Chapman Taylor announces the winner of Loughborough University MArch Part II best graduating project

Chapman Taylor is delighted to announce that Charlotte Hall has been awarded the Loughborough University MArch Part II Best graduating project for her exceptional final-year thesis, Aquatic Revival.

Over the past nine months, Chapman Taylor has been proud to support the concluding year of the Master's programme at the Loughborough University School of Architecture. The students' brief focused on regenerating a 75-hectare post-industrial waterfront site in Hamnen, Malmö, challenging them to develop innovative and sustainable visions for the future of this significant urban area.

At the outset of the project, and ahead of the students' site visit to Sweden, members of the Chapman Taylor team delivered an interactive workshop introducing the key principles of successful masterplanning and placemaking. Drawing on our practice's extensive international experience, the session explored the design drivers that help create thriving, connected and resilient places.

The students' projects evolved through a series of carefully considered design stages. Initial work focused on establishing overarching site strategies, defining land-use zoning and strengthening connections with the wider urban context. These concepts were then developed into detailed masterplans, with each student selecting a specific development area and first-phase intervention before progressing to the design of a landmark building intended to anchor their wider vision.

Throughout the year, we have been consistently impressed by the calibre of work produced across the cohort. The students demonstrated remarkable creativity, technical ability and critical thinking, while embracing a collaborative and supportive culture. Each project developed a unique identity, proposing thoughtful approaches to urban regeneration that responded sensitively to the social, environmental and economic context of Hamnen.

Charlotte Hall's Aquatic Revival distinguished itself through its exceptional design quality, coherent vision and compelling architectural narrative. Her proposals were beautifully crafted, consistently presented and visually engaging, while also demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the wider masterplanning challenges and opportunities presented by the site. The project successfully combined strategic thinking with architectural ambition, delivering a holistic framework for regeneration that captured both the character and future potential of this complex waterfront location.

We congratulate Charlotte on this outstanding achievement and would like to thank all of the students and academic team at Loughborough University for their enthusiasm, dedication and commitment throughout the programme. It has been a privilege to support the next generation of architects, and we look forward to seeing their future contributions to the built environment