Life After the LSA: Molly Judge

Alumni Molly Judge and Jack Idle.

Molly Judge graduated from the LSA in 2018 as part of the school’s second cohort. Since then she has gone on to work for Publica in London. Jason Sayer caught up with Molly to find out how life after the LSA was going.

What was your final year project?

My thesis project Den City sought to provide essential spaces for children and families that require a range of open, recreational and family orientated spaces in the context of higher density developments in inner urban regions. My proposal was a low rise, high density housing scheme, where over 5 storeys, every floor has the generosity of outdoor space as the ground floor. Fostering a safe environment for children to roam, as the foundation of community life.

Den City axonometric drawing.

Where are you now?

Since leaving the LSA in June I have begun working for Publica, an urban design and public realm practice in London. Publica surveys neighbourhoods, undertakes research and conceives strategies and designs for making cities better for their users.

What are you currently working on or have recently completed?

I have been primarily working on place strategies in Central London, I have also been involved in survey work and city-wide research proposals. I am currently working on a district-wide strategy for Westminster City Council surrounding Oxford Street. The place strategy covers 95 projects across 84 streets in the local neighbourhoods, , with major improvements outlined for Oxford Circus, Marble Arch and Cavendish Square.

The Strategy went to public consultation for six weeks on 6th November. (credit: Publica)

What led you down this career path? Did your time at the LSA inform this?

My first year at the LSA was especially influential as it opened up a whole new conversation on architecture, touching on city-wide strategies, policy and the wider influences on the built environment. I don’t think I could’ve got that from another university quite so tangibly. The Design Think Tank (DTT) module was significant for me in learning to create a persuasive case for positive city-wide change through research and design. My DTT group was led by DSDHA, where we looked at existing threats to culture in London, addressing the challenges that surrounded The Mayor’s Cultural Infrastructure Plan for 2030. Exposure to research and design strategies in the first year encouraged me to approach my final thesis project differently, and has since led to me working more specifically in urban and strategic design more so than Architecture.

Molly (second from right) with her Design Think Tank group.

What have you taken from your time at the LSA into practice?

At the LSA I personally felt empowered by getting an understanding of how to make an idea real. We were in conversation with a number of really interesting and innovative practitioners; from discussing with Henrietta Moore and Arthur Kay about innovation and the UN Sustainable development goals; to conversations with Alastair Parvin about open source architecture. Through these presentations and workshops we were exposed to challenges within London and were encouraged to think about the ways to make positive change within the built environment.

Molly Judge presented with David Hills from DSDHA at Theatrum Mundi’s London Salon event discussing Cultural Infrastructure at The Museum of London.