UWTSD Architecture students celebrate double success in national competition

Two architecture students at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) have scooped first and second prizes in the Design Circle Skyline Competition. Sona Koroghli won first prize and Mohammad Shirazi came second.

An annual event created by Design Circle RSAW South (the Southern Branch of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales) and sponsored by Cardiff brick merchants Granite Brick, the Skyline competition invites entrants to interpret a different topic each year in a hand drawn single line A3 drawing, starting on the left-hand side of the page and finishing on the right.

The topic for 2019/20 completion was Borders. Sona’s winning entry is a map-like image complemented with poetry, which the judges said was a powerful abstract representation of the topic. Mohammad’s winning entry is a beautiful drawing titled The Broken Bridge, representing the UK's relationship with the EU.

Sona will receive a cash prize of £300 courtesy of Skyline sponsors Granite Brick, and Mohammad will receive a runner up cash prize of £150.

Sona’s design explored the idea that there is no border between us; we are all part of one body. It included a poem by 13^th Century Persian poet Saadi Shirazi.

“I was inspired by the fact that Saadi Shirazi’s poetry pointed to the equality of human beings,” says Sona. “I am so pleased that I won this award and that my drawing was noticed by the judges. This competition led me to a different way of thinking and caused me to find my ability. It’s a valuable achievement to me.”

As an architecture student Sona is inspired by Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe and Carlo Scarpa.

“Architecture is an exploration journey which is full of excitement, a kind of discovery of mind,” she said. “I would recommend studying architecture to those who have great passion, diligence and patience.

“I have been fortunate to study architecture at UWTSD. Over the course I have been privileged to visit many notable architects and had an opportunity to work on a real project, faced with a real client. This had a very significant effect on us. I would like to continue my education and work in different teams and companies to get more experience.”

Mohammad said of his win: “It was a wonderful feeling. Winning a competition is a great encouragement and will boost my confidence in my future career.

“For my entry I tried to translate the UK's relationship with the European Union into a broken bridge as Brexit was the most important news of the last few years.

“I have always been interested in simplicity, and I think beauty is in simplicity; modern architecture is very attractive to me. I’ve enjoyed my course because of the presence of patient and humble lecturers who eagerly share their knowledge with us.

"I also appreciate UWTSD’s Architecture department for providing trips that helped us visit and discover prominent buildings, and for creating the opportunity for us to attend annual RSAW conferences to get familiar with the latest successful projects and also their architects.”

Ryan Stuckey, RSAW president and lecturer in Architecture at UWTSD, praised both students for their wins:

“Congratulations to Sona and Mohammad on their first and second prize in the Design Circle annual Skyline competition,” he said. “Their creativity and aspirational design qualities along with their thoughtful approach shone through in the submitted work and it’s great to see students of the School of Architecture at UWTSD dominating the top spots of this prestigious competition entered by architects and students from across the whole of Wales.”

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

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Executive Press and Media Relations Officer

Cyfathrebu Corfforaethol a Chysylltiadau Cyhoeddus

Corporate Communications and PR

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Email: Rebecca.Davies@uwtsd.ac.uk