Winner: Bespoke design of the year 2025. LDA Design and Millimetre have collaborated on the design of the Sculptural Seats on Strand to create a distinctive identity for London's Strand/Aldwych pedestrianisation project.

The sculptural seats make a statement gateway to a key London cultural and education district, defining three new spaces established by making the Strand traffic-free: the Garden Room, Spectator Edge and Activity Lawn.

These spaces provide a multitude of seating options to create social opportunities for the 30,000 King's College students, visitors to Somerset House and the Courtauld Gallery.

The seats were crafted using 3D modelling, traditional woodworking techniques and cutting-edge CNC technology using a 7-axis Kuka robot.

In addition, the seats conceal electrical cabinets and hostile vehicle mitigation measures, which were 3D scanned to enable the seat installation within a 10 millimetre tolerance.

As a result, the seats celebrate outstanding design in the public realm and digital fabrication alongside traditional craftsmanship.

Judges comments: "This a great solution to a public space which was no doubt complicated due to a rigid brief and numerous stakeholders. The resulting design redefines the space with new purpose. The use of wood adds a softness and tactility to what could have been a hostile urban environment."

Studio: LDA Design and Millimetre
Project: Sculptural Seats on Strand
Credits: Westminster City Council, WSP and FM Conway