What if King’s College London’s Strand campus was surrounded by fruit-bearing trees, wildflower lawns and long community benches?

Two King’s students recently met with representatives from Westminster City Council to discuss their ideas for the Strand Aldwych Pedestrianisation Project, a £28m improvement plan designed to address the challenges of noise pollution, overcrowded footpaths and severe congestion in the area. In June, winners Nina Hanna (Comparative Literature) and Kelly Gunnell (Geography) met with policy-makers at Westminster City Hall and members of the Culture team at King’s to discuss possible outcomes of the project and share their thoughts on the proposed designs.

Westminster City Council is working with local organisations including King's to develop proposals to address these challenges and enhance the cultural, educational and creative experience of the area. The plans include the pedestrianisation of the space between the Strand and Bush House buildings, which will provide significant benefits to the King’s students who live, work and study in the area.

In support of this dynamic project, the Culture team held the ‘Strand Aldwych Competition’, in which students were asked to submit an entry outlining their ideas for the more eco-friendly space.

Nina’s winning entry largely focused on how the city of London can evolve to coexist with nature and increase social interactions. Kelly’s submission revolved around the concepts of biophilic design and green infrastructure, and how these would benefit human health, productivity and well-being.

After an energetic morning filled with captivating discussions, Nina was left feeling inspired.