For Satwinder Samra Redmires Reservoir is a place to look into the horizon, be at one with nature and decompress from the pressures of everyday life.

Redmires Reservoir is located on the outskirts of Sheffield. I’ve walked here, sometimes everyday throughout the last year. Often with my youngest son Casper. Taking in the familiar and the unexpected. Be it the ever-changing reflections on the water or the squawking of birds flying overhead.

As place of tranquillity and calmness it was only appropriate to select this as the location for the photograph. Tim was instantly drawn to the setting.  Working with him was an absolute pleasure. His appreciation and ability to read the landscape was exceptional. He definitely brought a certain professionalism to proceedings. A passer-by shouted out ‘’Are you both on a celebrity photo shoot” We all laughed!

I felt like my special place became Tim’s. This is portrayed in his wonderful photograph. Being able to look into the horizon, be at one with nature and decompress from the pressures of everyday life.

The past year has been intense and frustrating but also liberating. The opportunity to  ‘teleport’ from one space to another through the tap of a key board has been efficient and mind boggling at the same time. Working with my wonderful students and colleagues at Sheffield University, I’ve been very impressed by their engagement and tenacity throughout. Collaborating on international competition entries with my friend William Matthews we’ve been empowered by digital collaboration. It has made the process of design more agile and more focussed.

The democracy offered by digital space needs to be expanded. In doing so we can ultimately open up architecture to a wider community resulting in greater representation throughout. This needs to be maintained and not forgotten as we move beyond the events of the previous year.

Satwinder Samra
Sheffield