How would you feel about Oxford being the city of towering spires instead of dreaming spires?

That was the plan put forward by architecture student Richard Phillips, 24, to answer an unusual question.

The Oxford Brookes University student was tasked with coming up with a business proposal for how the city – currently home to nearly 154,000 people – could accommodate a million residents.

The result was a striking image of a city dominated by soaring skyscrapers.

He said: “I created a juxtaposition between the dreaming spires of Oxford and a new form of skyscraper.

“The idea behind it was if Oxford was to become a one million person city, how could that happen and this was to open a discussion.

“Obviously it’s something that could never and would never happen, nor would I wish it to get planning permission.

“I think these kinds of images would scare a few people but it is an evocative image really to start a debate – a radical and not necessarily feasible solution to a problem that exists.”

Mr Phillips has now been honoured with an award by the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) for the plans and proposals for affordable housing through private investment.

Each year, three students at Brookes are recognised by their work through Riba’s South/ South East Awards.

Paul Avery, 25, took home the Leslie Jones Memorial Prize for most progress in building construction.

He designed a building combining a winery with gym and spa facilities for rowers next to the Head of the River pub.

A by-product of the winemaking process would be used in spa treatments for the rowers, then passed into an anaerobic digester to produce fertiliser for next year’s crop of grapes.

Mr Avery said: “The technical aspects of it, combining having a rowing facility and manufacturing wine, were very challenging.

“Every single process and by-product had to have another use so it was truly sustainable.”

Molly de Courcy Wheeler, 20, from Headington, won the Oxford Prize for the most progress in the first year of the BA in architecture.

She came up with a series of four linked buildings, to be constructed in Headington Hill Park.

She said: “I’m absolutely thrilled, I can’t believe I won it.”