Dezeen School Shows: a cave-like learning centre that promotes wild swimming is included in Dezeen's latest school show by students at Lancaster University.

Also included is a centre that accommodates bee colonies to address the pollination crisis and housing that responds to the impact of desertification of Timbuktu, Mali.

Lancaster University

Institution: Lancaster University
School: School of Architecture
Courses: BA (Hons) and Master of Architecture
Tutors: Dr Ana Rute Costa, Stephen Connah, Siobhain Graham, Des Fagan, Adam Blaney and Richard Brook Graham

School statement:

"Future practice, digital crafts and climate emergency are the three concerns that underpin everything we do at Lancaster School of Architecture.

"By looking at the topic of future practice, students explore how issues such as future cities, rapid urbanisation, changing societal and family structures and patterns of working, new materials, and accelerating digitalisation necessitate a new kind of architectural professional, equipping them to address such challenges.

"Digital crafts cover digital fabrication, agile production, rapid prototyping, disruptive technologies, advanced manufacturing, learning-by-doing and the maker movement – our students will not just be familiar with these ideas but become future pioneers.

"Addressing the climate crisis as an imperative. Climate change is seamlessly integrated into everything we teach, and we strive for it to become utterly normalised and part of our everyday conversation in studio.

"Lancaster University is one of the UK's top ten universities. Our pretty, green campus is an inspirational setting for studying architecture, set on the edge of industrial cities and the Lake District.

"Working spaces include an Arts and Crafts house, the award-winning Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts and a purpose-built studio where you'll have your own workspace. During our summer school, we take advantage of the campus woodlands, the city and the nearby coast.

"Focusing on sustainability and ethics, we empower our students to find innovative solutions that repurpose materials and extend the life of buildings.

"We're one of the first UK courses to implement the latest ARB and RIBA guidance on fire safety and sustainability.

"Throughout the course, students will develop professional skills and contacts through live projects, networking events, practice experience and mentoring by professional architects."

Preserve to Swim by Ross Bland

"This learning centre focuses on maintaining high water quality in Lake Windermere to promote wild swimming. Phosphate buildup can cause anoxia, an oxygen deficiency, and increase harmful algae growth.

"The project is community-driven, designed to attract wild swimmers and educate young people about the environment and how to swim safely in open water.

"The concept is designed to create a memorable journey from the entrance to the water's edge. With the use of different materials and manipulation of light, it enhances the user experience, symbolising an emergence from a cave.

"A sense of connection between the individual and their surroundings draws them to the water and spectators can enjoy the picturesque viewpoints."

Student: Ross Bland
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture
Tutors: Dr Ana Rute Costa, Stephen Connah and Siobhain Graham
Email: r.bland2[at]lancaster.ac.uk

Repainting the Lake District by Katie Phillips

"Tourism in the Lake District, England, is closely linked to its ecological degradation. The Romantics were the first to make the lakes a desirable destination through beautiful paintings and poetry.

"This learning centre aims to repaint this image, exposing the damages caused by tourism whilst facilitating necessary changes. It will challenge public perceptions and research public education strategies.

"The timber-framed building, inspired by locally-mined bismuth crystal, is situated on the site of an old villa. It features a solar facade that generates energy with a ground source heat pump located below the car parks.

"The wider masterplan features sustainable travel, E-bike hire, a park and ride system and bike lanes."

Student: Katie Phillips
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture
Tutors: Dr Ana Rute Costa, Stephen Connah and Siobhain Graham
Email: katiephillips01[at]icloud.com

The Hills Have Eyes by Ruth Adu-Dwumaa

"The masterplan of this project is motivated by the theme of tourism and hiking in the Lake District.

"It aims to enhance the visitor experience, make hiking and outdoor activities inclusive to everyone and transform tourism into an asset rather than an inconvenience by promoting sustainable tourism.

"The learning centre serves a number of functions – it will promote Fix the Fells, an EU scheme where volunteers fix trails that have been eroded by tourists, and provide information on hikes of various difficulty levels to cater to every visitor.

"A hostel will enable visitors to stay overnight and socialise, sharing their experiences of the Lake District with one another."

Student: Ruth Adu-Dwumaa
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture
Tutors: Dr Ana Rute Costa, Stephen Connah and Siobhain Graham
Email: Ruthadu2001[at]gmail.com

Sailing the Fells by Betty Bowkett

"Sailing the Fells proposes a new learning centre at Fell Foot Park in Cumbria, England, that specialises in sailing and encourages young children to sail for the first time.

"It aims to increase accessibility in the Lake District, which has been affected by tourism-related issues such as price increases.

"Through collaboration with other sailing schools around Lake Windermere, this project creates a sailing expedition and introduces new teaching spaces for sailing, including boat simulators and on-lake sailing experiences.

"Facilities include changing rooms, showers and boat storage as well as a riverside restaurant that overlooks the water."

Student: Betty Bowkett
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture
Tutors: Dr Ana Rute Costa, Stephen Connah and Siobhain Graham
Email: b.bowkett[at]lancaster.ac.uk

The Marine Gateway by Charlotte Pugh

"The Marine Gateway masterplan revitalises a biologically declining waterfront in the heart of the Lake District, investing in the future of marine biodiversity.

"The bridge enhances accessibility by providing an alternative access route from the existing derelict Lakeside train line and station, boosting sustainable transport services.

"The lake's marine observatory is a part of the bridge, anchored on Lake Windermere's bed.

"A new marine research centre designed for studying Lake Windermere's marine biodiversity will bring 60 new jobs to the area and establish connections with global partners to teach local communities about marine biodiversity.

"This will be accomplished through the retrofitted boathouse, now transformed into an outdoor auditorium."

Student: Charlotte Pugh
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture
Tutors: Dr Ana Rute Costa, Stephen Connah and Siobhain Graham
Email: c.r.pugh[at]lancaster.ac.uk

A-pollen-ypse by Dan Mulhearn

"We can avoid an apocalypse and permanent damage caused by the pollination crisis by taking preventative measures.

"A decrease in the number of pollinators has led to reduced biodiversity and crop yields, impacting humans by limiting the supply of healthy foods. Scientists argue 500,000 deaths a year can be attributed to pollinator loss.

"This project's masterplan creates the optimal environment for the most efficient pollinator, the bee. New spaces allow bee colonies to thrive and be monitored, along with a visitor education programme that aims to inspire and educate a new generation of beekeepers.

"Once the structure becomes self-sufficient in supporting bee colonies, it is moved elsewhere in the UK to tackle the crisis nationwide."

Student: Dan Mulhearn
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture
Tutors: Dr Ana Rute Costa, Stephen Connah and Siobhain Graham
Email: danmulhearn[at]icloud.com

The Five Senses of Cumbria by Nadia Sharpe

"This learning centre immerses visitors in the Lake District through the five senses, helping visitors with sensory impairment to experience the area.

Four underground activity rooms explore noise, sight, smell, taste and touch.

"The Five Senses of Cumbria learning centre creates a space to fully lose your senses. This cannot be done surrounded by open nature, but underground, all senses can fully immerse into the experience.

"The Lake District has 48 disability-approved routes – this could be improved at Fell Foot, a park situated among the lakes.

"Tourism is the Lake District's main source of income, so adding activities everyone can enjoy will increase the area's attractiveness."

Student: Nadia Sharpe
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture
Tutors: Dr Ana Rute Costa, Stephen Connah and Siobhain Graham
Email: nadia[at]thompsonsharpe.co.uk

Venetian Centre for Building Foundation Resilience by Rainer Townend

"The centre is an on-site research and education hub that raises awareness on the erosion, pollution and environmental issues impacting Venice, Italy, and its lagoon.

"Researchers from the centre can collect data on the state of Venetian building foundations, serving as an advisory service for local building owners.

"They can provide information on restoration strategies and the best practices for the preservation of buildings.

"The centre aims to raise awareness about the problems in Venice, drawing in tourists to educate and generate funds to support conservation in the city.

"After a period of time, the individual building units can be relocated and the lagoon can be returned to its original state."

Student: Rainer Townend
Course: Master of Architecture
Tutors: Des Fagan, Adam Blaney and Richard Brook
Email: r.townend[at]lancaster.ac.uk

Timbuktu Centre for Desertification by Tanya Kabeer

"This research and development lab explores the impact of desertification on the UNSECO World Heritage Site and future housing design in Timbuktu, Mali.

"Timbuktu is experiencing major, irreversible consequences of climate change – desertification. Many citizens have been forced to move away from the city centre due to the severe lack of water resources.

"In this project, three main buildings are connected at ground level and separated underground.

"The proposal for the underground spaces includes cool, shaded and sand-free facilities that can withstand the region's high temperatures, winds and storms.

"This project aims to address the issue of desertification and move closer to the water table."

Student: Tanya Kabeer
Course: Master of Architecture
Tutors: Des Fagan, Adam Blaney and Richard Brook

The Arts and Craft Factory by Patrick Donnelly

"The Lake District is renowned for its picturesque landscapes and distinct cultural identity. British Romantic artists and poets, including William Wordsworth and John Ruskin, appreciated the environment and criticised 19th-century industrialisation.

"The new learning centre brings the spirit and ethos of the 19th-century Arts and Crafts movement into the 21st century.

"The museum celebrates the local cultural heritage, while the research centre and factory employ 21st-century design and manufacturing techniques to fabricate new digital products inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement.

"In partnership with Lancaster University, the centre will create jobs and attract international researchers and digital craft leaders, providing a unique place to learn and experiment."

Student: Patrick Donnelly
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture
Tutors: Dr Ana Rute Costa, Stephen Connah and Siobhain Graham
Email: patrickdonnelly2013[at]gmail.com

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Lancaster University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.