Hannah, who is a third-year architecture student, has been honoured in the category ‘Architecture and Design’ for her creative and environmentally conscious design project.

The awards recognise the world’s best undergraduate work. Hannah’s winning project ‘Ephemeral: Embrace – The Rathlin Island Discovery Centre’ is very practical.

Set on Rathlin Island, home to around 150 people and the largest seabird colony in Northern Ireland, Hannah's design takes inspiration from the island’s natural beauty and environmental challenges.

Hannah explains: “During our site analysis, we discovered that the site would likely flood in about 75 years due to rising sea levels. That really stuck with me. Usually, architects design for longevity, but what if a building could serve its purpose and then gracefully return to nature?”

Her project envisions a community observatory and research centre built using natural materials like straw, thatch, and timber. The design draws from Irish vernacular architecture - circular forms, local materials, and a deep connection to the land.

“The idea of ephemerality, that something isn’t meant to last forever, really resonated with me,” she says. “The building would serve the community for as long as it’s needed, then eventually become part of the environment again. Even as it decays, it supports new life, providing habitats for marine creatures and letting the land reclaim it.”

Inspiration from Nature and Nurture

The concept of impermanence isn’t new to Hannah. “In sixth form, I did a sculpture A-level,” she recalls. “One of our first lessons was on ephemeral sculptures - things made from sticks, leaves, materials that don’t last. I didn’t realise that idea had stuck with me until now.”

That early curiosity, combined with encouragement from her tutors at Queen’s, helped the idea grow. The studio, ‘Studio Interact,’ was directly connected to an AHRC research project, called Future Island-Island, which examines green transitioning of communities.

Hannah explains: “Our studio focused on material culture, and ethical specification of building materials. We investigated sustainable low carbon, natural materials, and my assigned material was straw.

“We learned how to work with it - how it insulates, how it shapes design. My tutors, Dr Clare Mulholland and Laurence Lord, were so supportive and really pushed us to explore sustainability in creative ways.”

Intelligent and sensitive design thinking

Speaking about the success of the Hannah’s project, Laurence Lord, Senior Lecturer in Architecture at the School of Natural and Built Environment at Queen’s, says: “Hannah’s work demonstrates intelligent and sensitive design thinking. She has taken the island context and turned it into an architectural story about time, environment, and designer responsibility.

“Her project moves beyond the idea of permanence to propose a living architecture that grows from and ultimately returns to its landscape. It’s a powerful reflection of how design can respond to environmental realities with both sensitivity and imagination, and we’re delighted to see her creativity recognised internationally.”

Dr Clare Mulholland, Senior Lecturer in Architecture, comments: “Hannah’s project captured the spirit of what we strive to nurture in our students, creativity grounded in place, material understanding, and care for the environment.

"Her project is a thoughtful proposal that balances poetic vision with technical and ecological sensitivity. It’s wonderful to see her design for Rathlin Island recognised with this award, and we are immensely proud of Hannah and her contribution to the Queen’s University Belfast Architecture community.”

Talking about her plans for the future, Hannah says: “I’ve always wanted to work abroad. This experience has definitely given me more confidence. I plan to gain some experience in the UK first, then explore opportunities internationally — learning from different cultures and architectural practices.”

Media

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