"My ideas have value beyond university": Learning architecture through live industry projects
Architecture students worked with Harrow Council on a live project from day one – designing spaces that could make a real difference to local communities.
At LSBU, you'll do more than complete assignments for a grade. You'll work on projects that reflect the way the industry operates, collaborating with real organisations, responding to genuine client briefs and developing solutions for real places.
That's exactly what happened when first-year Architecture students partnered with Harrow Council on the Design 102: ReUsed Designs project.
Instead of designing for an imaginary site, students were challenged to reimagine existing buildings across the borough through adaptive reuse – presenting ideas that balanced sustainability, heritage and community needs.
Their work was then reviewed by Harrow Council's senior leadership team, who selected a winning proposal and two runners-up.
The design concept behind Raya Petkova's winning project: The Seeding Glasshouse
Learning through live industry projects
Working with a real client transformed the way students approached the brief.
Rather than focusing only on creative ideas, they had to consider:
- the needs of local communities
- accessibility and sustainability
- stakeholder expectations
- how buildings would function in everyday life
- practical construction and long-term impact.
For winner Raya Petkova, designing for a real community made every decision more meaningful.
Working on a live project made me think beyond creating an interesting design and focus on how it would work for the people using the space. Knowing there was a real client helped me approach the design with greater responsibility, empathy and attention to detail.
Her winning proposal, The Seeding Glasshouse, transformed a former toilet block in Pinner Village Gardens into a community gardening hub, creating spaces for workshops, growing and social activities while carefully preserving the original building.
Feedback that helps you grow
At LSBU, learning is collaborative.
Throughout the project, students worked closely with tutors through regular one-to-one tutorials, helping them refine ideas, test concepts and build confidence.
For Raya, tutor feedback encouraged her to push beyond her first ideas.
Initially my concept was quite generic. My tutors challenged me to think more critically and explore ideas outside my comfort zone. Their support gave me the confidence to take creative risks and produce a much stronger proposal.
For fellow runner-up Hannah Williams, tutor guidance kept the focus on designing for people.
They really emphasised the user and pushed me to think about how people would move through the space and what they needed from it. That became one of the biggest lessons from the project.
Hannah Williams: Apparatus of Stillness
Develop the skills employers are looking for
Because students worked on a live brief, they developed the same skills expected in professional practice.
Alongside technical software such as Revit and Photoshop, students strengthened their ability to:
- respond to client feedback
- research stakeholders and communities
- present and justify design decisions
- solve real-world problems
- balance creativity with practical constraints.
Josh says the experience helped bridge the gap between university and practice.
The project gave me the chance to lead my own design from concept to final proposal. It gave me confidence in my own design ability and helped bridge the gap between the experience I gain in practice and developing my own architectural approach.
Hannah found that working with an existing building changed the way she thinks about design.
"It pushed me to think like an architect rather than a student. I had to justify every decision and consider how the building would actually work for the people using it."
Learning that prepares you for your career
Projects like this are designed to mirror professional practice, helping students graduate with experience that employers value.
As an architectural apprentice, Raya says the project reinforced what she's learning in industry.
It strengthened my understanding of how architects can create meaningful spaces that respond to communities and their needs.
For Hannah, the experience confirmed she was ready for the challenges of the profession.
It made me realise I enjoy the complexity of real sites – the negotiations, the compromises and the problem solving. That's given me confidence that I'm ready for practice.
Josh Warren's Little Anglers
Seeing your ideas recognised
Having their work reviewed by professionals gave students an extra boost of confidence.
Raya, who won the competition in her first year, says:
Having my work recognised by Harrow Council is incredibly rewarding. It's encouraged me to continue developing my skills and reinforced my ambition to create thoughtful, inclusive spaces that positively impact communities.
Josh agrees.
It showed me my ideas could have value outside university.
And for Hannah, recognition came as a welcome surprise.
Having my work recognised beyond the university makes me feel like the ideas I'm developing have real potential.
Learn what works at LSBU
At LSBU, you'll learn through live projects, practical challenges and industry collaboration from the very start of your course.
By working with real organisations, receiving personalised feedback from experienced tutors and tackling authentic briefs, you'll graduate with the confidence, skills and experience to make an impact from day one.