Sheffield student wins architectural bomb protection prize
Sheffield University architecture student, Peter Hughes, has won a Home Office backed competition for architecture and design students to design a public space to minimise the effects of a terrorist attack
Peter Hughes successfully combined the development of a public space that could support a number of social uses with a design that considered minimising fatalities in the event of a terrorist attack to win the 'Public Spaces, Safer Places' competition.
The government's security chief, Lord West, congratulated Mr Hughes, who is currently undertaking his Part One qualification in architecture, having graduated from Sheffield University last summer, during an award ceremony at the Home Office.
Lord West said: "I want to congratulate Peter and thank all the entrants to this unique competition. In particular, I want to draw attention to the innovative work that Peter has done. His design integrated counter terrorism measures into a redeveloped social space. This approach is to be encouraged for the next generation of architects and designers in order to better protect our crowded spaces.
"The designing-in of counter terrorism protective security measures to new buildings and space at the earliest concept design stage will be crucial to the future of safer crowded places.
"I would also like to thank the RSA, RIBA and NaCTSO who, through this competition, have successfully raised awareness of designing-in counter terrorism among the architects and designers of the future."
The competition - part of the RSA's Design Directions student award scheme - asked competitors to think about security features and safety issues when designing a fictional public space. Competitors were asked to consider and include innovative counter terrorism measures in their designs.
The competition attracted 92 entrants. The winner received a £1,000 prize and a number of outstanding entries have been on display to a wide range of stakeholders in the Home Office London headquarters building this week.
