Dezeen School Shows: an adaptive reuse project that sees a chapel converted into a live-work space is featured in Dezeen's latest school show by students at Inchbald School of Design.

Also included is a project that renovates a mews house according to Japanese design principles and a garden informed by traditional English country gardens.

Inchbald School of Design

Institution: Inchbald School of Design
School: Inchbald School of Design
Courses: Architectural Interior Design and Garden Design
Tutors: Alan Hughes, Andrew Duff

School statement:

"At the heart of Inchbald's diploma is analytical skill, practical knowledge, professionalism and encouragement of empathy with clients.

"Students express design concepts to explore their own design identity.

"Tutors help unwrap students' potential to create a portfolio showcasing individual skills.

"Projects explore spatial and decorative aspects of real sites with residential and commercial briefs.

"Students explore hand and computer drawing – technical assignments cover joinery, plumbing, lighting, hard landscaping and planting.

"Inchbald graduates, in-house and online, hone skills interpreting client's needs, assessing space and understanding the process to deliver professionally or continue study to BA or MA levels."

Show Garden by James Innes

"This project proposes a dynamic show garden that champions the essence of the Japanese notion of 'ma' – the space between.

"Show garden design has allowed James to develop his own concept based upon a subject he wished to investigate further.

"Differing angles keep the visual movement exciting, meeting for a pause, developing an advanced use of geometry.

"James has used a clever division of space and an imaginative plant selection to create a complex yet calm garden."

Student: James Innes
Course: Inchbald Diploma in Garden Design
Tutor: Andrew Duff

Doughty Mews by Nick Lykiardopulo

"Nick approached the mews house as a series of varied spaces that could be screened, open or something in between, exploiting shadow and half light to create a relaxed space echoing a Japanese aesthetic.

"This was explored further in the stair design – the restrained geometry and simple layout combining clean lines, open storage and display space created a contrast to the more organic references used in the upper-level living spaces."

Student: Nick Lykiardopulo
Course: Inchbald Diploma in Architectural Interior Design
Tutor: Alan Hughes

Country Garden by Ottavia Bassetti

"This large country garden captures the excitement of journey and adventure – Ottavia has beautifully translated the client's brief to create a family garden mixing formality and informality in an elegant way.

"As you leave the house, a formal garden links the interior and exterior with low expanses of clipped hedging contrasted with a looser, romantic style of planting.

"In the main garden, curved hedges juxtaposed with stone walls link through to the surrounding vernacular.

"A seemingly random placement of topiary adds fun and gently directs the eye around the space."

Student: Ottavia Bassetti
Course: Inchbald Diploma in Garden Design
Tutor: Andrew Duff

Sala de Seville by Inga Svinhufvud Laudiero

"The corner seating in this arrival space has clear visual links to the courtyard and the remainder of the interior space.

"Low seating combats the high ceiling vaults adding intimacy, yet avoiding any sense of restriction.

"Inga traces her influences through the aesthetic life and history of Seville, creating a visual collage to illustrate the feel of 'The Nooks', which act as practical and social aspects of the reception space.

"She creates a sense of informality using the colours and textures of Seville for a space that will welcome guests as well as become a hub for locals."

Student: Inga Svinhufvud Laudiero
Course: BA (Hons) Architectural Interior Design, year 1
Tutor: Alan Hughes

Public Space by Jack Copping

"An awkwardly long London park has been transformed using the underlying geometry from Voronoi, a proportional tool.

"Voronoi uses a visual 'seed' and explores mathematical relationships.

"Jack has cleverly used the existing mature London plane trees as the visual 'seed' and the conceptual design links the tree placement to the Voronoi spaces created.

"The result is a dynamic design linking to the surrounding Georgian architecture."

Student: Jack Copping
Course: Inchbald Diploma in Garden Design (part-time)
Tutor: Andrew Duff

Doughty Mews by Oliver Edwards

"The appeal of this mews house for the client was the possibility of lateral living, after considerable time spent in small apartments.

"The first-floor layout exploits this possibility, combining an open feel with clearly identified zoning.

"Ollie has crafted a space that will adapt to the family's needs for group and individual activities, but maintains cohesion through the decorative choices, consistent timber flooring, a warm colour palette and the inclusion of discrete and varied patterns."

Student: Oliver Edwards
Course: Inchbald Diploma Architectural Interior Design
Tutor: Alan Hughes

Urban Garden by Mark Hardy

"This project sees a small urban garden transformed by a very clever use of angles.

"Overlooked from all boundaries, the tight space is widened by extending the lines to 45 degrees allowing for the functional spaces required by the client.

"Existing level changes are highlighted and developed to help announce separate areas and define use.

"A contextualised use of materials ensures that the garden maintains a visual conversation with the house and surrounding history."

Student: Mark Hardy
Course: Inchbald Diploma Garden Design (part-time)
Tutor: Andrew Duff

Albergo della Geometria by Kieran Smith

"Kieran's starting point was the idea of a boudoir – traditionally an exclusively female, private sitting room.

"The screens allow momentary glimpses of the other guests, creating playful visual relationships and nodding to the history of partitioned spaces.

"The influence of Moorish geometry underpins this hotel lobby, with the intimate semi-private seating adding excitement to the design.

"The rich colours are at their best in the evening light, shown to good effect in this computer render."

Student: Kieran Smith
Course: BA (Hons) Architectural Interior Design, year 1
Tutor: Alan Hughes

Country Garden by Chris Blair

"Despite a challenging brief, Chris has managed to convey a powerful understanding of mass and void.

"This garden balances structural elements with clearly defined breathing spaces.

"The client is encouraged to enjoy the more functional aspects of exterior entertaining before losing themselves in the informality of an English country garden.

"A sweeping meadow guides you effortlessly through the garden and opens out to an elliptical pool which elegantly and thoughtfully reflects the sky down into the garden."

Student: Chris Blair
Course: Inchbald Diploma Garden Design
Tutor: Andrew Duff

Eburne Chapel by Alex Blayney-Crewe

"As a live-work conversion of this former chapel, considerable emphasis was placed on creating a comfortable living space that exploited the architectural potential of the space, creatively linking with the workspace but distinct from it.

"Alex's design approach uses bold colour and form to balance the powerful architectural identity and scale of the space.

"The problem of acoustics loomed large so softer surfaces and materials are an essential consideration here.

"Alex’s accomplished rendered hand drawing captures and communicates the complete space."

Student: Alex Blayney-Crewe
Course: BA (Hons) Architectural Interior Design, year 2
Tutor: Alan Hughes

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Inchbald School of Design. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.