Student awards 2024: interview with Euan Clarke
(October 2024) As part of the A&DS and RIAS Student Awards for Architecture 2024, Euan Clarke, Mackintosh School of Architecture, was awarded the RIAS Rowand Anderson Silver Medal for Best 5th Year Student and Highly Commended for the Architecture and Design Scotland Placemaking Award for his project "DECODE". In this interview he outlines his winning project and plans for the future.
How does it feel to win this award category?
I feel incredibly honoured and grateful to have won this award, especially seeing the other beautiful and thought-provoking projects that were shortlisted alongside mine. It's a very humbling experience, and I feel fortunate to have received so much support throughout this journey. The award for me, feels like a collective achievement, and I’m thrilled to share it with everyone who supported me. I owe a lot to my tutors and friends; I don’t think I could have pushed the project to the level that it reached without them.
What inspired you to create this project?
The initial idea stemmed from my research into the city of Marseille, and my discovery of its historical role as a connection point between Europe, Africa, and the rest of the world. I was particularly fascinated by a map showing the vast network of underwater data cables that land in the port of Marseille. This sparked my interest in exploring our relationship with data—specifically how our private information is used and stored. I began to think about my own personal information and how much I understood about how it was used, who owned it, and who was making money from selling it.
What was the biggest challenge you experienced whilst creating this project?
The biggest challenge was developing an architectural proposal that could convey the extent to which governments and private corporations’ control and manipulate our personal information. I wanted the design to reflect the scale and severity of this issue—showing how, if we don’t address it soon, we risk losing our right to privacy and personal freedom forever.
What are your plans for the future?
I have always been interested in the detailing and technological elements of a project. So, in the future, I intend to move down to London and work for a practice that designs impactful buildings, using innovative construction methods. I am also excited about the opportunity to be working within an office environment and to begin studying towards my Part 3.
DECODE project gallery
Judges’ comments: "The judges loved the subtly political narrative and intent of this project in Marseille, France. This thesis examines the accessibility and ownership of personal information, proposing a future where personal data is decentralised and nationalised. DECODE democratises architecture with an emphasis on people and public accessibility. In creating a new urban park, the project challenges the idea of extensive demolition on the ground with an alternative approach of creating an over-ground spine bridge structure as a thread through the new park, from which other programmes can nest and connect. This project encourages the use of urban green spaces that are accessible and inclusive, fostering a sense of equity and culture."
