Nearly 100 students from both interior design and architecture courses across the UK attended the annual Student Charrette held at the Zaha Hadid-designed Roca Gallery in London last month. The intensive one-day design competition challenged students with a live brief to explore and design a new pier at Chelsea Harbor in the context of “transport” to work on London’s goal for greater use of the Thames.

Students worked collaboratively in teams of between six to eight people to create their designs supported by a practicing architect or interior design as a mentor.

The triumphant team brought together undergraduates from London Metropolitan University and students from Chelsea College of Arts. Their imaginative approach featured a series of striking, detachable pods that could be floated down the Thames to bring Chelsea to the rest of the city. Oxford Brookes University finished as runners-up and third place went to a team of interior architecture students from UCA Canterbury.

Other designs ranged from a new retail space to a dynamic transport hub and a pedestrian bridge across the river.

The ten teams worked throughout the day to produce a concept drawing, detailed plan and models that were presented to a judging panel comprising George Kunihiro, fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA); Karin Templin, partner at architecture and urban design practice, studioACKT; and British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) CPD Director, Dan Hopwood of Daniel Hopwood Interior Design.

“The design energy and enthusiasm of the students was infectious, and the results of their thinking and creativity very impressive,” said Hayley Manning, associate and student director at BIID. “This event clearly shows just how important it is to nurture and encourage the young design talent of the future.”