Architecture Now / News / Aimee O'Carroll Wins Inaugural Foster + Partners Prize

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Aimee O'Carroll, a 24 year-old Irish architectural graduate,has been announced Winner of the inaugural Foster +Partners Prize, which will be presented annually to the Architecture Association School's diploma student whose portfolio best addresses the themes of sustainability and infrastructure.

Aimee is a third generation Irish architect, with her grandparents Brian & Mary O Carroll from Roscommon and Patrick Rooney from Dublin. Both her parents, Owen O' Carroll and Mary Jane Rooney, graduates from DIT, are also architects.

Aimee O'Carroll has been selected jointly by London-based architectural practice Foster + Partners and the Architecture Association (AA). The project that fetched the prestigious award to the young architect is the 'Whitechapel Urban Artery' scheme. The scheme has been designed to connect inner London hospitals via underground 'medi rail' network centered on a major blood bank and medical transport hub.

Aimee's project explored the master plan for Whitechapel being put together for Crossrail; the reopening of the East London Line; the reuse of 'Mail Rail', the London rail line once used by Royal Mail; and the Royal London Hospital expansion, which will soon become the largest hospital in the UK. She explored the potential connections between these developments, reusing and recycling infrastructure above and below ground.

The infrastructure plans proposed by her saw the creation of a medical transport hub, focused on a blood bank and donations center at the Royal London. The hub would connect all central London hospitals via a dedicated underground rail network, taking medical supplies off congested streets, where they are moved by courier, to the rail lines below. Aimee created an infrastructure plan that could improve medical facilities in central London ensuring the speedy delivery of vital
supplies.

The Foster + Partners Prize created this year is presented to the Architecture Association School's diploma student whose portfolio best addresses the themes of sustainability and infrastructure. The new award will be presented annually. Aimee's winning scheme will go on show in Foster + Partners' studio in September 2010, when a formal reception will be held.

Posted: 28/07/2010 09:18:10

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