Tom Gardner

Winner of the Narrative Award 2019

United Kingdom

‘It is post-war Aleppo. Syrians are starting to return to their homes. They remember a city rich with heritage and culture but have arrived to see a city that suffered greatly from corruption, bombing and communal chaos during the conflict. It is a broken place that needs reconstruction to bring the region together.

The challenge is to create memory infused architecture to be served for and by the citizens of Aleppo. The solution is a Caravanserai to help Syrians transition to a permanent home, incorporating traditional markets (Souq) and leisure activities (shopping, storytelling and debates) to kick start the building of communities.

Memories are incorporated through traditional architectural language and ruins are converted to public gardens. In “Remnants of a Separation”, elements of the design have been fragmented and arranged in a narrative-like format.’

Judges’ thoughts

“A fragmented context sets the scene for an emotive narrative that underpins this graphically moving drawing. Whilst the drawing conveys a disheartening reality that impacts the lives and families of many, it offers an architectural response retaining memories through a community-focused reconstruction of the city.

We believed this piece truly resonated with the objectives of the Narrative Award as it immerses the audience in a meaningful, narrative-led scenario and effectively does so without the presence of words. A beautifully drawn image that we are very pleased to award as winner of the Archisource Narrative Award.”

Cabin City | City Of Refuge by Sean Seah

Highly Commended for the Narrative Award 2019

United Kingdom

‘Found in the heart of Aokigahara Forest, also known as the “suicide forest”. The 6 floor timber cabin is a refuge for lost souls who come into the forest desperate and in need of help. Cabin city becomes the instrument of rehabilitation, hope and change.’

Judges’ thoughts

“An exciting, hand-crafted drawing filled with activity and bursting with narrative. A high-quality and playful drawing which uses a conventional architectural representation as a method to portray the project’s story. The expression of narrative is creatively illustrated through the individual characters inhabiting the spaces.”

Nancy Jackson

Highly Commended for the Narrative Award 2019

United Kingdom

‘Moving Day challenges our relationship with our homes and the built environment through the suggestion that buildings are living things: moving, breathing and individual. This architectural language is an alternative to our increasingly monotonous and sterile housebuilding. By giving our buildings personhood our ethics of care prevent us from seeing homes as purely financial assets and instead encourages a more conscious and personal relationship with the built environment.’

Judges’ thoughts

“An exquisite drawing which literally embodies its narrative. This outstanding drawing demonstrates great skill and inventively portrays its underlying meaning, the judges were blown away by the creator’s technique and creativity.

A beautiful image that had to be highly commended for its outstanding detail and finesse in creating this stunning narrative drawing.”