Here’s the 2026 Peter Stead Sustainability Award winner

Huddersfield Civic Society gives an award every year to celebrate the best sustainability design project by a student at the University of Huddersfield.

The Peter Stead Sustainability Award is named after Huddersfield-born Peter Stead, a pioneer in urban design, who died in 2000 aged 77.

The judges were very impressed with many aspects of each presentation and again made for a difficult decision and we commend the thought and design process and wish the students well in their continued studies and careers.

This year’s award goes to Ahmad Behrooz Bashar Doost for a thoughtfully designed redevelopment of a busy Border Customs House in Herat, Afghanistan. 

The design considered, among other issues, the work flows better across the logistics and distribution site, something that is growing in sophistication all the time; regional connectivity through a comprehensive masterplan and a beautifully designed central customs administrative building.

The judges particularly liked the understanding of materials, passive heating and cooling and the way it brought contemporary design and utility into such a perceived functional space. Tradition and modernity worked well hand in hand.

The judges had a particularly hard time choosing a winner as the runners up were all strong contenders, having particular focus on community spaces and place, many considering the impacts on society and wellbeing.

One of the judges, Andrew Wilson, said: “This is my first time judging and I hadn’t realised how hard it would be to pick a winner. Having spoken to the students at the awards ceremony it is obvious that the portfolio simulated a lot of thought into how their work could help others in their communities.’’

Another judge, Sue Lee-Richards, added: “I was particularly impressed with the understanding of the brief and how sustainability and culture was sympathetically integrated. As judges, we could imagine being in the places designed and feeling comfortable.”

We would also like to congratulate Madiha Hussain, Afzal Rimsha, Shivraj Dayal and Arron Langdale, the other candidates for the 2026 Peter Stead Awards and wish them all a successful career.

The award comes with £200 prize money.

The 2026 HCS judging panel comprised of Gideon Richards, Sue Lee-Richards, Andrew Wilson and Adrian Pitts.

As always, Huddersfield Civic Society would like to thank Dr Yun Gao and the University of Huddersfield Department of Architecture and Built Environment for their hard work in selecting the candidates to be judged.