AA alum (2021–23) Erlend C. L. Birkeland’s Diploma thesis titled A Nomadic City Hall for London is among 25 shortlisted entries for the New London Architecture (NLA) Reimagine London Award. The NLA sought ideas that reimagine the city using innovative and community-focused visions to tackle pressing challenges facing the capital today in line with their New London Agenda launched earlier this year.

Erlend’s diploma project focused on creating a strategy for London’s City Hall to relocate to a new part of the city every 3–6 years. In the proposal, moving City Hall becomes a driver for establishing community hubs in adaptively reused structures that remain in the hands of the community when City Hall departs a few years later. The project was developed in AA Diploma 5, which was titled Porous! Public! Placed! with tutors Gabu Heidl, Boštjan Vuga and Vid Žnidaršič. This project earned a Commendation upon graduation in 2023.

The project is currently exhibited at the London Centre at the Guildhall through the autumn, together with the other shortlisted ideas. See the full shortlist here.

Image: Nomadic City Hall for London, Erlend C. L. Birkeland’s shortlisted proposal, 2023.