HIGHBRIDGE-BASED business David Salisbury Conservatories has announced the winner of its competition to design the conservatory of the future.

James Furzer, a student from Dagenham, has proved he is one of the UK’s rising design stars.

David Salisbury and celebrity interior designer and television personality Oliver Heath judged the competition were said to be “hugely impressed” with James, who is studying architecture at the University of Greenwich.

James’ futuristic design helped him beat off fierce competition from architecture, construction and design students from across the world. James Furzer, 25, who hopes to become a chartered architect, said: “I wanted to create a modern, exciting structure that blurred the boundaries between internal and external spaces.

“I feel very privileged to be named the winner, especially when the standard of entries was extremely high.

It was really inspiring to meet both David and Oliver and the prize money will come in handy as my tuition fees are extremely high.”

David Salisbury said: “We were keen to launch a competition which supports tomorrow’s architects and designers, allowing them to flex their creative skills and experience while working to a strict brief.

“The students were required to supply technical drawings as well as an explanation of the reasoning behind their design, and we were enormously impressed with the talent of these young people.”