As part of our Summer Shows, we’re celebrating the bold, innovative work of our final-year students.
In this blog post, Kim Lau, a student studying Architecture RIBA Part 2 MArch, shares more about her final project, which reimagines Newhaven’s East Quay as a vibrant, inclusive space that celebrates its industrial heritage while fostering a sense of community.
Designing for people, with people
“From visiting Newhaven, I noticed that industrial heritage is a huge part of Newhaven’s character. To prevent the industrial heritage from dying and subsequently the communities based on them, we must bring awareness to its importance and improve on what is already there.
“Currently, Newhaven East Quay feels hidden and disconnected, cut off from the public. I wanted to find new ways of opening this industrial zone to create a safe space for the public, somewhere where our material usage is visible and acknowledged.
“My aim was to create a community for people to live, work and play, where livelihoods aren’t hidden behind fences. Industrial areas should not be seen as something to eradicate, but instead as integral parts of people’s lives.
“Drawing inspiration from Dieppe, I designed an urban plan in the industrial site starting with a central point and working out. Roads connect and create a shared space where activities such as open markets, community events, and arts festivals can happen. In Dieppe’s industrial zones, houses are juxtaposed with large industrial buildings, coexisting together. The industrial heritage was not hidden or isolated; instead, it is integrated into the community. This is something I wanted to incorporate into my design. In mixing live, work and play, we see moments created for conversation and dynamic connections. Green spaces soften the industrial surroundings and allow the nature reserves to seamlessly blend into the landscape, welcoming people from the east side of the site, contrary to its current state, where it feels as though you shouldn’t be there.
“Community-based design has been a key interest in all of my design projects since my undergraduate studies. I believe it is important to be design for/with people to improve on our quality of life. Many of my design influences have come from testing through drawing and modelling, as these allow me to freely bring ideas into existence and test these ideas repeatedly.”
Why Brighton
“I live locally in Eastbourne, so when weighing up different universities, this definitely helped in the decision-making process.
“One thing I was keen on was studio life, and when visiting the university and seeing the studios, I could see that there was activity in each studio. Surrounding yourself with other creatives helps create discussions that challenge ideas, which was a very important aspect to me.“
Discovering a love for research
“I’m not usually keen on writing, but this course changed my opinion on writing and research. I quite enjoyed the research papers we’ve had to write in our second year. Particularly the Architectural Research Specialisation module, where I had a lot of fun experimenting with model making and researching how we, as architecture students, use model making as part of the research process.
“I learnt research papers don’t have to be just written information repeating what someone else has said before, but they can be a way to experiment and document your findings. I learnt a lot on research and how we as architecture students learn through doing.”
Supportive Mentorship
“Sam Lynch has been my tutor for both my years here, and she has shown me a lot. I have seen a wide variety of precedents and reading material that have helped guide my design projects over the years. Ben Sweeting was incredibly helpful with both my essays, having amazing ideas that created some interesting conversations.”
Life in Brighton
“Brighton is a great place to study. The city is full of character and so welcoming. I found being by the sea very comforting, having lived in Eastbourne most of my life. It’s a great place to unwind and take a moment to clear your mind from studying. Always remember to take a moment for yourself.”
What’s next after graduation?
“After graduation, I plan on starting my part 2 and begin working, hopefully in Brighton, as I have grown fond of this place from studying here.”
Explore More
Interested in studying architecture at Brighton?
👉 Learn more about our MArch Architecture course
🎨 Visit the Brighton Summer Shows to see more of our students’ fantastic work
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