An Architecture student from De Montfort University (DMU) Leicester has been shortlisted for an international award for her conceptual reimagining of one of Leicester’s neighbourhoods.
Paige Hurst, who works at Pick Everard and is set to graduate from the university’s Architecture MArch programme in September, is one of five finalists in the Student Prize category at Architecture Today’s Test of Time Awards.
Her project, titled Samudaya Beyond the Arches, explores how post-industrial building fragments and the disused viaduct at Braunstone Gate, in Leicester’s city centre, can be transformed into community spaces for residents living in flats and small homes within the area.
The 23-year-old from Leicester is up against strong competition, with entries from architecture schools in both London and Cardiff as well as two of the most renowned universities on the planet – University College London and Harvard University – also vying for the student prize.
Paige said: “It’s a project I’m very proud of. My tutors forwarded the competition to me and encouraged me to apply. To just even be a finalist is like surreal. Honestly, it's amazing.
“Over the years, many of the residential buildings at Braunstone Gate have turned into flats, student accommodation or rented social housing.
“I wanted to explore if there was a way to take elements of the house out into the community – the kitchen or gardens for example – because living space here is limited and residents don’t have immediate access to green spaces or kitchens big enough to host many guests.
“Pods, kitchens and sunrooms can slot into the viaduct openings, and you can look out over the Old River Soar, and there’s a communal dining room structure that sits on top of the viaduct, accessed by a ramp. It’s very much a fragmented design.”
Additionally, in Gujarati, Samuday or Samudaya is the direct translation of “community.” So, Samudaya Beyond the Arches ultimately translates as “community beyond the arches.”
The word samudaya translates to ‘community’ in Gujarati and the idea of the community coming together onto the street, using the viaduct and existing infrastructure as a space to socialise, cook and relax is central to Paige’s design.
In her project, green spaces and vegetable patches are built through viaduct openings and extend onto the Old River Soar, with a conservatory built on top of a disused barge overlooking the water.
To round her project off, Paige also produced a beautiful, hand-drawn narrative-driven film, following a girl and her grandfather as they watch the Braunstone Gate area develop and the community using the areas that Paige has reimagined.
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Paige added: “Sustainability is really at the forefront of the design. In my kitchen concept, I’ve imagined walls made out of reclaimed clothing bales, so they can be used as insulation in the walls in winter but repurposed as seating in summer.
“I’ve constructed canopies for the dining area out of broken umbrellas and used reused wooden pallets to act as tables that can be adjusted for height because different cultures eat at different heights.
“I think for me though, my favourite aspect of the project is the film. The project is quite complex and it can be hard to articulate it clearly, but the film brings it all together in such a nice way. I’m very proud of it.”
Architecture Today’s Test of Time Awards recognises how existing structures can serve their communities, whether environmentally or culturally.
Paige’s Samudaya Beyond the Arches Project will sit alongside iconic landmarks such as Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, the London Eye and the Eden Project in Cornwall, as well as the other four finalists in the Student Prize category.
For Victoria Farrow, Associate Professor in Architecture, Paige’s achievement helps solidify the strong reputation of DMU’s Architectural School.
Professor Farrow said: “Paige is a fantastic representative of the Leicester School of Architecture, and it is particularly exciting to see both her work and Leicester receiving recognition on an international stage.
“To be selected alongside students from some of the world’s leading schools of architecture is a remarkable achievement and puts a well-deserved spotlight on the quality, creativity and ambition of architectural education here in Leicester.
“We are immensely proud that Paige is representing the school in the final and look forward to seeing her present her project to the judging panel. Everyone at Leicester will be supporting her and wishing her the very best.”
Earlier this year, renowned architecture and interior design magazine Dezeen featured DMU in its spotlight feature, Dezeen School Shows, which included Paige’s work. The Architect’s Journal described DMU’s student show as a “hidden gem”, praising the university’s workshops and teaching philosophies.
Paige will be presenting her project to a jury of experts as part of the Test of Time Awards’ Live Final on Wednesday 9 September in London.
Posted on Friday 21 August 2026