Chloe Dalby, a postgraduate student in Architecture at Newcastle University, has emerged triumphant as the winner of the esteemed Serjeant Award for Excellence in Drawing at Part 2 in this year’s Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) President’s Medals.
Chloe Dalby’s exceptional work, titled “Earth’s Breath: Wind and Wild,” has garnered international acclaim, earning her the Serjeant Prize for Drawing at Part 2. The award-winning project delves into the intricate relationship between humans and nature, posing thought-provoking questions about the future of architecture and its potential to harmonize with both human needs and natural forces.
Expressing her elation, Chloe shared, “I am utterly thrilled to have been chosen as the winner out of such a wide, global field of excellent President’s Medals nominees. After seven years in architectural education, it feels amazing to have something as special as this to celebrate that time and all the hard work and effort that has been put in.”
Chloe Dalby’s masterpiece, “Earth’s Breath: Wind and Wild,” emerged from her studies in the Narratives of Change studio, under the guidance of Professor Prue Chiles and Dr Polly Gould. The project explores the potential of an ecologically rooted mode of architectural practice, envisioning tools and techniques to reshape our energy future. Beyond construction, the project redefines the architect’s role as one who not only builds but empowers and entices the wider community through compelling narratives, imagery, and mapping.
Professor Chiles expressed delight, saying, “We are delighted and proud that Chloe’s beautiful work has been rewarded in the RIBA’s prestigious Serjeant Award. Chloe’s contribution to the studio, Narratives of Change, has been enormous, highly imaginative and skilled, and we thank everyone involved who worked with her or reviewed her work.”
Dr Gould added, “Chloe’s project is a passionate love story to the North East and its people, the power of the wind, from the deep mythological past into the future; a future post-technology and in thrall to nature and the energy of the wind.”
The Serjeant Awards for Excellence in Drawing are presented in memory of Denis Serjeant, a founding member of the 1981 RIBA Student Prizes Group. Chloe Dalby was honored at an awards ceremony at the RIBA headquarters in London.
RIBA President Muyiwa Oki congratulated Chloe and fellow winners, stating, “This year’s RIBA President’s Medals showcase the exemplary work of architecture students from across the globe. The talent, creativity, and sensitivity demonstrated in the winning and commended projects reassure me that the future of architecture is in safe hands. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to the tutors and schools who have nurtured and supported them. I cannot wait to have them as new colleagues.”
Chloe Dalby’s success at the RIBA President’s Medals highlights Newcastle University’s commitment to fostering exceptional talent in the field of architecture and the promising future of the discipline under the guidance of dedicated educators.
