Chiara Fingland and Clare O’Connell from Studio LBA and the Imagine If… research collective, have just been awarded the prestigious RSA Annual Exhibition Medal for Architecture for their work on the Home of 2030 project.

Chiara and Clare worked with colleague Ellie Burroughs from Aitken Turnbull Architects on the design competition which was created by to drive innovation in the provision of affordable, efficient and healthy green homes for all and tackle the need for scalable, sustainable and durable solutions that help to address the housing shortage.

The three created an innovative and transformational design that explores a vision for housing of the future. This scheme seeks to address how we can make a generation driven by convenience live more sustainably. Their proposal aimed to integrate the benefits of shared economies through utilising community assets on a macro and micro scale, which in turn, facilitates individuals to be independent whilst being supported by a collective neighbourhood.

The two established the ‘Imagine If…’ research collective with colleagues Ellie and Eilidh, with the aim of opening a dialogue with the public on more sustainable housing marketing offerings. The entirety of the design process took place remotely during the first Covid lockdown and they faced the challenges of working collaboratively in a socially distanced world with the usual drive and creativity they bring to everything they do.

The designs had to take a number of factors into account including; creating comfortable, healthy internal environments in homes, helping to respond to concerns on climate change in home design and building and ensuring quality and affordability.

We at Studio LBA have always known our team was a group of dedicated, innovative and driven individuals, but to have that recognised by an organisation like the RSA is just fantastic. We know that Chiara and Clare are humbled by this honour but is it so well deserved and such a fitting tribute to the dedication they show in everything they do.

You guys rock!

To view the exhibition visit www.rsaannualexhibition.org and to see their work specifically, visit the RSA digital viewing gallery here https://www.rsaannualexhibition.org/viewing-room/11/works/artworks-7268-ellie-burroughs-chiara-fingland-and-clare-o-connell-imagine-if-home-of-2030-2020/.