Bartlett School of Architecture scoops RIBA Research Awards 

We are delighted to announce that The Bartlett School of Architecture's Professor Adrian Forty and PhD student Ricardo Agarez are winners of 2013 RIBA President’s Awards for Research.

Professor Adrian Forty receives a President's Award for Outstanding University-located Research for his recent publication Concrete and Culture: A Material History (Reaktion 2012). 

The RIBA judges said Professor Forty's book: '…approaches concrete – a material often despised but with incredible potential – from an aesthetic and social stance rather than a technical one. It uses clever examples and is well-written. The judges consider the book an enjoyable read and a significant achievement.' 

Dr Ricardo Agarez is awarded a President's Award for Outstanding PhD Thesis for 'Regionalism, Modernism and Vernacular Tradition in the Architecture of Algarve, Portugal, 1925-1965'. 

The RIBA judges said: 'The level of rigour in Agarez’ thesis was impressive, with the student searching every planning application and building control entry in libraries over a 40 year period, leading to a total of over 700 referenced cases. The narrative of the thesis records the development of the student’s ideas and maturation as a researcher, making it an engaging read.'

The President’s Awards for Research champion high quality research and encourage its distribution and incorporation into the wider profession. They raise the profile of those architects and academics engaged in research, and highlight the need for research across the profession to foster innovation and strategic thinking.

The winners will receive their awards in December. 

Image from Adrian Forty: Concrete and Culture