and mapping.

Professor Chiles ansaid: “We are delighted and proud that Chloe’s beautiful work has been rewarded in the RIBA’s prestigious Serjeant Award. Chloe’s contribution to the studio, Narratives of Change, has been enormous, highly imaginative and skilled and we thank everyone involved who worked with her or reviewed her work."

Dr Gould added: "Chloe’s project is a passionate love story to the North East and its people, the power of the wind, from the deep mythological past into the future; a future post-technology and in thrall to nature and the energy of the wind.”

The Serjeant Awards for Excellence in Drawing, are presented in memory of Denis Serjeant, a founding member of the 1981 RIBA Student Prizes Group.

Chloe received her prize at an awards ceremony at the RIBA headquarters in London.

RIBA President Muyiwa Oki said: “This year’s RIBA President’s Medals showcase the exemplary work of architecture students from across the globe. The talent, creativity and sensitivity demonstrated in the winning and commended projects reassure me that the future of architecture is in safe hands. 

“Congratulations to the winners and thank you to the tutors and schools who have nurtured and supported them. I cannot wait to have them as new colleagues.”