An urban recreational centre designed to encourage socialising through sports and a sustainable community college feature in Dezeen's latest school show by architecture students at the University of Technology, Jamaica.

Also included is a community housing proposal for intergenerational residents and a creative co-working space in the city of Kingston.

University of Technology, Jamaica

School: University of Technology, Jamaica, Caribbean School of Architecture
Courses: Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies and Master of Architecture (CAA Part two)
Tutors: Dr Elizabeth Pigou-Dennis, Dr Jenna Blackwood, engineers Louise Fletcher-Weller and Eric Hudson Architects, Mlela Matandara-Clarke, Staceyann Dennison-Heron, Mandilee Newton, David Douglas, Cheryl Pouchet, Stephen Jameson and Jacquiann T Lawton.

School statement:

"Independent Caribbean territories share common imperatives of sustaining ecosystems, biodiversity, water resources, reduction of energy consumption-CO2 production and the design of resilient strategies to improve the lives and livelihoods of our island communities.

"Materials and constructional methods that combine traditional and innovative cultural, climatic practices, when supported by the economic use of land and adequate urban infrastructure and transportation can poetically respond to built environment exigencies.

"The MArch programme nurtures graduates' design, knowledge and skill attributes, enabling them to critically appraise the environments and issues that inform design decisions and research interests. The programme integrates architecture and urban design through advocacy, focusing on regenerating the inner-city of mid-town Kingston, Jamaica.

"Industry and non-governmental organisation collaborators included members of the Urban Development Corporation of Jamaica, the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Allman Town Community, Kingston Creative, and the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency."

Urban Recreational Centre by Dominic Anderson

"The Urban Recreational Centre aims to promote vibrancy for the inner city citizens of Kingston. During the 1980s, sport played an integral role in the socialisation of mid-town Kingston communities.

"This project recreates and reactivates an arena for socialisation through dynamic sporting events, wellness and recreational spaces. It is a place where individuals from different neighbourhoods can work collectively on common goals through sport."

Student: Dominic Anderson
Course: Master of Architecture Thesis
Tutors: Jacquiann T Lawton and Stephen Jameson
Email: dom.and26[at]gmail.com

PAR Community College by Ramone Allen

"The PAR Community College is nestled in Allman Town, an inner-city community in the mid-town section of the greater Kingston metropolitan area of Jamaica. The intelligent urban campus aims to progressively advance the human resource (PAR) of mid-town to provide enlightenment through education.

"It is designed to rejuvenate the public realm with public space, pocket parks and community-centred activity. The campus' sustainability strategies focus on maximising natural light, renewable energy, green roofs, and natural ventilation, which is enhanced by a campus-wide data system."

Student: Ramone Allen
Course: Master of Architecture Thesis
Tutors: Jacquiann T Lawton and Stephen Jameson
Email: ramonej.lln[at]gmail.com

Intergenerational Community Housing by Haverica Gooden

"With Jamaica's ageing population, increasing life expectancies accompanied by a drop in births are leading to a drastic shift in our age structure.

"This shifting structure is prompting new strategies and responses in a great variety of areas, such as housing for the elderly and a need for a redeveloped community structure that fosters interaction between people of different stages of life.

"Communal living is a possible solution to developing an architectural typology that promotes a society for all ages through generational mixing. Designed with sustainability measures, the project utilises passive cooling techniques such as natural ventilation, building envelope controls for daylight, landscaping, connecting the occupants to nature, roof gardens, rainwater harvesting and renewable energy systems."

Student: Haverica Gooden
Course: Master of Architecture Thesis
Tutors: Jacquiann T Lawton and Stephen Jameson
Email: h.goodinc[at]gmail.com

The Advocate Resource Centre by Jason Pinnock

"The Advocate Resource Centre anchors the south-east quadrant of the Central Kingston Community area. Strategically sited at the midpoint between crossroads and downtown Kingston, the scheme creates a connection that serves as either a link or an interruption for pedestrians between uptown and downtown.

The investigation sought to generate a correlation between the embedded patterns in faith-based praxis and a series of architectural spaces. The programme of meditation spaces, workshops for vocational training and a wellness centre activates the practice of faith, the outworking of words and deeds fueled by love. The project 'acts' by offering spiritual opportunities for the lives of the members of the mid-town Kingston communities."

Student: Jason Pinnock
Course: Master of Architecture Thesis
Tutors: Jacquiann T Lawton and Stephen Jameson
Email: jasonpinnock7[at]gmail.com

The Creative Incubator by Jonathan Williams

"The Creative Incubator aims to harness the economic potential of Kingston's creative culture. The intervention seeks to contribute to the revitalisation of mid-Kingston, by attracting and developing a new creative entrepreneurial community, which brings together professionals with grassroots creatives.

"By providing spaces to live, make, co-work, share and showcase, the building becomes an ecosystem for creatives that nurtures creativity and stimulates collaboration.

"Interstitial spaces become communal spaces to encourage collision and interaction between users and therefore offers the potential for generating creativity. Beyond the original intent of providing a space for creatives, the proposal also accommodates the existing thriving community of small vendors."

Student: Jonathan Williams
Course: Master of Architecture Thesis
Tutors: Jacquiann T Lawton and Stephen Jameson
Email: jonathan.williams909[at]gmail.com

Central Kingston Library by Orvin Brown

"The multifaceted nature of central Kingston provides unique opportunities for the design to become a nexus between the proposed Parliament buildings, National Heroes Park, and the existing social ecosystem. Internal courtyards connect all significant spaces.

"Green and public areas integrate natural elements creating places for relaxed social interaction. The architecture of the Central Kingston Library, Cultural Centre and Fabrication Incubator aims to promote a seamless learning experience, including 3D fabrication and unique cultural opportunities provided by the context.

"A pedestrian walkway promotes visual, social and physical linkages between the commercial activities on Orange Street and the proposed Parliament buildings."

Student: Orvin Brown
Course: Master of Architecture
Tutors: Cheryl Pouchet, David Douglas and Mandilee Newton
Email: obdezignz[at]hotmail.com

Theological Institue by Jheanelle Campbell

"The intervention for the site as a theological institute functions as a space for open dialogue and investigation into how people of the world can connect to God.

"Religions all share the common belief that they are the way or route to reach the divine, thus, the elements embodied in the architectural design reveal themselves as an interpretation of a path through layers of symbolic spatial exchange.

"The architectural gestures found in the site are mystical and thought-provoking. They seek to embody existential metaphors and concretise and structure our sense of being in the world."

Student: Jheanelle Campbell
Course: Master of Architecture
Tutors: Cheryl Pouchet, David Douglas and Mandilee Newton
Email: jheanellecampbell[at]gmail.com

The Gastronomy Incubator by Anthony Hyatt

"Kingston is one of 47 new locales added to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in December 2015. The imperative recognises creativity as a significant factor in sustainable urban development, social inclusion and cultural vibrancy. The Gastronomic Incubator is inspired by culinary locations within the city.

The building capitalises on its location between historic Kingston and its suburbs, creating a place to enjoy preparing, researching and eating Jamaican and international food.

"The incubator is supported by a specialist library for all things food. An urban farm provides the produce for the gastronomic functions of the project and also serves the adjoining communities."

Student: Anthony Hyatt
Course: Master of Architecture
Tutors: Cheryl Pouchet, David Douglas and Mandilee Newton
Email: hdq.7729[at]gmail.com

The Robotics Incubator by Hanif James

"The Robotics Incubator stimulates high school students to create research explorations using robotics. A central courtyard coordinates the activities within the incubator by encouraging collaborative engagement in a main open space.

"An organic canopy integrates smart kinetic solar panels and a hydro-circulation system, which contributes to the sustainable strategies of the building while incorporating robotic elements.

"The design was inspired by the dynamic street life juxtaposed against the formal architecture surrounding the area. This dynamism was investigated through the shape of the building by mirroring the energetic exchange of ideas the street life facilitates."

Student: Hanif James
Course: Master of Architecture
Tutors: Cheryl Pouchet, David Douglas and Mandilee Newton
Email: hanifjames95[at]gmail.com

The Exchange by Roni-Kaye McLaren

"Inspired by the original nodes and activities that existed in and around the site, this project, located in central Kingston, Jamaica, explores a space that facilitates the exchange of knowledge, ideas and services among various demographic groups.

"A vast courtyard connects the internal spaces. As a result, the circulation becomes more vibrant, animated. Points of exchange become intimate through dining, shopping, co-working, learning and gathering.

"The design is punctuated by natural light and greenery to enhance the experience of all inhabitants. Other sustainable strategies employed were rainwater catchment and reuse, passive cooling, green roofs and solar energy."

Student: Roni-Kaye McLaren
Course: Master of Architecture
Tutors: Cheryl Pouchet, David Douglas and Mandilee Newton
Email: mclaren.roni[at]gmail.com

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and the University of Technology, Jamaica. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.