Dezeen School Shows: a project that addresses the impact of the UK's ageing population on the healthcare system is included in Dezeen's latest school show by students at Arts University Bournemouth.

Also featured is a community-focused hub designed to invigorate its urban surroundings and a project that aims to aid the urban regeneration of a coastal town.

Arts University Bournemouth

Institution: Arts University Bournemouth
School: School of Design and Architecture
Course: BA(Hons) Interior Architecture and Design
Tutors: Monica Franchin, Michael Cavagin, Ed Ward, Emily Manns and Jamie Yeates

School statement:

"The purpose of exploratory practice is to prepare our third-year undergraduates for their future role in the design industry. In this project, students collaborate within study groups guided by an expert tutor.

"Together, they explore and investigate contextual issues and related complex 'wicked problems' that connect with their projects.

"These study groups facilitate the translation of these acquired insights into design thinking strategies that support the realisation of their contemporary interior and retrofit design schemes.

"Covering a range of topics these spatial interventions are at the intersect of grounded understanding of the broader contemporary challenges faced by communities and the built environment.

"The study groups provide an opportunity for discussion and testing of ideas, probing student knowledge and understating of the discipline to create new insights and opportunities for their own success.

"One of the study group themes is health and wellbeing in the high street, encouraging partnerships between designers, planners and health and wellbeing providers in the built environment.

"The group examines culture shifts that promote cultures in societies through the identification of rituals to foster new relationships with communities in novel forms.

"Students also discuss system changes which challenges them to collaborate with technology and nature systems to safeguard our collective future through world-building and placemaking methodologies.

"Also covered is 'adapt and adopt proposes' which encourages imaginative thinking to understand the shifting future landscape on our potential future work and life and social environments."

This is Weymouth! by Raquel Di Cori

"This is Weymouth! is a project conceived as part of a bigger plan to aid the urban regeneration of the coastal town in the South of England.

"The project involves the creation of a new visitor centre by repurposing the old St Maiden Methodist Church.

"The visitor centre aims to relaunch and reshape the town's image and allow the local community to take control of the narrative of their town.

"Through exhibitions and immersive experiences, the space will take the visitor on a journey of discovery and wonder, which is not limited to the visitor centre but continues in the town."

Student: Raquel Di Cori
Course: BA(Hons) Interior Architecture and Design
Tutors: Monica Franchin, Michael Cavagin, Ed Ward, Jamie Yeates and Emily Manns

Reconnect – Reconnecting Humans and Nature by Jessica Zeolla

"Reconnect is a dynamic hub designed for individuals dedicated to tackling the climate crisis, offering a platform for collaboration and showcasing their insights in an immersive, interactive exhibition.

"This unique space aims to engage the public with memorable experiences through cutting-edge features like VR pods and AI holograms, fostering a deeper connection with our planet.

"The primary goal of Reconnect is to motivate visitors to reassess their daily habits and encourage the adoption of a more regenerative lifestyle.

"Through this innovative approach, the project seeks to make a lasting impact on individuals' environmental consciousness and behaviour."

Student: Jessica Zeolla
Course: BA(Hons) Interior Architecture and Design
Tutors: Monica Franchin, Michael Cavagin, Ed Ward, Jamie Yeates and Emily Manns

Community Connect by Molly Gransbury

"Community Connect is an innovative project aimed at addressing the challenges of our ageing population and the strain on the healthcare system.

"This initiative plans to bring healthcare services to the high street, revitalising local economies, focusing on elderly individuals and enhancing their mental health and wellbeing.

"By creating a hub to lower stress and social isolation among older citizens and their caregivers, the project seeks to improve the quality of life and reduce hospital admissions.

"This forward-thinking design offers a hopeful vision for the future of elderly living in the UK, promoting healthier ageing and integrating generations within the community."

Student: Molly Gransbury
Course: BA(Hons) Interior Architecture and Design
Tutors: Monica Franchin, Michael Cavagin, Ed Ward, Jamie Yeates and Emily Manns

ReNexus: Climate Community Hub by Erin Stephenson

"ReNexus: Climate Community Hub is an innovative initiative focused on halting climate degradation and fostering a sustainable future by transforming mindsets.

"At its heart, the project aims to mobilise community action among local climate activists and their networks to conceptualise an alternative, environmentally-friendly system.

"It plans to achieve this through immersive experiences, such as AI replant and recapture, and educational storytelling in community engagement spaces.

"These AI-powered features are designed to offer personalised learning journeys, ultimately empowering individuals to make environmentally-conscious decisions.

"ReNexus is committed to creating a space where community involvement and technology converge to inspire positive environmental change."

Student: Erin Stephenson
Course: BA(Hons) Interior Architecture and Design
Tutors: Monica Frnachin, Michael Cavagin, Ed Ward, Jamie Yeates and Emily Manns

Caring for Carers by Charlotte Ongley

"Caring for Carers reimagines healthcare by offering a holistic environment that emphasises human connection and wellbeing for unpaid carers.

"This innovative project features a drop-in centre where carers can find respite and support, alongside facilities and activities designed to improve their health, independence and social reintegration.

"Central to its approach is fostering a strong community within healthcare settings, aiming to enhance patient care and enrich lives through a community-driven, thoughtfully designed space.

"This initiative represents a significant step in empowering and supporting unpaid carers, contributing positively to the overall quality of life."

Student: Charlotte Ongley
Course: BA(Hons) Interior Architecture and Design
Tutors: Monica Franchin, Michael Cavagin, Ed Ward, Jamie Yeates and Emily Manns

Nexus by Julia Kubior

"A pioneering, community-focused hub designed to invigorate the urban landscape while fostering community spirit and cohesion.

"The Nexus stands as a beacon of urban redevelopment, aiming to transform urban public spaces into areas that are not only vibrant and safe but also ecologically sensitive and attuned to community needs.

"At the core of this project is the goal to counteract the prevailing capitalist paradigm by cultivating deeper human connections and reinforcing community ties.

"This is achieved through a unique amalgamation of social dining experiences, cutting-edge conversational artificial intelligence (CAI) technology and innovative public engagement strategies that prioritise communal wellbeing over commercial gain."

Student: Julia Kubior
Course: BA(Hons) Interior Architecture and Design
Tutors: Monica Franchin, Michael Cavagin, Ed Ward, Jamie Yeates and Emily Manns

Take a Peek by Dahnya Sandhu

"Take a Peek is an innovative project with three central objectives: establishing a new gateway to the town, embracing diversity and cutting-edge technologies and rejuvenating ideas to align with contemporary lifestyles.

"The project envisions a community-led, multi-use hub that serves as a vibrant centre for cultural expression, particularly highlighting the contributions of locals who have previously been overlooked in the town's history.

"By placing locals at the forefront of decision-making and change, the initiative aims to cultivate a sense of belonging and aspiration within the community.

"Take a Peek is not just about transforming a physical space, but about empowering proud communities to lead and attract others to discover and engage with what the town has to offer."

Student: Dahnya Sandhu
Course: BA(Hons) Interior Architecture and Design
Tutors: Monica Franchin, Michael Cavagin, Ed Ward, Jamie Yeates and Emily Manns

Coastal Creativity by Madison Elliott-Grout

"Coastal Creativity is an ambitious project designed to redefine art appreciation by merging art from the past and future over a 30-year timeline.

"It aims to empower visitors by transforming them into artists and creating a vibrant, multi-generational hub within the gallery.

"This initiative focuses on exploring the power of art in connecting people and addressing societal challenges.

"Central to its mission is the belief in art as a unifying force that is capable of transcending generations and fostering a deeper understanding of diverse experiences and perspectives."

Student: Madison Elliott-Grout
Course: BA(Hons) Interior Architecture and Design
Tutors: Monica Franchin, Michael Cavagin, Ed Ward, Jamie Yeates and Emily Manns

Partnership content

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