News
Landscape Architecture student wins overall Future Vision 07 award
12th June 2007
Gethin Owens from Pontypridd, South Wales, has won the inaugural Future Vision Award.
Gethin’s vision is to change the face of industrial communities by bringing natural landscapes into the heart of deprived urban areas in the South Wales Valleys. Where it is not possible to use natural plant material on existing structures or in community spaces, Gethin’s inspiration is to fix prints and install virtual landscapes chosen by the community.
Gethin was one of six winners announced at an awards ceremony staged in conjunction with the Creating the Future Awards, the Government’s national award scheme for sustainable communities.
Each winner was rewarded with a cash prize of £1,000 and a four-week work placement at leading organisations operating within the sector.
Judith Armitt, Thames Gateway Chief Executive, presented the award to Gethin, a diploma landscape architect student at the University of Gloucestershire. Part of his prize includes a four-week work placement at the Thames Gateway where he will look at implementing his idea across parts of the local region.
Gethin Owens said:
“Winning this award has been an amazing experience and has really motivated me to learn more about sustainable communities. It’s difficult to believe that my virtual landscapes may actually become a reality very soon and it will be an incredible achievement if my idea helps to brighten up the lives of other people.”
Dr Gill Taylor, ASC Chief Executive, said:
“I would like to applaud all of the award winners for their inspirational future vision. Young people are integral to the successful delivery of sustainable communities and this high-profile award scheme gives us a useful insight into how young people see local communities evolving. Engaging with the professionals and citizens of tomorrow will help shape the future of the sustainable communities agenda.”
Hosted by Jeremy Vine, the awards event was attended by 450 representatives from public, private and voluntary organisations in the sustainable communities sector.
Future Vision 07 is sponsored by Think08.
The winners were:
Overall Winner and Future Building winner
Gethin Owens, Landscape Architect student
How Green is your Valley – changing the face of industrial communities by bringing landscapes into the heart of deprived urban areas in the South Wales Valleys.
Work placement provided by the Thames Gateway
Future People winner
Angela Tibke, Complementary Medicine and Health Science student
Little Britain Nature Trail – including blind and deaf people in mainstream community actions by implementing a walking and cycling nature trail and ecology park that appeals to the senses.
Work placement provided by English Partnerships
Future Play winner
Jo Patterson, Architectural Technology student
OUR SPACE - offering a cost-effective and practical solution to space and storage problems at managed local play areas.
Work placement provided by EDAW
Future Space winner
Zhaobo Liang, Landscape Architect student
Creating a Doorstep Community Open Space – incorporating fenced and gated resident amenity schemes in terraced communities where there is a severe shortage of open space.
Work placement provided by the Sustainable Development Foundation
Future Streets winner
Hazel Newman, Landscape Architecture student
Filling the Void – encouraging inner-city farming by exchanging car parking space for a plot on which to grow food or keep animals.
Work placement provided by The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment
Future Work winner
Stephen Ferguson, Architectural Technology student
Preston’s Organic Quarter - combining the best elements of an existing community with some inspirational ideas to develop social, economic and environmental aspects that will promote self-sufficiency and encourage healthy lifestyles.
Work placement provided by Bellway
