Dezeen School Shows: a campus building made from locally sourced materials including slate and copper is included in this school show by students at Lancaster University.

Also included is a sports and wellbeing faculty, a workspace for textile designers and a campus building encouraging the use of natural medicines.

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, Dr Ezgi Bay Sahin and Dr Adam Blaney

School statement:

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

"Our students explore future practice, including how issues such as rapid urbanisation, changing societal structures and patterns of working, new materials and accelerating digitalisation necessitate a new kind of architectural professional.

"Our students will be future pioneers of digital crafts such as digital fabrication, agile production, rapid prototyping, disruptive technologies, advanced manufacturing and the maker movement.

"Climate change is seamlessly integrated into everything we teach – it is utterly normalised and part of our everyday conversation.

"Lancaster University is a UK top ten university and an inspirational setting for studying architecture.

"Architecture is ranked seventh in the Complete University Guide (2025) and is second for student satisfaction.

"In the National Student Survey (2023) Architecture at Lancaster is ranked fifth for learning resources.

"Courses at Lancaster University include the RIBA-accredited Part 1 BA (Hons) Architecture, with options for a placement or study abroad year.

"There is also Part 2 Master of Architecture, and a PhD in architecture.

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

Crafting Connections with Cumbria's Wilderness: A Campus of Joinery and Forestry by Alexi Reade

"The Campus of Joinery and Forestry nurtures a culture of considerate resource use, educating individuals on the uses of timber while fostering respect for its sources.

"Inspired by Chinese principles of landscaping, the spatial organisation of the campus is designed to visually connect users to both its immediate and surrounding context, creating intriguing routes through the campus' understory whilst framing the serene landscape in which it sits.

"Inspired by Japanese construction, the rhythmic timber structure of the buildings dictates the sizing of internal spaces and large apertures which grant passers by a peak into the activities inside."

Student: Alexi Reade
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture
Tutors: Stephen Connah and Ana Rute Costa
Email: a.reade[at]reades.uk

The Future of Learning by Davyd Tolkach

"The sustainable product design campus and material research centre focuses on creating a scheme that positively benefits the people living around the site in Windermere, with the barn supporting the campus as a material research centre.

"Along with the campus itself there will be a repair cafe which gives the public free expert advice and the facilities to repair items that may otherwise be thrown away.

"The aim is to create a campus not only for students that also becomes a hub for learning and the exchange of information."

Student: Davyd Tolkach
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture
Tutors: Siobhain Graham and Ana Rute Costa
Email: tolkachdavyd[at]gmail.com

Windermere Ecology and Conservation Campus (WEC) – A University of Ecology and Conservation for Postgraduate Students by Freya Gallagher Dickens

"Windermere has tourism at its heart – it is a place for families to venture.

"However, in the past decade, it is thought that tourism has slowly decreased – something has to change.

"The University of Central Lancashire has erected an ecology and conservation campus for postgraduate students.

"A new beginning is on the horizon both architecturally and economically for Windermere.

"The Windermere Ecology and Conservation Campus (WEC) building will act as a catalyst for socialisation between students and the community of Windermere."

Student: Freya Gallagher Dickens
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture
Tutors: Ezgi Bay Sahin and Ana Rute Costa

The Forum, Cartagena by Georgie Sephton-Pryce

"This project develops a new town masterplan designed to prevent the unplanned expansion of shanty towns, aiming to give a voice to the people and the power to influence decision-making in the town.

"This has resulted in the design of a new civic centre which relates back to the Greek idea of the Agora and the Roman forum.

"The aim is to bring people together and encourage them to take part in democratic and planning processes.

"The site is a part of a former oil refinery and many of the existing structures are retained to preserve the industrial heritage of the site."

Student: Georgie Sephton-Pryce
Course: Master of Architecture
Tutors: Adam Blaney and Des Fagan

Revival of the Industrial Arts: A campus for the industrial arts, using local materials found within the Lake District National Park by Jess Cammack

"Research into the Lake District National Park unearthed a variety of art movements.

"Of particular interest was the roots of traditional art within the area, namely industrial arts, such as those created at the Keswick School for Industrial Arts from 1894 to 1984.

"This campus aims to revive the industrial arts with use of locally sourced materials, including slate, copper, wool and clay.

"The building itself incorporates the same local materials.

"Furthermore, the overall design of the campus building emanates from the concept behind industrial arts, bringing together beauty and practicality."

Student: Jess Cammack
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture
Tutors: Ana Rute Costa and Stephen Connah

Preserving the Crafts of Tomorrow by Libby Barnes

"The Windermere University of Sustainable Crafts will act as a hub for preserving traditional crafts while promoting sustainability and innovation in craft production.

"The university will offer courses and training programmes, along with exhibitions and seasonal festivals to engage artisans, aspiring artists and the public in the revival of traditional crafts through sustainable practices.

"Although traditional crafts are not directly unsustainable, certain aspects of their production and supply chains can pose environmental challenges.

"The university will not only preserve cultural heritage but will also contribute to the development of a more sustainable and resilient craft sector in Windermere and beyond."

Student: Libby Barnes
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture
Tutors: Ezgi Bay Sahin and Ana Rute Costa

Beatrix Potter's School of Botany by Megan Smith

"A campus designed to teach students how to utilise the natural world, endorsing Windermere to take traditional medical routes of pharmaceutical practice.

"The form derived from the experience of walking through a forest where there are moments of compression and rarefaction with light seeping through.

"A hyphenated space between the two buildings enables moments of reflection and socialisation between different community members.

"Pathways meander upwards through the campus creating three direct links, passing the outside classrooms and the botanical gardens which students and the community nurture to bring harmony between themselves and the landscape."

Student: Megan Smith
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture
Tutors: Stephen Connah and Ana Rute Costa
Email: megan.smith191202[at]gmail.com

Gwledd Neuadd by Rainer Townend

"Throughout history, food has been used to connect people – it is a collective culture and a way to create alliances and mend discourse, making heritage foods particularly important.

"It is also imperative to recognise that because of population growth and climate challenges – society will need to adapt to maintain food security.

"Gwledd Neuadd will introduce various 'future foods', a non-conventional option which is kinder to the planet in its production.

"Dietary preferences are deeply personal, causing reticence to adopt such alien concepts.

"Here, these new foods will be introduced alongside Welsh heritage foods, the unknown with the known."

Student: Rainer Townend
Course: Master of Architecture
Tutors: Des Fagan and Adam Blaney

The Future Fabrics for Windermere, a Campus for Textile Design by Isabella Jones

"The university building in Windermere's unique landscape acts as a contemporary turning point for the Lake District's heritage of local craft and agriculture.

"By creating this place for future designers, the building pushes crucial concepts of weave work, pattern cutting and garment tailoring.

"The design plays on colour and texture, which is crucial for textile artistry.

"The building has a close association with the environment, such as the lost craft of roof thatching from harvested reed, located at Thackthwaite, Cumbria.

"Furthermore, the key design concept of nature weaves its way into the core of the building, to create inspirational and experimental workspaces."

Student: Isabella Jones
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture
Tutors: Ezgi Bay Sahin and Ana Rute Costa
Email: isabellagracejones0711[at]outlook.com

A Place for me and you by James Kerr

"A Place for me and you – where collaboration ignites, communities intertwine and fond memories are made.

"Situated in the heart of Windermere, this state-of-the-art mental wellbeing and sports faculty aims to inspire the next generation of academics and bolster Windermere's community for the better.

"The building takes you on a journey, following the narrative of open, partial and intimate, with energetic sports halls, vibrant atriums and comforting mentoring rooms, complemented by the architectural features emphasising openness and intimacy – making it the perfect environment for me and you."

Student: James Kerr
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture
Tutors: Siobhain Graham and Ana Rute Costa

Partnership content

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