Beacon Benches: Architecture Students Collaborate with Community

First year students from BA(Hons) Architecture have been working with the local community to create a series of benches that will be gifted to Falmouth’s Beacon Community Group.

The Beacon Bench project – supported by Sarah Newton MP – culminated in a community engagement event, where the students met with local residents and shared their sustainable bench designs.

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Julia Preece, one of the BA(Hons) Architecture students, told us: “The project was unlike others we had done before as there was more focus on communication with the public and therefore a greater understanding of the [Beacon] site. I enjoyed this aspect as I envisage it will be a major part of what is to come for me in the future!”

She explained the process: “Each individual was asked to make their own design and the group was then presented with all the models of these ideas. We were allowed one vote each and the three models with the most votes were chosen.”

After voting for their favourite designs, the three chosen pieces were taken forward and merged into one cohesive design that evolved structurally as the students built it. 

The overarching community Beacon project involves a complete redesign of the parkland in the area. 

Julia told us: “The most enjoyable part of the project was using the resource of the university to print my fabric for a fuzzy felt board, representing The Beacon in Falmouth and placing my imaginary park pieces.” 

“The fact that we have also created a very creative bench for our own Architectural School garden is also quite impressive,” she added. “I also enjoyed researching local suppliers, especially Tim Marsh’s granite works in Mabe. He has been especially helpful.”