LUNAR RHYTHMS
Shaniah Jones
Lunar Rhythms is a project focused on the development of a food bank and community hub centre. Inspired by the moon’s cultural and spiritual significance in Islam, the design promotes community wellbeing, mutual support, and a welcoming environment where people can connect and feel supported.
The full moon informs the food bank and community fridge ground floor level (precedent - House of Music), representing wholeness and collective care through a welcoming space where resources can be shared and accessed by those in need. The crescent moon inspires the lower-ground-floor community hub (precedent - Yinchuan Sunac City Exhition Centre), a flexible space for activities including yoga, workshops, mental health support sessions, and community meetings, reflecting growth while strengthening community relationships.
The final building form responds to its landscape setting, shaped around existing trees to create a harmonious relationship between architecture and nature. Sustainability is embedded through the use of GGBS concrete, CLT, and glulam timber, reducing embodied carbon.
Environmental strategies include green roofs, permeable paving, rain gardens, and an infiltration trench to manage surface water runoff and reduce the risk of surface water flooding across the site.
Skylights bring natural daylight into lower-ground-floor spaces while supporting passive stack ventilation. Together, these elements create a resilient building that celebrates community, nature, and the rhythms of the moon.
I am an Architectural Technology student at the University of Westminster. I completed a Level 3 qualification in Economics, Finance and Maths, developing strong analytical and problem-solving skills that have supported my technical approach to design.
Inspired by a family connection to architecture, I pursued Architectural Technology despite having no formal background in design. Throughout my studies, I have developed a strong interest in creating buildings that balance creativity, functionality and sustainability. I am particularly interested in the process of transforming design concepts into technically resolved, environmentally responsive buildings that positively contribute to the community wellbeing and their surrounding environment.
