The 2021 David Lindner prize is awarded to Hugo Chan for his submission entitled “Architecture & Belonging: An Exploration into Designing for Cultural Diversity”.

The global population living in urban settings is predicted to surpass 70%
by 2050. Government responses to the challenges of urban growth often favour a standardised, metric-oriented approach, which can be at the expense of creating inclusive environments for diverse socio- cultural communities.

This research will investigate the connections between architecture, culture, belonging and memory and the role that the built environment plays in defining, shaping, and perpetuating self-identity and belonging of migrant communities in urban contexts. Hugo’s research outputs will include a practical guide on design considerations for cultural inclusivity.

The jury unanimously agreed that the proposal was highly topical, and of particular relevance with the pandemic fundamentally altering our interaction and awareness of private, social and public spaces.