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RIBA and Foster + Partners launch 2017 Travelling Scholarship with increased funds

United Kingdom Architecture News - Jan 21, 2017 - 12:03   15378 views

RIBA and Foster + Partners launch 2017 Travelling Scholarship with increased funds

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and Foster + Partners have launched the 2017 RIBA Norman Foster Travelling Scholarship and are inviting validated schools of architecture around the world to nominate one exceptional student to submit a proposal.

Entries will be assessed by a panel of judges which will include Lord Foster and RIBA President Jane Duncan. The selected scholar will receive £7,000 (an increase from the previous award of £6,000) to travel anywhere the world in order to pursue research on the subject of the future survival of our cities and communities.

Applicants can submit their proposals until April 28, 2017 with an application form. 

RIBA and Foster + Partners launch 2017 Travelling Scholarship with increased funds

''As a student I won a prize that allowed me to spend a summer travelling through Europe and to study first hand buildings and cities that I knew only from the pages of books. It was a revelation – liberating and exhilarating in so many ways. Today it is my privilege to fund the RIBA Norman Foster Travelling Scholarship, which I hope will have a lasting legacy – offering the chance for discovery and the inspiration for exciting new work – for generations to come,'' said Lord Foster.

''This scholarship provides a unique opportunity for students to engage with architecture outside of the academic context, and develop their own research interests and methods as part of a rewarding and enlightening experience. As we celebrate this scheme’s 10th anniversary, we remain deeply grateful to Lord Foster for his support of the future generation of architects, and are delighted with his generous decision to increase the funds awarded to scholars as of this year,''  said RIBA President Jane Duncan.

RIBA and Foster + Partners launch 2017 Travelling Scholarship with increased funds

Last year winner, Abel Feleke (right)

Proposals for research might include: learning from the past to inform the future; the future of society; the density of settlements; sustainability; the use of resources; the quality of urban life; and transport.

Last year, Abel Feleke from University of Western Australia won the prize with proposal titled ''Weaving the Urban Fabric:  Examining the Significance of Community'', which explored how a strong sense of community binds informal settlements.

RIBA and Foster + Partners launch 2017 Travelling Scholarship with increased funds

Abel Feleke presents his proposal, 2016

First established in 2006, the scholarship is now in its tenth year and is intended to fund international research on a topic related to the survival of our towns and cities, in a location of the student’s choice. Past RIBA Norman Foster Scholars have travelled through the Americas, Europe, Africa, South East Asia, the Middle and the Far East, and Russia.

2017 RIBA Norman Foster Travelling Scholarship Application Form can be downloaded from RIBA website and schools of architecture offering courses recognised by the RIBA internationally and in the UK as well as by the CAA can be seen from the website.

All images courtesy of Foster+Partners

> via RIBA/Foster+Partners