Urban Design MArch Graduates Honoured at World Architecture Student Awards

Now in its fourth year, the World Architecture Student Awards (WASA) is the world’s largest international student architecture competition. Unlike many competitions with human judging panels, the WASA competition is judged by AI architects, with the aim of evaluating entries as objectively as possible. This year 353 students from 210 universities worldwide submitted 664 works to the competition.

Bartlett graduates Sonali Bordia, Prakriti Srimal, Shoyao Li, and Siyang Zheng, who studied together in Urban Design MArch’s RC14 studio, won the top prize, the World Championship Gold Medal, for their project IsoChronic City, in which machine learning methods were applied to rethink the notion of the 15-minute city in a post-pandemic London. 

IsoChronic City

Sonali Bordia, Prakriti Srimal, Shoyao Li, and Siyang Zheng
Urban Design MArch, RC14, 2022

IsoChronic City is an urban response to the recent predicament of reurbanisation in the post-pandemic era. The project is based on the 15-minute neighbourhood concept, which is derived from historical ideas about proximity and walkability.

The project aims to increase the reach of a 15-minute city and bring amenities closer to residents. This is accomplished by utilising datasets, categorised into three types - demographic data, spatial quality data and commutability data - and interpreted by machine learning algorithms like principal component analysis, K-Means clustering and convolutional neural networks, along with spatial computational methods to create an IsoChronic Generative Loop. 

The proposal consists of restructuring existing network centrality, fabricating responsive public spaces using topo-geometrical interventions, and transforming unused open areas into interactive spaces with required amenities. The design alters physical aspects and spatial characteristics to achieve a sustainable, inclusive and accessible city.

The graduates’ project was exhibited in last year’s Bartlett B-Pro Show 2022, and can be explored at The Bartlett Show Archive, which gathers student projects from across our digital shows from recent years.

Sonali, Prakriti, Shoyao and Siyang were tutored in RC14 by Roberto Bottazzi and Tasos Varoudis, and their theory tutor was Provides Ng.

More information

• Find out more about the WASA competition
• Explore this project in The Bartlett Show Archive
• Find out more about Urban Design MArch

Image: 'IsoChronic City' by Sonali Bordia, Prakriti Srimal, Shoyao Li, and Siyang Zheng, Urban Design MArch, RC14, 2022