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A group of UWA ALVA students have collaborated with Perth based architecture studio SMAR to win an international competition. The challenge was to design the new 33-hectare National Science and Innovation Centre in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Known as Science Island, the $36.8 million development is the flagship project for Lithuania coinciding with the 100 year anniversary of the country’s independence.

SMAR Architecture Studio, founded by current UWA Associate Professor Fernando Jerez and co-directed by Belen Perez de Juan, reguarly collaborates with ALVA students.

“All students in the Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Landscape Architecture are required to complete 16 weeks full-time (or equivalent) professional work experience to complete their degree. Some of these very talented students worked with us on this project.

“We wanted our design to focus on finding a natural connection with the island and nature in general. Our proposal incorporated a reflective surface (or disc) representing a new sun for Kaunas that will never set. A bright, shinning sun symbolising that science is always awake searching for answers.

“We were up against some exceptional teams from 44 countries worldwide and this win really demonstrates the quality of architecture design talent we have at UWA,” Fernando says.

Read more about the competition here .