Dezeen School Shows: a project that aims to foster a greater sense of community in student halls is among the interior designs from students at the University of Dundee.

Also featured is a sculpture made from earthenware, which references bruxism, and an educational centre set within the ruins of an abbey.

University of Dundee

Institution: University of Dundee
School: Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design
Course: Interior and Environmental Design
Tutor: Gary Kennedy

School statement:

"Interior Environmental Design at DJCAD operates at the exciting intersection of architecture, design, art and new media.

"It allows spatial investigation into areas such as architecture, furniture and installations to exhibitions and is a dynamic programme that respects the tradition of design history, contemporary culture and new social issues."

The In Between by Caitlin Skimmins

"The In Between is a new approach to the student halls experience, aiming to foster a greater sense of community and connection in response to the concerning rise of student loneliness.

"The design draws on personal experience of never leaving home before university, where I felt left out and struggled to connect with peers.

"The project takes inspiration from the warmth, connection and conversation that happens around the dining table.

"The design encourages social connections through face-to-face conversations and provides the students with a sense of community and belonging."

Student: Caitlin Skimmins
Course: Interior and Environmental Design B Des (Hons)
Tutor: Gary Kennedy
Email: caitlin.skimins[at]gmail.com

Cairn O'Mohr Winery Experience by Emily Chow

"The redesign of Cairn O'Mohr Winery into a wine experience takes inspiration from the soft fruits used in its wine-making process, like the berries.

"When it's viewed under a microscope, detailed patterns can be seen, including clustered cells that have a rounded form and flowing structures. These shapes became the foundation for the spatial design.

"Curved walls, rounded corners and fluid pathways were all developed from these microscopic forms, creating a space that feels organic and connected to nature."

Student: Emily Chow
Course: Interior and Environmental Design B Des (Hons)
Tutor: Gary Kennedy
Email: emilychow33[at]gmail.com

Lying through your teeth by Lewis Hely

"Lying through your teeth is a set of sculptural mechanisms inspired by the intense and personal conflicts of bruxism.

"The contrast within thin fragile walls of the red earthenware crammed between the heavy solid bronze plays into the physicality of teeth and jaw muscles. This references the behavioural habits and main causes of the condition, which is tension and stress.

"This is an immersive project that creates a theme of identity emotionally through objects, sound and materiality.

"Sound and materiality give an emotional quality to the sculptures, developing a deeper connection and perspective into the stressful and painful experiences of bruxism."

Student: Lewis Hely
Course: Interior and Environmental Design
Tutor: Gary Kennedy
Email: lewishely[at]hotmail.com

A Place For Movement: The Layers of Living by Daria Sommerrey

"This project reimagines a historic cottage in Gardenstown into an open, adaptive living space tailored for a client living with essential tremor.

"Through spatial planning, the design transforms a compartmentalised house into a supportive, light-filled environment.

"Key interventions include a stabilising landing, ergonomic kitchen redesign and a fireplace as a central anchor.

"Inspired by movement and memory, the project aims to create not just a functional home, but one that offers dignity, comfort and flow for daily life."

Student: Daria Sommerrey
Course: Interior and Environmental Design B Des (Hons)
Tutor: Gary Kennedy
Email: hello[at]dariasommerrey.com

Close to Hame by Niamh Margaret Atkinson

"This is a residential living facility with integrated palliative care tailored to individuals living with dementia. It is inspired by tenement history of Glasgow and the surrounding urban context providing its residents with 'a dose of everyday reality'.

"In the former Howdens Engineering Works located in the southside of Glasgow, Close to Hame proposes a care environment that is safe, supportive and rooted in community.

"Through familiar routines and meaningful daily activities, it seeks to improve not only the quality of care but also the overall quality of life for residents."

Student: Niamh Margaret Atkinson
Course: Interior and Environmental Design B Des (Hons)
Tutor: Gary Kennedy
Email: niamhatkinson[at]icloud.com

Scratch by Euan Fraser

"Scratch is a holistic healing destination located in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. The site consists of the existing buildings, High Sunderland house, Bernat Klein studio and additional new buildings designed to complement them.

"Taking inspiration from the existing materiality, window frames and mosaic tiles, the tiles will become a motif for healing skin.

"They have been reimagined in shades of red and pink, graduating to white, to represent an abstracted version of skin healing. The tiles are a symbol of the building's purpose, representing the stages of the healing journey and encouraging visitors to persevere.

"The space is designed to embody the feeling of freedom and encourage the idea of a new beginning."

Student: Euan Fraser
Course: Interior and Environmental Design B Des (Hons)
Tutor: Gary Kennedy
Email: euanfraser2002[at]hotmail.co.uk

The Closey by Josie Schaeli

"The Closey is a hub which addresses the stigma and lack of understanding around women's health through various methods of holistic and preventative care.

"It is located in the spacious West Ward Works, an old jute spinning mill and printworks, part of Dundee's rich industrial history. As such, this project draws on the forms from these industries as spatial and structural influences, such as spools, rollers, wheels and cogs.

"It also embodies and represents the strength, empowerment and community life of the women who worked in these factories and mills.

"This earned Dundee its name of 'She Town', particularly how women would often interact by putting up the laundry across the 'The Closey' between the tenement flats surrounding the factories."

Student: Josie Schaeli
Course: Interior and Environmental Design B Des (Hons)
Tutor: Gary Kennedy
Email: josieschaeli[at]icloud.com

Soundhead by Rachael Gregory

"Soundhead is an adaptive reuse that reimagines the experience of going to the cinema, in the former Waverley picture house located in the southside of Glasgow.

"Taking inspiration from its former use as a cinema, the interior design has a modern take on the art deco movement that was very popular in Glasgow during the 1930s.

"Features include interactive elements that communicate the process of motion picture cameras, a focus on light and the shapes created by light projections."

Student: Rachael Gregory
Course: Interior and Environmental Design B Des (Hons)
Tutor: Gary Kennedy
Email: rachaelgregory11[at]gmail.com

Archive by Ciara Kelly

"Archive is a centre for heritage craftmanship and building conservation, set within the ruins of Balmerino abbey and steading.

"This project reimagines ruins into an adaptive working and learning space, for industry and the wider community – in an attempt to bridge the heritage skills gap, creating a place where these skills and knowledge can be preserved, practiced and passed on.

"The concept is shaped by the idea of a palimpsest – the ruins are seen as a surface that holds the marks of time, wear, change and use.

"Through lightweight, meaningful interventions, the project aims to preserve, adapt and reactivate the site, allowing the old and new to co-exist."

Student: Ciara Kelly
Course: Interior and Environmental Design B Des (Hons)
Tutor: Gary Kennedy
Email: ciarakellly[at]hotmail.com

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and the University of Dundee. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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