For her final design project, Olivia designed and technically detailed a new accessible visitor centre and overnight accommodation in Hamsterley Forest. Her proposal prioritised sustainability, using rammed earth as the primary structure and adopting a zero-waste approach to felled timber, whereby every part of the tree is used; as fuel, in compost, in construction, to make furniture, or in crafting. By maximising the forest’s natural resources in this way, the scheme not only reduces waste but also supports a circular economy, creating opportunities for education, tourism and local enterprise rooted in the identity of the forest itself.

The degree show marks the end of Olivia’s third year on the architect degree apprenticeship and she now moves into her fourth and final year to undertake her part 3 qualification and become a fully qualified architect.