Close up photo of Jesse wearing sunglasses

Life at Brighton for prize winning Sustainable Design MA student

Huge congratulations to Sustainable Design MA student Jesse Mugambi, one of two winners of Jägermeister’s #SaveThe Night global competition, which supports nightlife projects around the world. Jesse’s prize is €50,000 to build a music studio and nightclub from decommissioned shipping containers in his native Kenya.

Find out more about Jesse and his time at Brighton in conversation with us here, and discover more about his prize winning project in this post.

What did you study as a first degree?
Architecture BA (Hons) at University of Brighton (2020)

Tell us about your project
My concept is Studio Can-V, a portable space that serves as a studio for musicians to practice and a venue for people to discover new artists. Constructed from a repurposed shipping container and utilising local vernacular design, we aim to foreground contemporary Kenyan identities to create a versatile space that transitions from a daytime hub for young DJs and to a night time club for adult audiences. Studio Can-V centres inclusivity by foregrounding the voices of young DJs from various communities and backgrounds, who represent the future of an equal society. It will help build relationships across the industry and create new gateways for those yet to break into the sector. By empowering local artisans and promoting youth cultural identities, we seek to reclaim our future through music, dance, and connection. Leveraging the global reach of Kenyan artists, it is not only a physical space but a platform for artists to break into new markets, with the scope of scaling up across Africa.

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Come to an applicant event

Our applicant events are a great way to learn more about your course after you have applied, to get to know us better and make sure we are the right university for you.

To book you’ll need your University of Brighton student number which you’ll find on any emails you’ve received from us about your application.

Online subject Q+A sessions

Online applicant subject q+a sessions are for students who have applied to Brighton – you don’t need to hold an offer to attend. These sessions provide a chance to ask questions to academics and current students before attending one of our on campus applicant days.

If you have applied to study on one of our architecture, interior architecture, product design, engineering, civil engineering, computing or construction courses join us online on Wednesday 28 February.

Book your place

On-campus applicant days

Your chance to check out the campus and also attend talks and tasters from your subject academics, our current students, student support services and have a tour of our accommodation.

If you are holding an offer from one of our architecture, interior architecture, product design, engineering, civil engineering, computing or construction courses we have two upcoming campus events at the Moulsecoomb campus:

  • Saturday 23 March
  • Wednesday 24 April

Book your place

We look forward to seeing you!

Matt Read graduate sitting a table smiling at the camera

Space to explore on our Architectural and Urban Design MA

Matt Reed graduated from our Architectural and Urban Design MA in 2023. He tells us about some of the his highlights at Brighton and how he is turning his major project into an exciting installation in 2024.

Why Architectural and Urban Design MA at Brighton?
I had been thinking about a career change for a while and Brighton had a course that really interested me which seemed like it could be an excellent extension to my previous studies – Fine Art intermediate at Kingston University (1993-96) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Glass & Architecture at Central St. Martins (2008-09) – and maybe offer up new work prospects.

I really enjoyed the course, and I highly recommend it, especially for someone looking to do something a bit more experimental within the field of architecture. At the time I started the course it was still during the pandemic, so a lot of the study was initially online. But things opened up gradually over time.

Support and space to explore
I actually took a year out in the middle of my studies. I did the part time route, which was two years, but I took a year out and ended up spreading it over three years. This worked well for me, as it allowed me to do paid work around the course. But, it also gave me thinking space and time to really absorb the material and to apply it to my own creative practice. The university staff were very flexible about this, which was great. The support provided was excellent and they were always happy to accommodate my needs.

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Architecture lecturer wins RIBA House of the Year

Architects Hayhurst and Co, founded by lecturer Nick Hayhurst, have won the prestigious RIBA House of the Year 2023 for a house inspired by nature. 

The award, presented by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), recognises the best example of UK one-off house design.    

The winning house, Green House, in a conservation area in Tottenham, London, was praised by the jury as being airy, cosy and bold but also respectful of its neighbours. 

The RIBA House of the Year 2023 jury comprised: Dido Milne, Director of CSK Architects, Bev Dockray, co-founder of Coppin Dockray Architects, Jessam Al-Jawad, Director and co-founder of multi-disciplinary architecture studio Al-Jawad Pike and Albert Hill, co-founder of The Modern House and Inigo. 

Illustration of seagull and pavillion in Brighton

Join us at Create Your Future 2023

If you are thinking about studying a creative degree at uni, come along and have a chat to us on stand number 124 at the UCAS Create Your Future event in London today or tomorrow.

Event details: 10am – 3pm ExCeL London
https://www.ucas.com/events/create-your-future-london-2023-creative-career-showcase-434011

Watch this film to find out more about studying a creative degree at the University of Brighton:


Featured image credit: Abby French, Illustration BA(Hons) graduate @wetmug

Architecture and design awards 2023

Architecture and Design end of year show and awards

Architecture and Design hosted their End of Year Show in June, showcasing the talent of our school’s creative community. In the midst of a summer heatwave, the show attracted a remarkable turnout, demonstrating the ongoing importance of our Architecture and Design reputation.

Bringing together students from various design disciplines the show included students from BA(Hons) Architecture, MArch Architecture, BA(Hons) Interior Architecture, BSc(Hons) Product Design, MA Interior Design, MA Sustainable Design, and Architecture and Design Integrated Foundation courses. Each course presented a unique fusion of creativity, practicality, and innovative design principles, with every project showcasing outstanding vision and execution.

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Undine in front of a project poster

A day in the life of an architecture student

Read about what a typical day is like Undine Evalde as an Architecture BA(Hons) student at Brighton.

Before starting my studies as an architecture student, I knew close to nothing about the field. Now looking back on it, I believe that was what enticed me. My studies have been far from usual since I started university during the Covid pandemic. Nevertheless, my time at Brighton University has been eventful and fulfilling. In this blog, I will delve deeper into the last year of my studies to highlight what a day in a life of an architecture student might entail.

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Belong title graphic with images of the campus

Starting at uni with us in 2023?

We know you’re going to have a brilliant time here and to get your student life off to the best possible start find out all the information you’ll need by visiting the dedicated Starting at Uni pages on the University of Brighton website.

Come along to one of our online events, details of the next one below 👇

Get ready for your course: School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering

Friday 14 July 2023 – 11am -12pm online
Hear about how you can prepare for your subject, and ask any questions, to get your studies off to the best start. For students studying: architecture, interior architecture, civil engineering, computing, construction and building, engineering, and product design.

Online enrolment

You can enrol from August 21 and we’ll send you an email to remind you.  Once you’ve enrolled, you’ll be able to access My Studies where you’ll find all the information you need to prepare for your course.

Still have questions? Chat to a current student online.

Architect model of a building

Graduates 2023: Nasko Kondakov, Architecture BA(Hons)

In a world where sustainability and environmentalism are taking centre stage, Architecture at Brighton equipped me with the skills necessary to have a head start in the revamping industry.

Please tell us a bit about your work and your influences

I was born in Burgas, Bulgaria, about a decade into the transitional democracy that followed the communist regime. I grew up surrounded by the remnants of the socialist days, but also engulfed by various architectural attempts at modernisation and Westernisation. It was fascinating to witness the world around me changing, and looking back at it now, it helps me identify the origin of the issues that followed. Fixing that had always been a driving force of my architectural pursuits.

Yet my early influences were not ones who had done so in their own countries or focus fields. I was looking at the glamour of starchitects like Zaha Hadid, Bjarke Ingels, Frank Gehry, enamoured by their mastery of the craft and the recognition their projects amassed. It was a reputation I not only sought for myself, but also for my country. Later I learned more about De Stijl, the Bauhaus movement, Frank Lloyd Wright, Eero Saarinen, and so many others, who have helped guide me on my journey so far!

Final year work

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