Showcase 2026 Student Spotlight: Lucas Connolly
Student Spotlight featuring BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design student Lucas Connolly and his project 'The Green House'.
By Jon Duckworth | Published on 28 May 2026
Categories: Student Showcase; School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment;
The Project
BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design student Lucas Connolly introduces his project as follows:
"Today, the UK faces a dual crisis: we are both one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, ranking in the bottom 10% globally, and at the same time one of the most unequal economies in the developed world. These conditions are often treated as separate issues, yet both stem from the same extractive systems that prioritise short-term profit over long-term wellbeing. My project instead imagines a speculative future where social and environmental wellbeing form the baseline for daily life. Set within the shell of an abandoned car park - a remnant of past, convenience-dominated and resource-intensive way of living, 'The Green House', explores a new model for urban architecture that balances density with a more liveable, collective and natural way of life.
"At the core of the project is the concept of 'our place': a rethinking of domestic space in which the private home is expanded into the public and ecological realm - 'cohabiting with nature and community’. Rather than isolating individuals within soulless glass units, key functions of living – food growth, cooking, eating and socialising – are distributed across shared spaces that emphasise presence within community and nature. The apartment becomes a space for ‘hibernation’, while daily life unfolds within varying levels of connectedness shaped by light, time, and seasonal rhythms. The architecture aims to imitate the layers of natural environments: a rammed earth ground floor engages with outside ground cover, creating a feeling of being ‘within’ its heavy walls and natural climate regulation; a lighter douglas fir shingle and oak timber first floor engages with the tree canopy layer through filtered openings and a softer atmosphere; the open roof farm offers views across Nottingham’s cityscape, creating an ‘above-the-canopy’ feeling. Intentional breakfast, lunch and dinner spaces are distributed across the site as key spatial anchors for daily movement from east to west across the day, following the path of the sun. In doing so, my project reimagines a future of urban living as an interconnected, healthy, ecological and deeply social experience."
Image by Lucas Connolly.
The inspiration behind the project
Lucas explains:
"The brief asked us to imagine a future in which AI and automation has made human labour redundant, which raises a big question about what is actually important to us. Do we live to work, or do we work to live? And in a world without the necessity of work, what would we want to improve about the way we live?
"This led me to research the UK's current societal and environmental challenges, and how other architectural cultures approach lifestyle and wellbeing. I was heavily inspired by the Italian piazza, and in finding a way of translating the slow-paced, relaxed and outdoor spaces into the British climate. I was also inspired by the Nordic approach to community and collective spirit even in harsher weather."
Image by Lucas Connolly.
The project experience
Lucas says that working on the project has strengthened his design ethos and that the forward-looking nature of the brief made him think analytically about the way in which architecture facilitates living and wellbeing.
"It's been fantastic to be able to dedicate so much time and passion into a design, and my visual language, technical skillset and design philosophy have really developed because of it. Whilst it definitely hasn’t been a straightforward or easy journey, the end result is something I’m really proud to put my name to."
Image by Lucas Connolly.
Being part of NTU
When it comes to reflecting on his time at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), Lucas says that the "studio culture" on the course was probably his favourite aspect.
"It's been an incredibly enjoyable shared experience with my coursemates," he says, adding:
"The integrated placement year on my course has really prepared me with industry experience and a consistent, dedicated attitude. My time at NTU has really pushed the boundaries of what I thought I could achieve, and I’ve become way more confident in both my work and myself as a person."
Closing remarks
"The most important part of this experience is to go through it with friends. When you’re all working together in the studio, the days become so much more enjoyable and result in a much higher level of work, as you're all sharing ideas and helping each other get through it. It is definitely a challenging course, but doing it with your friends makes it a lot easier. Also make sure you're doing work that actually interests you - tailoring your projects towards your own interests really benefits both the quality of the design and of the overall experience. Being excited to be there everyday will make all the difference."
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