Welsh School of Architecture Yearbook 2024 - In Transition

IN TRANSITION

Copyright @ 2024

All rights reserved

The Welsh School of Architecture Cardiff University, UK

Designed and Edited by

Lead : Shania Johnpulle

Cover Design : Yumna Monsoer

Editors : Justyna Matuszewska

Mei Choi

Jerono Turgo

Annabelle Van Delft

Rebecca Clery

Contributors :

Abby Su

Annabel Harris

Choo Kim

Jiayin Zhuo

Malissa Akram

*No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the copywright owner.

https://wsa-ondisplay.co.uk/2024/

Michael Dorsman, MArch2

Welcome to the Welsh School of Architecture Exhibition 2024.

Presenting an array of drawings, models, charts, maps, and other visual materials, this publication showcases the diverse work produced across the Welsh School of Architecture during the academic year 2023-24. It serves as a catalogue for this year’s annual Exhibition, aptly titled ‘Transition’ by our student curators.

Transition is relevant to architectural education and design in a range of ways. It encapsulates the journey through architectural education and academic programmes that students undergo, reflecting their continuous evolution within the learning process while anticipating future career opportunities.

Transition can be experienced on an individual level— as personal identity deepens or life stages progress—or on a broader cultural scale, amidst social, economic, and environmental changes. Design at various scales can work to enable, reflect, or, in some contexts, mitigate the consequences of transitions of these diverse kinds.

Transition often implies a responsibility to attune to and support change in the multifaceted ways in which it may be experienced beneficially. Hence, it aligns with the goals of ethical practice to make a positive difference to people’s lives through the design of the built environment.

Facilitating transition in this ethical sense lies at the heart of our School’s vision to contribute through education, design work and research to a sustainable built environment that enhances the wellbeing of present and future generations while caring for our planet.

Transition in all these and further ways is explored across this publication and the related exhibition. From first-year students responding to transitions in a local river through a small cabinet project, to MArch students exploring housing needs for aging populations in the ‘Dwelling Differently’ studio, and to the transformations of historic buildings imagined by students in the ‘Carbon Pasts/Low Carbon Futures’ studio, transition will be revealed as a pervasive and dynamic concept.

For many of our graduating students in 2024, this publication marks the culmination of their studies, serving as a keepsake as they transition as cohorts and individually into the next stages of their careers. We extend our very best wishes to them for the journeys ahead.

Juliet Davis, Head of The Welsh School of Architecture

Voice – To make room for students voices to be heard in different areas of architectural practice, covering a wide range of topics to make a collective effort to assist in closing the gap between society and current practice. The voices of our show is at various levels

Reflect – Allow for members of the conversation to reflect on the whole process of architectural production. The Reflection is focused on the target audiences who we are inviting to join our conversations:

Student body: whose voice needs to be heard.

Architectural practice and wider industry: who are under pressure in the transition.

General public related to students of the WSA: whose demands are exhibited as part of the show

Embrace – Embrace diverse responses to designing for ethical challenges. Each year group will identify one of these issues their work aligns with. This is a list of potential issues to be expanded upon based on the transitions explored during the show:

Unsustainable architectural and construction practice decided undemocratically, benefitting key stakeholders at the expense of local communities.

Climactically irresponsible design furthering the already mounting effects of climate change. Educational gaps in addressing ethical duties within the industry.

Emerging Ideas – Articulate emerging opinions to implement innovative concepts for the betterment of local, urban, and regional contexts. This will be expressed by manifesting architectural proposals under ‘spotlights’ through both the physical and digital exhibitions:

The physical exhibition expressed through the articulation of spatial clusters which explore gaps in transitions thematically and through individual student’s works. The physical exhibition provides the opportunity to reflect on students’ voices.

The digital exhibition gives an opportunity to target voices beyond the school to reflect on student proposals. This is expressed as a digital twin of the physical show.

In Transition

The architectural industry is undergoing a seemingly constant transition to keep up with the everchanging standards set by society’s growing demand for more ethical responses to global injustices. We believe the students from this school could benefit the industry by giving it the chance to stop and reflect, resisting the urge to progress hastily. In this period of transition, this exhibition offers work which reflects the school’s ethos: tackling local and global challenges in urban and regional contexts; being grounded and responsive to real-world social and environmental issues; promoting the integration of a multidisciplinary approach to design; valuing diversity in culture, identity, and opinion; encouraging a collaborative approach to intellectual debate and learning; and embracing fearlessness in experimentation, curiosity, and creativity. We pose a standstill, spotlighting ideas to make way for conversation and debate between students and practice, bridging the gap between education and the profession, and clearing the path for emerging ideas to represent the school’s efforts towards developing a cohort of curious, creative, critical, and ethical learners.

The exhibition will aim to emphasise the state of being ‘in Transition’ acting to frame our ‘declarations’ as a demonstration of the kind of architecture we wish to see in practice - reflecting our approach to education through the school which will continue to define ourselves as designers. The show will ask professionals, students, and other event goers to join conversations catalysed by the student’s exhibited work, allowing for diversity in opinion. The spotlights will be used as a means of materially emulating that pause. Their positioning, colour, form, and function will be experimented with to explore their potential to act as thematic or navigational aids.

A Transition - Architectural practices must constantly develop to be more ethically considerate to match the ever-evolving demands of society. The exhibition addresses the gap between these two transitions, highlighting how the fast-paced nature of practice’s urgency to change is restricting the time given to mindful reflection necessary to appropriately consider the approach architectural practice and production should take. We hypothesis that allowing more time for that mindful reflection could help close that apparent gap more efficiently and therefore we propose an exhibition allows for this.

— The Student Exhibition Leads

Bachelor of Science Year One

DP 1 : Space Narrative

DP 2 : The Cabinet of the River

DP 3 : Creative Shelters

DP 4 : Culinary Pavilion

DP 5 : Festive Stages

BS c3

of Science Year Two

Studio 1 : Llandaff + Llandaff North

Studio 2 : Canton

Studio 3 : Grangetown

Studio 4 : Cathays

Studio 5 : Plasnewydd (Roath)

Studio 6 : Penylan

Studio 7 : Splott / Tremorfa

Studio 8 : Butetown

of Science Year Three

Unit 1 : SPECTRUM

Unit 2 : COMPONENT & ASSEMBLY

Unit 3 : TREHERBERT high-ER street

Unit 4 : REPAIR

Unit 5 : LIVABLE URBANISM

Unit 6 : m a de

Unit 7 : SUPER NORMAL

Unit 8 : DESIGNING HISTORIES

Unit 9 : LIVING ROOMS

Unit 10 : Pattern Making in Metroland

Unit 11 : UNITED NATIONS

Unit 12 : ARCHITECTURE OF URBANISM

BS c1

Live Project : Rhondda

Unit XI : De/re Programming the Corporate Workspace

Unit XII : Value: Sites of Engagement

Unit XIII : Dwelling Differently: Ageing in Place

Unit XIV : Carbon Past, Low Carbon Futures

Unit XV : Liveable Urbanism

Unit XVI : LE-DR Lab III - Learning Communities

Unit XVII : Regenerative Vision

MA Architectural Design

MA Urban Design

MSc Computational Methods in Architecture

MSc Environmental Design of Buildings

MSc Sustainable Building Conservation

MSc Sustainable Mega Buildings

BSc

At the WSA, our BSc Part I course is structured to provide a progressive and immersive engagement with the broad subjects of architectural education – design, technology, history and theory, practice, ethics and professional practice. The three years are structured to provide foundational introductions to these different areas, and to learn to apply and integrate them within specific design projects. An overarching goal of the course is to develop grounded designers equipped to address global challenges, who are: environmentally engaged; theoretically, culturally and politically aware; enterprising and highly valued by practice.

As such, being able to transition is a critical part of the student experience. Transitioning between societal and globally ethical challenges and the impact this has on ongoing academic studies, and as graduates into the professional world of architecture. The BSc programme too, is in transition, adapting to ever changing scenarios in design, the built environment and society through ways of knowing, acting and reflecting to nurture a personal, confident sense of being on architecture and global issues. This transition is fundamentally based within studio – a place for creative exploration and experimentation; a socially vibrant and engaging environment; and a community of practice with diverse experiences and engagements with peers, tutors and consultants. It is within thematic studios, over the next few years that an enhanced alignment to the School’s

Research and Scholarship expertise supported by our diverse staff and subject threads that students will engage in the critical ethical decisions that will shape the existing built environment for future generations. This is already evident in the diverse Year 3 design processes and outputs reflecting positions on communities and environment, landscapes and urbanism, technology and people, and more.

As our students transition into their next year of study, graduates transition into practice and we prepare to welcome a new cohort into Year 1, we congratulate everyone for their resilience, creativity and curiosity and the need to remain mindful of continual learning as architectural education, industry and society evolves.

Steve Coombs, Director of Undergraduate Teaching

DP 1 : Space Narratives

Heidegger, in discussing the German verb ‘Bauen,’ noted its dual meaning of ‘to build’ and ‘to dwell,’ suggesting that dwelling originally referred to human existence itself.

Our sensory perception and spatial occupation influence behaviour, relationships, and lifestyle. Dwelling emerges from the interaction between individuals and the qualities of space, involving not only humans but also non-human elements, environmental factors, and cultural practices.

As first year architecture students, the cohort engaged in navigating and adapting to their new environment by exploring our building with existing plans sections and elevations to develop a further understanding of ‘dwelling space narrative’ and the relationship between colours, textures materials and space.

DP 2 : The Cabinet of the River

The exploration of inhabiting a place continues by interacting with this natural environment inspired by the ‘Cabinet’ concept. Rivers, symbolizing both life and transformation, shape landscapes and cultural narratives. They intertwine with myths, serving as conduits of time and memory, connecting the living with the sacred and the past. From ancient epics to medieval lore, rivers hold immense symbolic and practical significance, baptizing, cleansing, and guiding humanity. River Taff, a vital natural and cultural asset in Wales, mirrors the country’s industrial history and ecological resilience. Despite being declared ‘dead’ due to industrial pollution, Taff has rejuvenated into a thriving ecosystem, embodying the resilience of nature amidst human intervention.

DP 3 : Creative Shelters

The third and final design project for the Autumn semester marks the transition of moving away from viewing a space from a personal standpoint. Students are now asked to design a shelter for their assigned user: either a writer, astronomer, or photographer in the same site as DP2. Considering the changing nature, students must now create an intimate space tailored to their user. create an intimate space tailored to their user. This design brief encourages students to look at the site from a wider perspective and consider the experiences of a specific person who has different needs and preferences to their own. The variation of assigned sites and users results in a conversation on how design interacts with the site to curate the user experience.

DP 4 : Culinary Pavilion

The start of Year 1 students commencing their transition into public spaces. Until this project, students will have explored personal, intimate spaces through an individualistic perspective. The Culinary Pavilion now challenges a wider perspective; designing a space for the public to serve a local or international culinary dish of their choosing. The central goal of this project is to prompt a smooth transition from private, natural spaces to a public space. Subsequently, the chosen site for the pavilion is still located in the Bute Park but moves closer to the urban space and towards the edge of the park: maintaining somewhat of a balance between natural and the built environment.

DP 5 : Festive Stages

The final project calls for an Urban Stage in Cardiff Bay’s Mount Stuart Docks for the Eisteddfod festival. The festival, held every summer in Wales, is one of the largest cultural festivals consisting of art, music and food. Their largest project to date, the brief challenges students to engage with a space that was once one of the largest coal exporting docks and now sits empty. Prompting a conversation between the old and the new and an exploration of the evolution of the Cardiff Docks. Students may choose to construct a temporary stage that travels with the festival itself or a permanent space that transitions with the changing seasons.

Year one is a crossroads in the lives of students as they transition to university life and acquire new architecture and design skills. During this year, students learn to integrate historical, cultural, aesthetic, and technical components into their architectural designs through a carefully orchestrated sequence of design briefs. They also learn to engage with sites and contexts and to employ modes of experimentation, exploration, risk-taking, and reflection in their design processes. Through multi-modal formats such as lectures, design studios, site visits, and study trips, students have opportunities to debate and explore notions of space and scale, individual experience and the public realm, shelter and stage, threshold and boundary.

In year one, students begin the journey that will shape the rest of their lives, growing as designers able to respond to the ever-changing and transitioning environments around them. Our learning activities and projects have been choreographed to facilitate a practice-based pedagogical journey and student experience, designed to guide students through an educational program towards becoming professional architects.

The projects on display in this publication allow students to progress from personal appreciation of a single user within a private interior to engagements with the notions of ‘publics’ and public spaces, ultimately expanding to consider the broader needs of Cardiff’s residents and visitors.

Nick Mols, Melina Guirnaldos Diaz Year One Chairs

Sathvik Kandukuri | DP1

Allala Sai Krupa | DP2

Sathvik Kandukuri | DP2

Alzbeta Franekova | DP2

Alzbeta Franekova | DP3

Annest Davies | DP4

Alexandru Ioan | DP4

Ornella Orfenov | DP4

Kunal Wadhwa | DP4

Jiayin Zhuo | DP4

Olivia Liggins | DP4

Maisy Record | DP4

Phu Myat Zaw | DP4

Samuel Haynes | DP4

Alfie Elliott | DP4

Concept

Sathvik Kandukuri | DP4

Market (Bazaar) atmosphere

Amelia Nicholas | DP5

Allala Sai Krupa | DP5

Alfie Elliott | DP5

Chin Wong | DP5

Ffayier Bennett | DP5

Josephine Giles | DP5

Lucy Stringer | DP5

Laine Sweeney Bruce | DP5

Melissa Fricker | DP5

Nawraa Ali | DP5

Oliver Coupe | DP5

Olivia Liggins | DP5

Phu Myat Zaw | DP5

z Ruhan Harmse | DP5

Sabah Humayun | DP5

Samuel Stevens | DP5

Sathvik Kandukuri

Sophia Britton | DP5

Sophia Newport | DP5

Axonometric Drawing: exploring Spatial Potential within the Volumes

Thomas Mahoney | DP5

Tak Yui Hung | DP5

Toby Hope | DP5

Ruifeng Qiao | DP5

Oscar De Bruin | DP5

William Hall-Mutton | DP5

WSA2 is a year ‘in transition’. We have spent the year experimenting and developing core skills, to transition from the introduction to architecture obtained during our first year of study into competent designers who will be useful in practice.

The year of study was spent working carefully and sensitively ‘in context’. Eight studios were each located in a different Cardiff neighbourhood. All eight of the selected neighbourhoods are historic communities with a defined centre, but each has their own distinct challenges, and all are in need of a stronger sense of place and improved identity.

During semester 1, Year2 studios developed and proposed housing projects to meet a particular housing need in their chosen neighbourhood. The high quality of the resulting residential proposals demonstrated the value of housing that is not simply mass produced, but responds to the particular context in which it is located. Importantly, retrofit formed part of the discussion for many studios.

Between semester 1 and semester 2, we engaged with a piece of research that is currently being conducted by English Heritage, to explore the potential of generic visitor centres for their sites. As with the housing projects, the best proposals found ways to develop a rich, specific experience, through a sophisticated kit of parts, or a unique relationship with the historic asset.

For semester 2, each studio selected a public or community project type to engage with. Working collectively, the eight studios have explored and refined their given brief, before translating it into a range of individual design proposals that responds to the specifics of the site and neighbourhood. A key aspiration for semester 2 is that proposals explore and describe a transition from established modes of architectural practice towards a more sustainable, climate-conscious built environment. All proposals are required to have ‘net positive impact’ – describing sites and wider neighbourhoods ‘in transition’ – leaving them better places than we found them.

Studio 1 : Llandaff + Llandaff North

Studio 2 : Canton

Studio 3 : Grangetown

Studio 4 : Cathays

Studio 5 : Plasnewydd (Roath)

Studio 6 : Penylan

Studio 7 : Splott / Tremorfa

Studio 8 : Butetown

Llandaff + Llandaff North Studio 1

Cardiff, Wales

Tutors: Wayne Forster, Caitlin Mullard, Amanda Spence

This year Studio 1 has engaged with the medieval neighbourhood of Llandaff – at one time a bigger community than Cardiff. While the core ‘village’ is prosperous and has a clear identity, there is less of a sense of place in the wider neighbourhood, and big changes such as the development of the former BBC site threaten the integrity of the place. Proposals have been located throughout the community - from the medieval core to the periphery of the neighbourhood, down to the edge of the river Taff. Two briefs for semester2 included a new community arts centre to reactivate the historic Bishops Palace located on the existing high street, and new lido to replace the one that was lost from Llandaff Fields during the twentieth century.

Dominic Warburton

Daniel Horne

Emma Hutton

Finley Walsh | Semester 1

Finley Walsh | Semester 2

George Breckenridge

COLLAGE

Natalie Brown

Joseph Gush

Shing Shi Lo

Timothy Kuruvilla

Yasmin Hammad-Juarez

Yasmin Hammad Juarez

Canton Studio 2

Cardiff, Wales

Tutors: Aled Davies, Tom Lewis, Camilla Pezzica

Studio 2 has tapped into the vibrant arts-based community of Canton, on the west side of the city. Arts-based organisations of all shapes and sizes are scattered throughout the Victorian and Edwardian streets around Chapter Arts Centre, producing a broad range of work. With the exception of Chapter itself, most of these organisations must make do with substandard facilities. The semester 2 brief required that a new National Photography Centre be designed for Canton. The programme includes both studio space and high quality exhibition galleries - hosting a rolling programme of contemporary photography alongside significant collections in the ownership of National Museums Wales that are not currently publicly accessible.

Henry Wood

Charlotte Parkinson

Paco Wong

Simon Garnett

Thurston Gibbs | Semester 1

Thurston Gibbs | Semester 2

Grangetown Studio 3

Cardiff, Wales

Tutors: Nicola Chan and Lizzie O’Neil

Studio 3 are located in Grangetown, one of five “towns of Cardiff” and one of the city’s larger and more diverse neighbourhoods. While Grangetown has a thriving community, it is nevertheless something of a monoculture, dominated by typical domestic and industrial Victorian architecture. The Semester 2 brief required the studio to design a vocational training school with a focus on the exploration of craft and materiality – combining educational spaces and facilities with flexible, hard-working spaces for fabrication and construction. A key focus of the studio has been exploring how an appreciation of materials and making can inform and enrich architecture.

Felix Ledger

Alice Rose Hall

Isaac Byrne

Kieran McKenna

Kushul Patel | Semester 1

Kushul Patel | Semester 2

Molly Einchcomb

Marcelo Ortuno

Cathays Studio 4

Cardiff, Wales

The student territory of Cathays is the setting for Studio 4 – a compact, dense neighbourhood that exploded in tandem with the rapid expansion of Cardiff between 1850 and 1900. Cathays was promised two new stations as part of the ongoing South Wales Metro project. The larger of the two proposed stations has been mothballed, while the smaller will probably be a straightforward infrastructure project that offers little to the surrounding community. In contrast, the Semester 2 Studio 4 brief requires a new metro station coupled with spaces that meet a particular community need, to deliver a public transport station that is a distinct destination in its own right, and a place of real civic value – both to the surrounding neighbourhood and to the wider public.

Tutors: Edmund Green, Abigail Murphy, Kelwin Palmer, Rachel Witham

Aaron Richard Williams

Abbie Lauren Judge

Amanda Platt

Edward Davis

Daisy Norman

LEARNING ORGANISING

Scale: 1:600

Frankie Smith

Emma De Lange

Jessica Brain

Kin Chu

Lewis Dare Nicole Sutton

Tanya Watson

Tobias Chan

Bronwyn

Plasnewydd (Roath) Studio 5

Cardiff, Wales

Tutors: Hugo Keene and Mark Hillier

Studio 5 has tackled the dense Victorian Roath area, a neighbourhood very much in transition. At one end, Wellfield Road is becoming gentrified (to the benefit of the occupants of Penylan). At the other, City Road is dominated by increasingly tall and characterless residential accommodation, while anything non-standard or distinctive is being erased. A key site on each road required that the studio grapple with both of these shifting contexts and scales. In semester 2, the brief requires a community arts centre, tapping into a diverse fine art scene that has shifted in recent years from the city centre to occupy the busy streets of Roath.

Bronwyn Wydenbach | Semester 1

Amy Smith

Bronwyn Wydenbach | Semester 2

Caitlin Mills

Debopriya Chatterjee | Semester 1

Debopriya Chatterjee | Semester 2

| Semester 1

Jasmine Tjoonk

Devina Mistry

Jasmine Tjoonk | Semester 2

Katherine Lewis | Semester 1

Katherine Lewis | Semester 2

Keya Patel

Manahil Syed | Semester 2

Manahil Syed | Semester 1

Michael Holdroyd

Randa Ibrahim Sophie

Penylan Studio 6

Cardiff, Wales

The gentrified streets of Penylan provide the setting for Studio 6. One of the most desirable neighbourhoods in Cardiff, Penylan relies on a century-old building stock to define its character, which is based on broad, leafy streets and generous Victorian and Edwardian town-houses. Recent contributions such as the modest council-owned library and ongoing work to the public parks have only served to diminish sense of place. To rectify this, the semester 2 brief for Studio 6 was to develop a forest school with public-facing community facilities. A key ambition is that the school provides an environment that fosters creative learning and play, and reconnects the wider neighbourhood with its parkland setting.

Tutors: Tim Burton and Nic Howett

Elena Regel

Farida Hamada

Muhammad Ammar Bin Nasreel Nurridhuwar

Isabel Hallett | Semester 2

Reiya Lin

Tanvi Khatri | Semester 1

Tanvi Khatri | Semester 2

Splott/ Tremorfa Studio 7

Cardiff, Wales

Tutors: Beth Rayner and Louise McMahon

Splott is a tough, diverse neighbourhood – built in the shadow of steelworks that once produced half a million tonnes of steel each year, and straddling the railway connecting Cardiff to Bristol and beyond. While the sense of community remains, industry has dwindled since the steelworks closed fifty years ago. The fabric of Clifton Street is frayed and tired. Splott Market, once a vital part of the community (and wider city) was rehomed in shabby industrial units and then closed permanently last year. The Semester 2 brief proposes a new market, with the wider aim of tapping into the experience and skills that still exist in this neighbourhood.

Cadence Grace D’arcy | Semester 1

Cadence Grace D’arcy | Semester 2

Jerono Turgo | Semester 1

Paige Goodall | Semester 1

Paige Goodall | Semester 2

Petr Manuilov | Semester

Petr Manuilov

Sebastian Rutherford James | Semester 2

Wing Kam | Semester 1

Wing Kam | Semester 2

Butetown Studio 8

Cardiff, Wales

Tutors: Gary van Heerden and Neil Farquhar

Butetown was born amidst the Victorian heyday of industrialisation, when a great dockland was built south of the city to transport coal and steel worldwide. Tiger Bay, as it was known, became a cosmopolitan community with seafarers from all around the world making Cardiff their home. In the 1960s, this unique territory between city centre and docks was cleared and entire communities displaced to make way for a ‘cleaner’ city. Today Butetown is, for the most part, besieged by problems and bereft of character. The Semester 2 brief makes two propositions to support the community - a new public library and a brewery development – replacing the Brains site that is today being redeveloped for yet more residential high-rise.

Ebonie Clemett

Anna Eldred

Emi Takizawa

Eve Lodge

Nathan Barreto

Shannon Leigh Edwards

Rio Coleman

Sebastian Morley | Semester 1

Xin Yuan Wong

In many ways, BSc Year 3 is a transition year. It marks the end of the first three years of architecture education and the beginning of a new journey towards practice and Master’s studies. Year 3 at the WSA is designed for students to take more ‘ownership’ of their work, which is one of the key distinctions between Years 2 and 3.

Part of this transition involves giving students the choice of which design unit to follow. This year, we offered 12 design units, providing a wide variety of options. Students travelled across the UK and Ireland, Italy, and India with their design units, responding to the needs of villages, towns, and cities through their design projects.

With each unit taking a different approach, underpinned by the ethos of the WSA, the work across the units has been rich in diversity and imaginative in responding to the transition theme of the exhibition.

Unit 1 : SPECTRUM

Unit 2 : COMPONENT & ASSEMBLY

Unit 3 : TREHERBERT high-ER street

Unit 4 : REPAIR

Unit 5 : LIVABLE URBANISM

Unit 6 : m a de

Unit 7 : SUPER NORMAL

Unit 8 : DESIGNING HISTORIES

Unit 9 : LIVING ROOMS

Unit 10 : Pattern Making in Metroland

Unit 11 : UNITED NATIONS

Unit 12 : ARCHITECTURE OF URBANISM

Michael Corr Year Three Chair

Spectrum Unit 1

Swansea, South Wales

This year’s Unit is entitled Spectrum and we have been designing a school for autistic children and young people in Swansea south Wales. The theme of this years exhibition ‘In Transition’ resonates strongly with what we have been doing. Transitions and Thresholds are critical to autistic people and can often be challenging, worrying, debilitating.

While ‘transition’ is not the focus of every design project in the unit, every project in Unit 1 has been examining transitions to one degree or another. These transitions may be programmatic, such as expressed through the concept of a middle school, spatial, in terms of a sequence of rooms or thresholds within the school, or material, in the gradation of different materials to aid the gentle transition from one space to another.

Each school transitions with the urban space, the public realm beyond the school and negotiates the tricky threshold between private and public space, celebrating the contribution that autistic children make to society.

The intention of each school designed by students in Unit 1 is to aid the transition of autistic children into the world and at the same time asks others to transition into theirs.

Annabel Harris

Dylan Greatrex-Taylor

Emily Gray

Emily Jones

Emily McKenzie Prust

India Hayes

Jack Aldridge-Long

Kezziah Revans

Sophie Hillyard

Tom Mc Lellan

Unit Leads: Michael Corr & Lui Tam (Radium)

Elysium Middle School

Findings from research show that many autistic children experience challenges around transitions and unpredictability. These challenges can be likened to the concept of threshold, as physical, emotional or social barriers. The transition from primary to secondary school, following the two-tier system, is therefore problematic, leading to anxiety and school refusal. Rather than a sharp transition, introducing this threshold gradually can help children prepare for this change. Elysium middle school is based on the three tier school system, which provides a gradual transfer or stepping stone into secondary education. The concept of gradual transfer will be reflected though designed thresholds within the building, and building forms, incorporated through engagement with schemes across the community and Swansea creative quarter and on an urban scale. Annabel Harris | annabelharris02@gmail.com

- Annabel Harris

The New Ragged School

To understand and design an Autistic School for 11-18 year olds. Situated in the context of Swansea in its creative quarter, places the design whereby tactility and making is at the forefront of the curriculum, and architectural craftsmanship and care is showcased in the form of exposed structure. To reuse existing buildings in combination of new design, to produce a sustainable and future-forward design, with the use of ancillary housing for post-18 students, encompasses a cohesive and full scheme which celebrates Autism and the importance of developing fine motor skills. In the first semester, as a unit, we conducted research of different characteristics and traits of Autism, whilst also understanding the wider context of Swansea through the use of a group axonometric drawing, showcasing drawing quality through the types of materials, buildings and spaces within the Swansea creative quarter. This led to the development of a school Prospectus whereby I conducted research on transitional spaces and the idea of soft underfoot, whilst also applying research to the understanding of how autism is considered in the educational system.

PROPOSED SITE SECTION

- Dylan Greatrex-Taylor

Elysium Education

The project responds to the issue of underdiagnosis, misdiagnosis, and lack of support for young autistic women, leading to a high level of masking, which can be detrimental. It is a school that provides a safe space for autistic young women between the ages of 11-19 who are also in mainstream education. Through providing for, supporting, and educating autistic girls in ways that are tailored to them, the project will help to prevent girls from having to reach crisis points in order to be acknowledged, allowing them to feel safe to unmask, build self esteem, and make connections. Unmasking translates architecturally through the layering of fabric, concealing and revealing as it weaves through the existing building, which could be seen as unsightly, or even dangerous, but instead will be explored and appreciated.

- Emily Gray

Emily Gray | emilygrayruby@gmail.com

The New Ragged School

The existing Ragged school in Swansea and its history reflected a clear attitude to care. This attitude is reflected in my project through the school’s ethos, curriculum, materiality and architecture. Some of the issues that led to the formation of the school in 1847 can be related to the SEN system today, where autistic children are experiencing a lack of care from the government and school system. The New Ragged School seeks to form a community centered school and provide a place of care for autistic children and members of the community in need of support. Most importantly, the children should feel like they belong, like they did in the old Ragged School. The project is ‘in conversation’ architecturally with the existing 1911 Ragged School. The original ethos and care taken to build the school originally influenced my key design intentions.

- Emily Jones

The Fields of Elysium

The Fields of Elysium is a project that creates a secondary school, attended by multiple groups once per week, that centres around food education and providing employment skills and opportunities: issues particularly pertinent to the Autistic population. This will be achieved by altering and occupying the ‘Elysium’ cinema, which has been abandoned for 30 years. The design involves the extensive removal of deteriorated fabric (ruinification), creating a relaxed and otherworldly space in the heart of Swansea. Sustainability is core to the project, reusing material where possible and sourcing new components locally.

- Emily McKenzie Prust

Associations

My project ‘Associations’ revolves around the intricate beauty of the neurodiverse mind, particularly focusing on autistic individuals and their distinctive cognitive patterns. These patterns enable them to perceive and process their surroundings in unique ways, often integrating seemingly unrelated concepts through associative thinking. This extraordinary ability to remember specific details that others might overlook though having an eye for detail. These non-linear ways of thinking will be seamlessly integrated into the school’s curriculum, architecture, and materials. The school will be housed in a transformed church, preserving its historical essence while creating a nurturing base for our students. The auditory block will feature sound-enhanced learning spaces, the visual block will incorporate vibrant colours and patterns, and the kinaesthetic block will be equipped with tactile and movement-friendly elements.

- India Hayes

SAETS School Campus

The core philosophy behind the communal hub’s design revolves around sensory consideration and therapeutic design, drawing from the guidance provided in PAS 6463. By integrating green spaces and carefully crafted multi sensory environments, the building caters to the diverse needs of its users. The interior is thoughtfully divided into two distinct areas: an open and inset communal space that encourages social interaction and a quiet zone dedicated to individuals who seek isolation or a lower sensory space, along with a recovery space to ensure that both sensory avoiding and sensory-seeking individuals are catered for within the building, as recommended in PAS 6463 Section.

- Jack Aldridge-Long

Jack Aldridge-Long | Aldridge-LongJ@cardiff.ac.uk

Violet Sounds School

As outlined in the PAS document (BSI guidelines intended to make building environments accommodating for neurodiverse individuals), pupils with autism are generally even more sensitive to the acoustic environment than others, with research showing that noise levels and echo reduction can aid attention span and response times within educational settings. With strategically located buildings wrapping around internal courtyards, and an array of plants acting as acoustic buffers, a pocket of serenity is found within the busy city. This focus is mirrored through the key stage one curriculum that celebrates outdoor exploration, through first hand experiences, enhancing social, motor and language skills at a critical stage.

- Kezziah Revans

Kezziah Revans

Iconography and Small World Play in Autistic Learning

My project aims to capture the idea of a city within a city, taking the concepts of places and creating symbols for the children to associate within their lives. Creating a safe environment for the children to explore and play allows an understanding of how these spaces work in a social environment.

- Sophie Hillyard

Sophie Hillyard | sophiekatehillyard@gmail.com

The Strand School & Community Farm

Addressing the employment disparity where only three in ten autistic adults are employed compared to 80% of their non-disabled counterparts, this project seeks to enhance post-16 education for young autistic adults in Swansea. The school offers vocational learning and life skills development aimed at easing the transition to life after school. Situated on a quiet road below Swansea Station, the project repurposes a disused railway viaduct into a multi-layered learning environment. It serves 60 students aged 16-25, featuring residential accommodation and incorporating a city farm and café into the curriculum, to enrich learning and foster community engagement, facilitating the students’ progression into employment

- Tom McLellan

Component and Assembly Unit 2

City Road, Cardiff, South Wales

Acknowledging the carbon footprint created by the architectural industry, unit two leads students to be aware and understand materials used in their design and the material’s life cycle. Situated on City Road, one of the oldest roads in Roath, the road’s community and heritage is threatened by new developments. The unit focus on transitioning the devolution of the site to a strong distinct community that will not be engulfed by the city centre. The unit is centred around three themes: simplicity (construction), generosity (experience) and community (purpose) to create a climate resilient and socially sustainable public building. Focusing on the assembly and material of individual building components, students have used modelling as a primary design tool, adopting the mantra “thinking through making” in their design process.

Arnav Gupta

Alys Gwynedd

Daniel May

Istivan Olexa

Iwan James Gibbs

Hind Akbari

Unit Leads: Matt Hudspith and Hayden Thomas

The Resettlers’ Centre

Centred on Cardiff’s diverse and multicultural City Road, The Resettlers’ Centre is a retrofit project which builds on the existing Roath Park Pub – a former focal point of the community. Grounded in the modern-day struggles that multigenerational resettling communities experience, the project’s generous programme revitalises the former communal hub, offering the space as a home for all. The included programme comprises a community kitchen, winter garden, communal workspaces, workshops and gallery. The devised programme presents opportunities for skill-building, healing and bridging of communities. The physical strengthening of the community is expressed through the upbuilding onto the existing stonework masonry, with a reclaimed London Stock Brick complimenting the gentle yellow hues of the sandstone. A holistic approach to relining the walls was employed using a sustainable hempcrete and timber internal structure, feeding into the warm and homely qualities of the project.

- Arnav Gupta

The phrase “Cenedl heb iaith, Cenedl heb galon” translates to “A Nation without a language, a nation without a heart.” This powerful statement underscores the importance of the Welsh language to its people. To aid the Welsh Government’s goal of a million speakers, the brief was to establish a Welsh Language Cultural Centre on City Road. To create a nationally recognized symbol that serves as a cultural hub, fostering inclusivity, linguistic diversity, and cultural exchange. The center will promote the Welsh language in the heart of this multicultural district. Cynefin aims to be a landmark that not only promotes the Welsh language but also fosters a sense of belonging and identity amongst its users.

- Alys Gwynedd

Gaiety Power

An algae bio-generator power station situated upon City Road, Roath. Providing the community of Roath with both electrical power, and the power of control over their energy. This initiative seeks to provide a new clean, green energy production method to Roath, eliminating electricity costs and taking action upon the cost of living. This is done through the use of bio-generators growing algae locally and converting it into a biodiesel for energy production – a clean, closed loop system. The proposal allows Roath to become a community who takes ownership of their power, and responsibility towards producing, consuming, and promoting sustainable methods of power production.

- Daniel May

Revival of the Gaiety

The emergence of numerous high-rise developments in City Road poses a threat to the loss of its distinctive character. The Gaiety, once the Gaiety Grand Cinema, has been left to decay since 2006 and could be next in line to be demolished. My project aims to preserve and enhance City Road’s identity by offering a range of facilities that provide lasting value to the community. Within my programme, I provide City Road with a new community and arts centre, including affordable accommodation for artists, and a theatre/performance space which recalls back to the original use of the building. An unorthodox exoskeleton wraps around the original walls, preserving it externally, whilst forming a new architectural language for the facade. The robust exterior stands as a symbol of resilience, conveying the power and value of City Road. The structure of the building is comprised of two key parts, a limestone exoskeleton and internal walls/floors made of engineered wood. The two elements meet through the solid brick wall shell of the building, using bespoke connections that are bolted through. Limestone has been chosen for the exoskeleton due to its durability and abundance, it is inherently more sustainable, requiring less processing throughout its lifetime.

István Olexa | pistiolexa@gmail.com

- István Olexa

Plasnewydd Primary School

In this project, I identified issues on City Road, Cardiff, and developed architectural solutions to address them. City Road is a multicultural, diverse area with a significant presence of small businesses and a rich heritage that needs protection from Cardiff’s expanding centre. The most pressing issue I found was the child poverty rate, with 34% of Cardiff’s children living in poverty. Inspired by the ‘Hackney New Primary School’ by Henley Halebrown, my project, ‘Plasnewydd Primary School,’ aims to create a safe space for children. The school’s primary goals are to provide a comfortable and secure environment for children to excel, to foster a community space for markets, events, and celebrations, and to break the poverty cycle through education and extracurricular activities. The project focuses on creating a multifunctional space that integrates with the existing YMCA building, preserving City Road’s history while offering a modern take on traditional Cardiff architecture.

- Iwan James Gibbs

Iwan James Gibbs

- Hind Akbari

Cerddoriaeth i’r Bobl

This project is about a live music venue that opens up the community and connects one another within. First and foremost it is a live music venueand a bar, however it includes studio spaces on the second floor for up and coming artists; music students or people that want to explore theirown musical ability to perform and record. This project is driven by simple community values, giving the people the chance that they maybe havenever had to be able to indulge in the music industry.

James Rowe

- James Rowe

The Temporal Library

Assessing the needs of Cardiff’s City road through value-based analysis, the Temporal Library sits as a poetic ever-evolving intervention that responds to the community it serves. It is functionally a library for poetry, but also acts as a hub for community v and discourse. Four stone corners anchor the building, and will last as a monument to City road’s identity. The rest of the structure, a glulam frame with hempcrete insulation, will eventually be deconstructed, leaving these stone corners. This scheme introduces a generous new public space for Roath, and attributes value to the area, all while minimising environmental impact.

- Joella Hinsley

Joella Hinsley | hinsleyje@cardiff.ac.uk

City Road Centre for Arts

The project will aim to create a new community hub on City Road in the form of an Arts Centre. It will provide making facilities through artist studios, a platform to share work in exhibition spaces and galleries and importantly a new gathering space on the street. It is a retaliation against both the government who constantly undervalue the arts and the planning authorities who overlook the potential that City Road holds. It will aim to demonstrate the power of putting artists and creatives at the forefront of urban regeneration and provide opportunities for marginlised communities to be involved in creative work.

- Leo Hadlow

Leo Hadlow

Component + Assembly

The project stems from hearing about the 2014 ‘Roath-erendum’ in which a mock vote took place to see whether the people of Roath were tired of being swallowed up by Cardiff. The project aims to build the people of Roath a new Civic Centre to help give it’s identity back in this hypothetical independence Scenario. It takes themes learnt from the primer project case study, inner temple quarter, London, where the idea of treating a building as a part of a city developed. The project is designed by breaking it down into key components, Entrance, Façade, Circulation and Threshold, which led to unexpected and interesting architectural outcomes.

- Oliver Yelland

The Gaiety Performing Arts Centre

Built in 1910, the Gaiety was originally intended to be a roller skating rink and cinema, and has since been changed into a bingo hall, and then into a bowling alley. Positioned on the north end of City Road, The Gaiety used to be a social hub for the citizens of Cathays and Roath, with an initial seating capacity of 800 people. Although the most recent use of this structure has been a Spin Bowling alley, the process behind finding a successful programme to benefit the residents of City Road, whilst also making reference to its history, would be to explore the opportunities in reverting back to its entertainment value.

- Olivia Matters

TREHERBERT high-ER street Unit 3

Treherbert, South Wales

Unit Leads: Marga Munar Bauza & Marianna Marchesi

The High Street (HS) of Treherbert (South Wales) is a “through route” defined by housing and a few commercial activities and services. It is overwhelmed by traffic and cars parked along its sides. Traditionally, the HS was understood as the place for exchanging and sharing, including commercial, retail, and social activity. However, nowadays, exchange and sharing take place in different ways and places.

To tackle this social-environmental challenge, the unit proposed rethinking the HS of Treherbert by exploring the concepts of “territory” and “circular economy” and their relationships - territorial circular economy - and applying the findings to the HS for the transition to territorial circular economy through a multi-disciplinary approach. During the process, the unit engaged with the local community, and the community group Welcome To Our Woods (WTOW) who acted as our critical friend.

The project was structured in two phases. The first phase was devoted to re-imagining the HS of Treherbert at the urban scale through strategies based on the understanding of territories and the circular economy in groups. In the second phase of the project, students worked individually at the building scales on a specific site and programme derived from the strategy/ies identified in the first phase. Thus, students defined a design brief and extended the exploration of territories and circular economy through design to a comprehensive building design project at key architectural scales.

Alethea Ngo

Annabelle van Delft

Borislava Mekushina

Ella Horent

Hao Yao

Isabelle Holmes

Kuan-Chieh Lan

Rebecca Clery

The After Life

I envisioned a project that revitalised the old Brewery Site of Treherbert, Wales, while exploring a circular economic approach to the principles of design and spatial programme. The main theme of this project is about utilising and seeking the potential of Food Waste and the many social, economic and environmental advantages to the town and its economy. This project aims to promote Behavioural change, Investment and Education and prioritise the idea of “reusing” as part of the main approach as well as restoring the relationship between the urban fabric and citizens with the surrounding nature of the town. On an Urban scale, the Brewery project functions together with the old canteen and Allotment revitalisation projects to form a system of product making and community trade and usage, all projects focuses on reusing a type of waste as a resource to boost the local economy and revitalise the High Street of Treherbert sustainably.

Alethea Ngo

- Alethea Ngo

Re-establishing relationships through the gateway

My vision for my proposal in Treherbert is a space that reconnects and re-establishes the relationship between the town and the woodland. I envision a space that allows residents within the town to reconnect with each other through creative methods within workshops, whilst also allowing them to feel connected to the woodland and the outdoors. In addition to this, I envision a space that allows for multiple species to interact and work in harmony with one another on my site. I envision my proposal will act as not only a gateway to the woodlands from Treherbert but also a gateway to Treherbert from the woodlands. It will become a transitionary space that connects the two currently separated territories of the town and the woodland. My proposal will rewild through merging separated territories of architecture, humans and other species together in an aim to reestablish the lacking relationship between the three entities.

- Annabelle van Delft

Crafting: Textile Hub

Textile Hub is a sustainable textile studio. However, it is more than that, its an encapsulation of the Welsh culture, an asylum where art meets development, where the past is celebrated and the future empowered. At the heart of the workshop lies a commitment to collaboration, where designers and devotees come together to share knowledge, passion and skills. Here in the communal space we host workshops exhibitions and events to celebrate the rich culture of Treherbert’s textile culture and craftsmanship.

Borislava Mekushina

- Borislava Mekushina

Food for Thought

‘Food for Thought’ is a project which aims to improve wellbeing in Treherbert. It aspires to establish a stronger connection between people and the ‘wild’ to improve the wellbeing of both the community and biodiversity. Being a small town with a low population, community is a large aspect of Treherbert but currently, there is a lack of spaces in which people can CONNECT with each other and a new space is needed. This project intends to fulfil that need through the introduction of a wellbeing centre. This will be a building in which people can LEARN from both nature and each other and in turn GIVE back to them. It will improve interactions between people and the indoors and outdoors to allow people to NOTICE their surroundings more. By becoming more aware of their environment the people of Treherbert will care more for both themselves and the biodiversity.

Ella Horent | horente@cardiff.ac.uk

- Ella Horent

Live With Flood

This project primarily focuses on detailing the plans for a natural flood pool project to be completed by 2025. Guided by the principle of resilience, this natural flood pool project aims to coexist with floods and harmonise with nature. It not only allows floodwater to enter the site during floods to maintain some functionalities, but also temporarily stores and purifies some floodwater as a water source for the pool, thereby delayng downstream flood peaks and controlling floodwaters.

Hao Yao

- Hao Yao

Trehebert Eco-Link

Reviving Nature, Empowering Community: I am creating a forward-thinking scheme that focuses on redesigning the way that people move around the town of Treherbert. It prioritises the integration of sustainable modes of transport, lviing, and outdoor activities to revitalise a dying community. The project creates an exciting visitor’s attraction with ample amenities for those seeking outdoor adventure, also providing schemes such as walking clubs, mountain bike hire, electric vehicle charging stations and a carsharing scheme for everybody’s enjoyment. This project not only promotes community engagement but also works closely with existing businesses, driving trouism and ensuring the community’s sustainable growth. Partnered with other local initiatives under the umbrella of ‘Wilding Treherbert,’ we have developed deeper connections with nature, seamlessly integrating both sides of the woodland with green corridors. Together we have reduced the reliance on cars along the high street, introducing green roofs and safe passageways which has in turn brung ‘Wilding Treherbert’ to life.

- Isabelle Holmes

Isabelle Holmes

Crafting: Connecting Treherbert

There are several industries that appeared in Treherbert such as brewery and clothing manufacture industry, but it all shut down before 2000s. Therefore, we would propose several projects based on pastindustries that influence the town significantly. One of them would be Wooden craft, it will be analternative industry for coal mining. Crafting would be the key to bringing the community together and thepeople in many ways. This project aims to better the town through community led business based onusing local resources for crafting to generate income also to be more sustainable. Also create a diverse andthriving space, where it benefits the locals and the small businesses.

-

Kuan-Chieh Lan

Valley Hub Visitor Centre

This project aims create a naturally accessible space to play, do and be, on the outskirts of Treherbert in order to promote adventure, exploration and adoration of the caring environment surrounding the town. This hub serves as the asset the town needs to remake a name for itself - as a gateway to the woodlands. For the individual, the hub offers a wide range of adventurous activities such as hiking, biking and climbing, as well as the opportunity for learning and collaborating with residents about their local experiences. A day trip to longer hikes towards the Brecons, or rest stop at the edge of nature provides ample views and a breath of fresh air. Learn new skills, activities and experience what Treherbert has to offer while learning to appreciate the valley’s nature in your day-to day. A chance to heal yourself, physically and mentally, while the town around you heals from the burdens of its past; a new beginning for the town of Treherbert.

- Rebecca Clery

The ReMaker’s Space

The ReMaker’s Space is a circular economic take on the traditional Maker’s Space; focusing on a series of workshops that uses waste materials as its main resource and collaborates with other sustainable project around town. Research shows that the town lacks spaces for people to express themselves. Therefore, this building aims to care for both people and materials, bringing the community together in their pursuit for creative output and providing spaces for small businesses. Additionally, this projects cares for the existing building on site through a refurbishment and extension, transforming it from a run down events hall into a café and multipurpose venue. Finally, the building utilises a variety of urban strategies as part of the caring vision, with its most important function being to bring the community together both around the site and more holistically throughout Treherbert.

- Sanjula Sundararajan

Sanjula Sundararajan | sanjula2510@gmail.com

Treherbert Caring Sanctuary

Caring for the two ends of life has immense benefits where children show improved speech and communication, and motivation to learn and make mistakes around elders. And the elderly showed increased happiness and an improved outlook on life whilst working with the youth. The Treherbert Caring Sanctuary will be a place where the children and the elderly can spend their days outside their homes, being cared for, learning, and developing in Treherbert Park, embedding their lives into nature. The sanctuary comprises a Day center and a Creche, which work separately in parallel to each other and come together at the end where the intergenerational spaces are such as the dining and kitchen, reading corner, and creative activities. The Day center and Creche are supported by the Wellness Centre which restores the community’s place of socialization with a new swimming pool (a facility that was demolished at this very site in 2012), gym facilities, a nutritionist, GP, physiotherapist and counseling services, and a community library. These activities take place in the Well-being Tower which forms a beacon in the low-lying valley, locating Treherbert Park at any point within the town.

- Shania Johnpulle

Shania Johnpulle | shaniajohnpulle7@gmail.com

Reactivate the Highstreet In Treherbert

The main objective of the project is how to reactivate the High Street, so the first step of the project is to investigate why the High street lacks vitality. Through site analysis and surveys and interviews with residents and organizations, it is found that the main reasons for the lack of vitality of the High Street are the inability to meet the needs of residents who want social and public space, and the inability to achieve architecturally attractive purposes. Besides, I found that the park behind it was very hidden and undiscovered, so that’s why I wanted a bridge to connect the High Street to the park. My main idea is to use a public bridge to connect the park and the High Street, because it is the most effective and simplest way to connect the two places. Since there is a height difference of 5 meters between the high level and the park, the bridge is made into a slope from the beginning, and the park site is used to make a long slope to completely digest the park part of the site height difference. An open stage has also been created along the slope to bring new vitality to the park. The main functions of the building are placed inside the store.

- Yanjie Zhang

Yanjie Zhang|

Study Trip

Repair Unit 4

Bristol, England

Unit Leads: Brendan Higgins & Akshrar Pulpa

Amid the climate crisis, we cannot afford to build new without an intense consideration for the viability of the urban realm that already exists. We must be knowledgeable about the cost of extracting and processing the materials that we specify. We must find economic ways to utilise them. We must protect and expand the increasingly fragile ecosystems that support us. Repair requires a consideration and understanding for what is there already; for the intent of the maker before us, the context that they operated within, and the context that surrounds us now. A careful recording, unpicking, and unpacking of the layers of significance that lie beneath the surface. Our built environment exists in a constant state of transition towards decay, damage, wear and tear, tweaks, and alterations. Unit four acknowledges this and seeks to develop an architecture of maintenance, repair, and intervention that rejuvenates rather than replaces - providing us with rich, multi-layered and multi-textured cities.

“To transform the city is first to transform the way we look at it. It means to look at it as a collection of capacities and energies to expand, and not an inert mass for modelling.”

- Anne Lacaton, Harvard Lecture 25th March 2015

Abdulla Yousef Al-Obaidly

Charlie Hewitt

Emily Beswick

Hannah Rose

Hana Rejayee

Hinako Hotta

Ianna Dudnic

Joella Wilkins

Lakshmi Sunil Vishnu

Lauren Donohoe

Lucia Boschetti

Nicholas Wade

Oreoluwa Balogun

Shrivardhini Potta Sai Gouri

Samuel Gittins

Tom Goodwin

The Technical School

The Technical School, also known as Unit 15 by the Bristol City Council, was once an abandoned and neglected office building in Spike Island, Bristol. Unit 15 gained fame for hosting Banksy’s artwork ‘The Girl with a Pierced Eardrum.’ However, behind the graffiti and years of wear and tear lies a building forgotten by history, preserved only in records. The project aims to rehabilitate the building into a school for creative and technical learning by honouring its forgotten history and preserving its relics. This involves a selective intervention on the facade that respects its eccentric character and reconfiguring the interior to better accommodate students. The Technical School breathes new life into Unit 15, transforming it into a time capsule of the building’s abandoned past.

Abdulla Yousef Al-Obaidly

- Abdulla Yousef Al-Obaidly

The Bristol Food Grower’s Centre

Industrial farming has largely contributed to a disconnection with food and the depletion of wild spaces and habitat for wildlife. Our physical and mental wellbeing is connected vitally to the natural world on which we all depend; our food chain is key to this. This project proposes a return to local community based food production in an urban context. A reconnection with food and our environment is essential for a sustainable future.

Charlie Hewitt

- Charlie Hewitt

Castle Park Botanical Museum

This year our unit focused on the topic of repair, responding to the evident climate crisis which underscoresthe importance of reusing existing buildings and materials. The project involved transforming a neglectedbuilding in Bristol, breathing new life into it to serve a meaningful purpose that compliments the site. I wasdrawn to the site’s rich historical and botanical background and therefore, I opted to design a botanicalmuseum with a built in seed bank to protect the future of Bristol’s nature. The final proposal creates asustainable museum, primarily made of hemp, that spreads awareness of the ecological crisis in Bristol,whilst celebrating the botanical and historical heritage of Castle Park.

- Emily Beswick

Emily Beswick | beswickej@cardiff.ac.uk

Clifton Arts Club and Artists Residency

The Clifton Arts Club and Artist Residency, located on Bristol’s vibrant Park Street, is an innovative program dedicated to enriching the local art scene and making it more accessible to the community. This initiative combines luxurious living, creative freedom and community engagement to create a thriving ecosystem for artists and art enthusiasts alike. Significantly, it also marks the return of the Clifton Arts Club to its historic home at 71 Park Street, where it was originally established before the war. The residency offers selected artists a unique opportunity to live and create in high-end apartments. These residences, available in one or two-bedroom configurations, cater to both smaller families and single groups of people, provindg a comfortable and inspiring living environment. Each apartment includes a dedicated workshop space, allowing artists to practice and refine their craft without the constrains of limited space. In exchange for reduced rent costs, resident artists actively contribute to the Clifton Arts Club community by conducting free workshops, classes and lectures. These sessions cater to the club’s members, fostering a collaborative and educational environment.

- Hannah Rose

Hannah Rose

Bristol Centre for Dance

Bringing new life into the centre of the city, the Bristol Centre for Dance is an adaptive reuse project that bridges the past and the future through the art of dance. In this project, the derelict Seamen’s Church and Institute transforms from its abandoned state into a Dance Performance hall. On the opposite side of the path, the 1960s Royal Oak House discards its former office identity to become a Dance School. These two buildings work coherently to form a programme that brings together and courages the act of learning and performing.

Hana Rejayee | hanalrejayee@aol.co.uk

- Hana Rejayee

Retrofitting and Sustainable Extension Project at PRSC

Throughout this year, my repair project on the PRSC’s building at Stokes Croft, Bristol, focused on the original facilities with their use and function in order to provide smoother and more efficient flow in the users’ activities. Consideration of the users’ needs and the nature to be protected was always the first step and a key to produce ideas that could meet their satisfactions. The surgical Touch for the retrofitting and the innovative material use and structure design were the keys to enhance PRSC’s development. I proposed these keys to promote and idea of sustainable architecture use to the society in Stokes Croft.

- Hinako Hotta

Hinako Hotta | hinako.hotta58@gmail.com

Transforming Sanctuary

This project aims to exlpore the influence the urban environment has on the way in which children from difficult backgrounds interact with the architecture around them to help them integrate into society with interests developed through creative outlets. The retrofit intends to create a safe and welcoming youth centre, specifically targeting kids in difficult home situations from the ages of 13-18, where they would be offered proforientation/life skill services in addition to creative outlets in an attempt to help promote a smooth integration into society. The wider context is around the architecture of repair, recognising the importance of utilising the cities we already have during climate change. With Bristol as the focal site in this project, a city with a rich history and an always evolving urban layout, the project wants to adapt to future changes in society while also recognising the historical significance of our existing buildings.

Ianna Dudnic | garnelojulia@gmail.com

- Ianna Dudnic

Illuminating Bristol’s Legacy

With the current sustainability aims, the practice of adaptive reuse is becoming ever more important. The city of Bristol had a contentious past with its link throughout the 18th century to the transatlantic slave trade. My chosen site consisted of two disused/ underutilised buildings, Seamen’s Church and Institute and Royal Oak House. The brief that I created for myself is a slavery museum and education centre. The driving concept for my scheme is this idea that light and tectonic materiality can both be used as tools for tapping into people’s emotions. The museum will be organized in a way that brings people down to the basement and they then work their way up the building, mirroring the journey from the dark past to the brighter, more informed future. The education centre is a space that allows for ongoing conversations regarding this topic in Bristol.

- Joella Wilkins

Joella Wilkins | wilkinsji@cardiff.ac.uk

Renascence

A performing arts centre for artists and musicians. The building incorporates spaces that encourage creative expression through the confluence of differentideas. Many spaces within the building are more private, whilst the semi - public areas ensure that people get to engage and interact with different art and music forms.

Lakshmi Sunil Vishnu

- Lakshmi Sunil Vishnu

St Mary le Port Lighthouse

Transforming the abandoned Norwich Union House building and ruins of the St Mary le Port church in Bristol into a rehabilitation centre for the homeless. It has a public elementthrough a multi functioning events hall, kitchen and cafe in which the profits will be used to fund the scheme. The initiative focuses on not only getting the homeless off the streetbut solving the problem through counselling, community involvement and skills training to give them a new start in life. The project also solves various issues of the site from itscurrent state as an antisocial corner of Castle Park and a blockage between this area and Bristol’s Old City.

Lauren Donohoe | donohoel@cardiff.ac.uk

- Lauren Donohoe

Rewriting 71 Park Street

With restoration emerging as a desirable sustainability-conscious practice, the question of how to authentically revive architectural styles of the past was at the forefront of my mind. What began as an initial investigation into the materiality and features of 71 Park Street’s current façade, transcended into a final proposal that interrogates and evolves our preconceptions of past architectural styles, specifically ‘Georgian’. My intention for this project was to embrace both the surrounding and internal context of 71 Park Street’s past and present, blending them in a design that culminates in a narrative that never was, but the people of Bristol strive to gain. This translates in both the façade and internal spatial divisions, with deliberate and defining thresholds that work not just with the programme, but to authentically embody the valued qualities of ‘Georgian’ architecture.

Lucia Boschetti | boschettil@cardiff.ac.uk

- Lucia Boschetti

Productive Greenspace and Community Centre

The intention behind the project was to alter and enhance Spike Island. Not only through altering the current movement pathways through the existing site, but also in the quality of these spaces. The aim of the project was to provide an area which would benefit not only the expanding community on the island, but also the general public attracted to the site through various commercial and tourist attractions. The final layout of the scheme saw majority of the functions placed on the ground floor; a multipurpose community hall surrounded by various internal and external community and general public spaces. When it came to improving ecology throughout the site, strong connections are made to the cities horticultural history which is still remnant, but struggling, in the Avon Gorge. Another key consideration for the project was treatment of the existing building. Methods were established to reuse and re-purpose any existing materials which were to be extracted as part of the adaptations, as part of attempts to reduce the embodied carbon of the project.

- Nicholas Wade

South Redcliffe Community Centre

The entire community centre facilities are retrofitted to the site, using the existing framework to guide its form and design. It consists of three parts, as the site is split into three distinct spaces form left to right - the main indoor spaces of the community centre occupy the former Taviner’s Auction House; the former Bell Pub becomes a public path and cut-through for the site; the private garages become a productive garden and learning-based growing space. The South Redcliffe Community Centre is established to cater to the needs of the community gleaned from research, by providing spatial opportunities for community events, learning, working and growing, with a focus of ‘harvesting’ in function, design & philosophy through its retainment and reuse of the existing forms and materials, via a “hand-over” of purpose.

- Oreoluwa Balogun

Retirement Living

While the city of Bristol is advancing and urbanising with its student population leading and taking over with its facilities, it leaves the older generation in the shadows with a feeling of isolation. The aim of the design is to accommodate and acknowledge the older ages. The target is to also promote healthy living, physically and mentally, by using the practice of biophilic design by incorporating colour psychology, varied materiality, textures, pattern, lots of natural light, greenery that can be engaged with. With energy saving design decisions such as having a rainwater harvesting system, solar panelling, natural ventilation, rooftop garden, and assembling walls, floors and roofings with higher u-values allows for a longer sustainable life.

Shrivardhini Potta Sai Gouri

- Shrivardhini Potta Sai Gouri

Samuel Gittins | sam_gittins@icloud.com

Community Informality

Located in Redcliffe, Bristol, the key drivers for the project were connecting and upskilling a community that has been somewhat forgotten about. This resulted in a programme that combined community led spaces and skill focused workshops. The aim of the community spaces was to provide free use spaces that would allow for a variety of different activities, this was particularly important as the area consists of high-density residential council housing. This would then be complimented with teaching workshops, with the aim of providing opportunities for qualifications without following the typical school curriculum. This up-skilling takes this project further than just the building, enabling the community to decide and change elements of its built environment.

- Samuel Gittins

My project involves working with an existing building that was in a state of repair and revival, along with its community. My ambition was to create an enhanced community building that would aid the rival of the area and its people. Therefore I decided to introduce new elements to the scheme that would be based off low tech architectural design to encourage the build to be achievable by members of the local community. The materials used will be of modular sizes (mostly timber) yet it will not lack architectural interest or distinctiveness.

- Tom Goodwin

Liveable Urbanism Unit 5

Cities, being the engines of the global economy, consume a disproportionate 70% of global resources and produce more than 75% of global emissions. With more than 55% of the global population residing in cities, occupying less than 3% of the landmass, cities across the world need to transform into more sustainable, liveable places by reducing consumption and pollution, resulting in the eradication of social, environmental, and economic injustices.

The Liveable Urbanism studio unit critiques the post-industrial models of urban development that consider the city to be a static rather than dynamic system. The unit intertwines social, environmental, economic, and institutional sub-systems that manifest through the spatial system constantly in transition.

The studio has been working on rapidly growing cities in the global south. In 2023-24 the studio was based in Calicut, a coastal city of half a million that is in constant flux and transition spatially, architecturally, socially, and economically since the start of the spice trade (8th century).

The studio started by students developing a GROUNDING in theory and approach to the liveable cities, and tools for modelling them, followed by an intense RESEARCH that included a study trip to Calicut to develop a personal agenda. Students then developed their first set of ACTIONS, in the form of urban strategies, to achieve their agenda which, in turn, informed their RE-ACTION with an urban catalyst project which helped the city to transition from an unsustainable to a liveable city.

Anson Wong

Charlotte Gay

Hannah May Lovell

Katherine Chambers

Kimberly Yong

Laura Jane McKnight

Madison Hunt

Maisy Sykes

Malavika Krishnan

Unit Lead: Shibu Raman

Calicut, India

Urban Well-being

This year I am focusing on urban well-being for my final project. Public space always had been a bridge to achieve liveable urban environment. However, how can we utilise public space to promote a healthy well-being lifestyle? Urban well-being always had been the foundation for a liveable urban environment. I broke down well-being into six realms including social, community, mental, physical, work, and financial. The aim of creating a public space which promote a healthy lifestyle and achieve harmony space for everyone. It is important for us to understand the connection of the site & surrounding and utilise it benefits for our advantage. Converting waste place into wetland in order to promote biodiversity, public space & infrastructure allow social cohesion and equal access, at last civil service office allows economic opportunity, safe and security environment.

- Anson

Anson Wong | Wongyh3@cardiff.ac.uk

Wong

Gender Equal Opportunities and Empowerment in the Urban Landscape

This design explores how women can be uplifted and empowered to socially mobilise. Creating a knowledge/ skill economy, in Calicut where women face the highest wage gap. Situated on SM street, a trading hub in the city centre, a male dominated space, my design creates a female centred space stating that women have the right to upskill and socially mobilise. Providing spaces for women to form a community and a skill economy, to de-gender unpaid care responsibilities and support women. With teaching spaces providing opportunities for women to upskill, centred around an atrium, creating a central circulation space. Counselling spaces allow women to seek support. Emergency accommodation and a meditation garden provide a place of respite for vulnerable women. The stacked design with overhanging sheet roofs creates areas of vibrant community and shielded quiet respite. Spaces that welcome, uplift, empower, support and advocate for women in Calicut.

- Charlotte Gay

Community in the City

A key factor that impacts the liveability of Calicut is its social cohesion. This project provides a plan for a more walkable city, increasing likelihood for chance encounters, and offers a catalyst project as a first step in providing locations for social interactions to occur. The walkable loop is a strategy for encouraging residents of Calicut to walk rather than drive. The purpose of this is to increase the likelihood of chance encounters; examples of this include walking home from the same destination as a group or having a conversation on a bench along the walk. Frequent stops will be placed along this walk, such as benches and other larger spaces including parks, kitchens, and museums. These places invite individuals to meet others in their neighbourhood with similar interests and form bonds outside of their households. The design brief outlines Tali Temple Pond as a starting point for the larger urban strategy. This catalyst will be the first project along the walkable loop to be introduced and so it should reflect the theme of social spaces fostering interaction whilst also considering the cultural impact of the heritage site, Tali Temple.

- Hannah May Lovell

Hannah May Lovell

Aqua-Revive

Establishing Calicut’s ‘Centre for Water,’ creating an urban environment that prioritises water conservation, mitigates flood risk, helps to improve groundwater quality, and fosters a deeper connection with natural water systems. Through the blending of water treatment mechanisms and natural bioremediation, five filtration tanks set to cleanse Conolly canal using tidal fluctuations and natural coagulants. Integrating water management strategies and design principles to enhance the quality of life for occupants while promoting sustainability and resilience. The catalyst project does not act alone yet forms part of an urban wide strategic intervention to improve Calicut’s groundwater through community engagement, sustainable urban drainage systems and networking within drainage, sewage, and waste disposal; because a water secure city is a liveable city.

- Katherine Chambers

Polymer Park

Polymer Park is a recycling centre dedicated to addressing plastic waste. The convenience of plastic has led to significant pollution on land and water. Industrial recycling exists, but equipment is expensive, and knowledge is often inaccessible.InCalicut,anestimated455.86tonnesofrecyclable plastic waste currently exist. Polymer Park empowers residents to create a plastic-free city. With a population of 4,244,000, if each person collects at least 107.4 grams of plastic waste daily, it will take 18 years to recycle all current waste by 2042. The centre brings communities together, cleaning, and revitalising Conolly Canal, and fostering collective responsibility for environmental conservation. Although only four of seven plastic types are recyclable, Polymer Park leads research to transform non-recyclable plastics into recyclable materials, pioneering advances like Plasticrete and plastic bricks. The centre sorts, shreds, washes, dries, and extrudes plastic waste with thorough methods involving machinery, manual labour, and mother nature.

- Kimberly Yong

Building the Next Generation

The urban issue which the project focuses on is crime; particularly drug and cyber-crime. The urban intervention focuses on reducing the level of drug crime and drugs on the streets of Calicut. The catalyst aims to use education and Calicut’s high literacy skills to prepare the younger generation for adulthood. Education is the most successful form of crime prevention. The facility exhibits successful crime theories in its design including multi-purpose design, visibility, and topography.

- Madison Hunt

Seed Sanctuary

How can Calicut become a liveable city? By tackling food insecurity in Calicut, it improves health, environmental sustainability, and the local economy. An urban strategy for Calicut includes implementing vertical farm units across the city and utilising unused roofs for growing food and harvesting rainwater for plants. More markets should be located across the city within walking distance, as markets help local farmers as well as benefit the economy of Calicut. My project, Seed Sanctuary, is to enable this city-wide strategy to promote urban farming in Calicut. It facilitates a seed bank, exhibition space, research facilities, workshop space for the public, equipment workshop and shop, café, and markets available for rent. Ways of urban farming will be displayed throughout the site so visitors can experience and try before they buy. Seed Sanctuary will help to implement urban farming across Calicut and strive to make Calicut a food secure city. A food secure city is a liveable city.

- Maisy Sykes

A Socially Mobile City

The project aims to uplift low-income, un/ underemployed, and unskilled individuals in Calicut through a grassroots movement focused on education, apprenticeships, and networking to enhance social mobility. A communityowned factory produces building modules used on site and citywide, providing stable jobs and promoting community up-skilling. This modular system is cost-effective, easy to install, and uses local materials such as bamboo and passive

- Malavika Krishnan

Ideas to Urbanity

With the growing issue of youth unemployment and Kerala’s economy heavily relying on remittances. The project seeks to transform Calicut into a knowledge economy by leveraging Calicut’s high literacy rates and its designation as a UNESCO City of Literature. This project envisions a dynamic space where learning and community engagement intersect, taking the user on a journey from knowledge creation to innovation. Incorporating elements such as activated frontages, flexible learning spaces, and connectivity, the project aims to break down barriers to knowledge. These interventions will not only enrich the educational infrastructure of Calicut, but also catalyse economic diversification, positioning the city as a hub of intellectual and cultural activity, and enhancing overall liveability in the long term.

Wilhelm Salaveria | Wilhelmsalaveria@gmail.com

- Wilhelm Salaveria

Symbiosis: Body and City

A livable city is one that promotes the physical and mental well-being of its residents. Designing for positive environmental changes and providing functional infrastructure leads to improvements in personal habits. The Pedestrian Plaza serves as a catalyst for encouraging a more active lifestyle in Calicut, transitioning away from a car-dependent culture. The project offers a convenient and protected green space in the city center, equipped with amenities for refreshment, entertainment, and exercise. The inclusion of a diagnostic clinic on-site supports the aspirational goal of prioritizing preventive care, thereby enhancing economic factors and livability. The proposal extends to broader urban strategies, integrating interventions to improve air quality and walkability. Through a holistic approach, the interconnected relationship between improving individual health and enhancing the overall city environment is explored and benefitted on.

-

Yumna Mansoer | mansoer.yumna1@gmail.com

Yumna Mansoer

Allisya Shafhira

m a de Unit 6

Providing a rare legibility within the otherwise anti-urban, fragmentary context of Southampton, Old Northam Road exists in transition. Once a local high-street of diversity, but now forcibly separated from its social hinterland by a brutal dual carriageway, the street has experienced persistent decline that now manifests in both dereliction and disuse.

Yet, this urban deterioration has become both Old Northam Road’s opportunity and risk; the layers of decay creating moments of accidental beauty that have inspired an artists’ collective to occupy the street, re-engaging its communities, but also, inadvertently, towing commercial developers in their creative wake.

Against this backdrop and working with ‘a space arts’ (facilitator of the collective), the unit therefore explores how artist-led approaches to reuse might engage with the existing fragments to counter the risk of commercial displacement. Instead, the unit plans to enable Old Northam Road’s cultural, social and environmentally sustainable repair.

Allisya Shafhira Maryanto

Zicheng Huang

Ella Clare Murphy Rolls

Inanna Heslop

Jessica Surender

Martha Spencer Jones

Michael

Unit Lead: Dan Talkes

Southhampton, England

Urban Ascend: A Creative Hub

Urban Ascend is a community project that finds beauty in a decayed urban fabric by transforming an industrial place into a human meeting place. This project goes through the reinterpretation of architectural heritage through the intensive reuse of repurposed materials and regains old public connection paths that once connected the communities which is presently lost due to gentrification. Through this industrial materiality response of taking inspiration from the modern docks’ infrastructure, Southampton’s historical traces and accumulated stories were preserved to capture its unique essence and sense of place. Most importantly, this project aims to turn the negative perspections of industrial Southampton into a positive place for communities.

- Allisya Shafhira

Allisya Shafhira Maryanto

Maryanto

Re-making the Old Northam Road

The project aims to alleviate the significant effects of gentrification pervading the city. The primer project envisioned a promising future for the road. This collage uses old photos to visualise. Recognizing the necessity for increased vitality and attention, the project advocates for a focus on the welfare of all individuals, rather than solely catering to the affluent. By empowering individuals to learn the techniques of retrofitting and revitalizing the road and encouraging affordable retrofit, it enhances the accessibility and inclusivity of the living environment for people.

view of the project

Re-making the Road

Ground floor cafe and residential

Living the New

- Zicheng Huang

Reinventing the Public House

Old Northam Road exists as an isolated fragment of the city of Southampton. Devoid of social infrastructure, it is unviable as a domestic environment. Despite this, there is hope in the form of A Space Arts who currently reside on the street. This project investigates how the Public House can be redesigned to adopt an artist-driven, circular model with the brewing process at its heart. The final outcome is one which has had to consider increasingly relevant topics such as the reuse and restoration of existing buildings, the use of co-living to achieve affordable housing, and how we can design good architecture whilst mitigating the threat of gentrification.

| rollsec@cardiff.ac.uk

Ella Clare Murphy Rolls

- Ella Clare Murphy Rolls

Old Northam Road Playhouse

Located on Old Northam Road, Southampton, the Playhouse seeks to address the educational and housing needs of the area. As a result of large-scale government interventions, Southampton’s neighbourhoods have been severed, isolating the communities in and around Old Northam Road. Through the reuse of an existing Victorian terrace and pub and the creation of a new building within the difficult site, the project will reconnect the north and south communities and restore life on the road through social and physical repair. Providing a children’s daycare centre; social enterprise cooking school and café; artist studios; a multipurpose hall, and housing, a new self-sustaining, intergenerational housing scheme will be created within Southampton. Artists, families, and the elderly will live amongst one another, allowing for a transfer of skills and resources between the generations whilst running activities, providing childcare, and reducing loneliness amongst the elderly.

- Inanna Heslop

The Solarpunk Effect

The main aim of the project was intended towards producing a radical approach, something that fights against the existing fabric of Southampton, in order to prevent gentrification and promote artist led renewal. Through the furthering of the idea - ‘Play, Paint and Plant’ Where artists’ are at the forefront of the project’s focus - Cultural, Social and Environmental sustainability was achieved through community led spaces, reforming the street and re-purposing materials. Another key aim was to foster and cultivate skills in the community through building, where architecture acts as an agency towards enriching and promoting community activities.

Jessica Surender | surender.jessica@gmail.com

- Jessica Surender

The Making Place

The Making Place is a workshop and community building set in the damaged street of Old Northam Road, Southampton, with accompanying residential units and artist studios. It responds to the socio-economic challenges faced by the community caused by the disconnection of the street from the city, through post-war redesign. Working alongside the artist group A-Space Arts, this project aims to encourage an attitude of repair and remake, in hopes to repair and remake the deteriorated street which it is situated. Making use of seven existing Victorian terraced houses of inadequate condition, the concept for this project loosens the physical constraints of the site and transforms the existing by creating a courtyard garden within the old walls, and a new timber building surrounding it, as an act of protection. New routes of access are made through the building, reconnecting communities divided by the railway and dual carriageway.

Martha Spencer Jones | spencerjonesmj@cardiff.ac.uk

- Martha Spencer Jones

37-49 Old Northam

Road

Located in Southampton, a city which has had its history, culture and urban fabric decimated because of the damage sustained during WWII. The subsequent post war rebuild which focused on economics and prioritising the docks and associated corporations instead of the inhabitants of the city. The city suffers from many social issues. The two which the scheme looks to address are the rising homelessness and fly tipping, and general apathy towards waste that exists in the city. To do this the scheme will offer temporary residencies for those facing homelessness, as well as give those who live there the skills to repair items which would otherwise have been discarded. The idea is that these items can be reused instead of being thrown away. Furthermore, the act of repair aims to positively impact the self-esteem and mental health of those who were formerly homeless.

- Michael Fraser Bisset

Michael Fraser Bisset

Cabinet of Curiosities

In stark contrast to its former glory, Old Northam Road frequently finds itself in the media spotlight for unfavourable reasons. Debates arise over its need for regeneration, how such rejuvenation should occur, and who would undertake it. These questions have lingered unanswered for years as Southampton weighs the pros and cons. Once a thriving locale, Old Northam Road has been overshadowed by the new city center and West Quay, where investment benefits seem more tangible. While investing in newer areas may promise greater economic returns, concerns persist about losing distinctive character and the fear of gentrification, which also looms over proposals for Old Northam Road. The primary objective is to reconnect Old Northam Road with the northern community. Establishing this link is crucial to reintegrate the road into the city’s fabric, reviving its vibrant past. The selected project site, chosen for its prominent position and clear frontage facing the northern residences, aims to design a welcoming facade for community re-engagement. The derelict shopfront buildings underscore its urgent need for revitalisation and suggest the greatest potential for transformation.

- Peiyu Ou

Old Northam Road Health Centre

Mental health is an integral aspect of every individual’s life, influencing our every move and is heavily impacted by the conditions of our surroundings. This project focuses on creating a safe space where individuals can focus on their mental health within a revitalised structure that was once abandoned. With the main desire to not only rebuild this once-damaged infrastructure but to also rebuild the community that surrounds it. Utilising art therapy to bring a forgotten street back to life without forgetting the past life it has had. Art therapy, with its profound capacity to heal and inspire, will be the cornerstone of this design.

- Sofia Lambert-Jones

Malissa

Super Normal Unit 7

Cardiff, Wales

Unit seven addresses the theme of ‘transition’ with openness and tolerance. The unit explores the role of ‘indeterminacy’ in accommodating change and uncertainty. In parallel, we believe that—if we are going to build at all—our structures should be conceived and constructed for the long term. We offer this as a counter to the short-termist status quo of speculative development.

Unit seven deals with metropolitan architecture. We embrace the heterogeneity and instability inherent to this context. Since we cannot know for whom we build for, as many of them are not born yet, the unit pursues stable forms that can support unpredictable changes in use, lifestyle, culture and need over time.

Unit seven takes a rational, pragmatic and economical approach to design. How much needs to be defined to outline the contours of place? Where should design energy be located to enable pleasure in use? How can constraints be mobilised as stimulants for imagination?

Ultimately, unit seven is concerned with something extremely simple yet extremely complex: pieces of city.

Alice Cutress

Chin Rui Huang

Ella Coomer

Lia Moruzzi-Jones

Lily Waller

George Shipway

Louis Morris

Malissa Akram

Choo Eun Kim

Mariam Ceesay

Tia Sharp

Unit Leads: Emma Rutherford & Richard Hall

Faces Framing Spaces

In the ever-changing metropolitan city of Cardiff, designing buildings which are flexible and adaptable should be at the forefront of an architect’s design aims. For the latest design project, we were tasked with designing a 50 unit residential building which has the capability to adapt to meet unknown future requirements. In order to achieve a layout with the highest possibility for flexibility, the floor plans were arranged using a 5m by 5m grid layout. This ‘grid’ would serve the building structurally, providing the location for structural glulam beams and columns. The grid was then subdivided into a corresponding ‘subgrid’ of 1.5m by 2.5m in which apartments, windows and balconies were organised. This principle in-turn governed the arrangement of the facades of the building, as windows, balconies and walls acted as ‘in-fills’ to the frame.

- Alice Cutress

Changeable: Changing along City Road

Located on City Road, Cardiff, the two deck-accessed apartment buildings house a total of 50 homes, reflecting the vibrancy and diversity of their dynamic surroundings. This project draws inspiration from the adaptability of historic terrace houses to the modern era, aiming to allow the building to evolve in tandem with its environment.

To achieve the desirable changeability in the fixed and anonymous apartment typology, the design allows the merging of spaces both vertically and horizontally with its structural framework, enabling flexible arrangements as flats or duplexes. Additionally, the functions of these spaces can be adapted at various scales.

The building’s facade consist of plaster, brick and concrete, responding to its surrounding structures and allows easier user modifications to occur, much like the surrounding buildings, with a significant portion of the facade available for personalization. This approach fosters a colorful, ever-changing look that mirrors the character of City Road, bringing the street into the sky.

Chun Rui Huang

- Chun Rui Huang

Archipelago

The project’s design is a response to the site, envisioned as an archipelago where the city is composed of islands. This concept emerges from Splott being delineated by urban boundaries, with rail lines and a main road isolating the area from the rest of the metropolitan city. To address this idea of the archipelago, the design features four blocks, with one allocated for commercial use to accommodate an existing business on the site. These four blocks are placed on a podium, unifying the blocks. The design uses structural stone, creating a sense of durability. Each block is characterised by a grid facade, made of stone beams and columns, ordering windows and infill placement on the exterior, as well as service cores placement internally. The project brief is for 50 mixed-size residential units, including a small proportion of accessible apartments. To adhere to sustainable design principles, the buildings feature nonfixed internal walls, allowing for flexible reconfiguration of the interior spaces. This ensures the buildings can easily accommodate changing needs and uses over time.

Coomer

- Ella Coomer

Architectural Alchemy

focus of the project was to address the domestic life of occupants within the site, directly contributing to the experience of everyday life of the community. The housing development sits in Grangetown, Cardiff; a residential community, and with the site’s close proximity to the expanding metropolitan, it is at risk of being over-ruled by Cardiff City centre. This project acts in response, by creating a space which symbolises to the surrounding context yet provides a high-standard form of living through private and public realms of the development. Therefore, the housing development focuses on inclusive features such as public spaces – through the courtyard space, circulation, and indoor social facilities, while also ensuring to provide suitable and sustainable homes for unknown occupants. The space available has therefore been adapted and utilised in accordance with the requirements of the site. Using flexible plans and organised spaces to ensure comfort can be accommodated to in accordance to the user needs. Creating this balance of lifestyle ensures that the design can be utilised by occupants and the surrounding community. Therefore creating a space with a metropolitan intent - at a smaller scale, to accommodate to the residential setting.

- Lia Moruzzi-Jones

Anchoring the Interior and Exterior

Working with the ever-evolving city that exists, the project tackles residential life in the city, responding to ideas surrounding adaptability to create pleasure in use for all varieties of occupants. In particular, situated along Bute Street which joins Cardiff Bay to Cardiff City Centre, the site aims to anchor a connection between the two metropolitan areas. Furthermore, the site responds to its immediate surrounding context to strengthen the residential spaces relationship to the wider city the wider city. This is done through building form and function, to create an adaptable building design that is a framework for everyday life.

The residential area in close vicinity to the site, within the city, becomes defined as the interior. The city which extends beyond the thresholds of this interior space which stretches along Bute Street and beyond are defined as the exterior. The site and building design, looks to tackle the connection between these two segregated spaces that act as an axis where these two ideas of the city interconnect. Consequently, qualities in terms of composition, materiality and form of the interior and exterior are used to generate a building design which can help transition the interior into the exterior.

Lily Waller

Privacy in Proximity

The city is a combination of interconnected public and private zones which interact and overlap with each other. The growing density of cities often creates unnecessary conflict between these zones, particularly concerning densely populated urban housing. In the context of the site, the residential area tackles with its proximity to commercial zones and public infrastructure. However, Architecture has the potential to reimagine how public and private zones interact with each other, from a wider urban perspective down to the intricacies and

George Shipway

- George Shipway

Architecture as a “Character”

The project develops an urban proposition for the site that maximises its potential, makes strong relationships to its immediate and wider situation and –fundamentally – consciously engages in and contributes to the metropolitan landscape of Cardiff. The proposal is intended to provide a stable framework for unpredictable inhabitants, lifestyles, and potential changes in use. This is a core tenet of the unit’s hypothesis regarding sustainable architecture. The scheme proposes two new “Characters” to be introduced to the site. A “Character” in the context of City Rd. consists of several characteristics: 1. Individuality - A distinctive design from surrounding buildings can be attained through distinctive facades, materials, and a unique form. 2. Completion of the City Rd. Street facade. 3. A Distinctive ground floor - relating to the surrounding buildings, possibly employing a shop front. 4. The Two buildings will read as a pair whilst maintaining their own architectural character.

- Louis Morris

A Progressive Super-Normal

The brief for this project focuses on the ‘ordinary’ aspects of domestic life, and how to contribute positively to this in an urban housing project; embracing the mundane yet essential aspects and seeking to enrich these experiences within Cardiff. It is proposed that every site, regardless of size or conditions, has implicit metropolitan potential with regards to its relationship to the rest of the city, and this project is no different. In particular, the site for this project sits in-between two different sectors of Cardiff; within a residential town called Grangetown, bordering the town which is defined by a river, but facing an industrial area opposite the river, with emerging mixed-use development. Therefore, the project responds to an emerging challenge of how to balance the two opposing factors of residential vernacular and contemporary urban metropolis, particularly by analysing the vernacular and its history to create spaces and homes for all types of people that utilises the surroundings in order to connect to and engage with Grangetown. This site in particular, with a non-linear shape, allowed for a more irregular design through the analysis of all site edges and their own connections. This alluded to a more ‘progressive’ metropolitan that accounts for the future whilst considering the present, particularly through flexible floor plans and spaces, landscape strategies, and complete circulation that accommodates to all residents of not just the building but the rest of the town.

- Malissa Akram

Timeless Housing in Cardiff

Humanity has been facing the challenge of collective living, currently reaching the highest point of congestion in history. To accommodate this congestion in the urban setting, there must be consideration of neutrality and longevity of the buildings constructed. They should not be limited to a certain style, functionality, or a particular group of users. The given site is located on City Road, Cardiff, in between the public and private realm, acting as a threshold, driving the need to accommodate the dialectic nature of the urban situation. The final proposal of the pragmatic L-shaped buildings serves as aggregates of masses that are not to be overwhelming to the site, but to be seen as pleasurable neutral monuments that add to the urbanisation of the Cardiff cityscape.

- Choo Eun Kim

Choo Eun Kim | chooeunkim@gmail.com

Accepting the City

The intent of this project was to clearly define what is considered private and civic in the context of housing. The main incentive for this goal is the positioning of the site. Its contrasting boundaries, a busy junction and residential neighborhood, affect the site in different ways and that could have resulted in different outcomes for the project. In order to create a project that merges the two sides, maintaining privacy for the residents on the interior and creating an exterior that is connected to its edge was important. Accepting the contrasting conditions of the site means accepting the city as it comes.

- Mariam Ceesay

Urban Serenity

East Tyndall Street is located in Splott, Cardiff. The site is in the centre of a lively street and is currently occupied by a photography company, Colourfoto, which will be redesigned into the building proposal. The project aims to enhance the urban experience of East Tyndall Street and capitalise on its dynamic character.

Designed with longevity and adaptability in mind, the proposal ensures that the building can withstand the test of time and accommodate inevitable changes.

East Tyndall Street currently lacks a cohesive architectural style, presenting a scattered appearance. The project intends to unify the street and celebrate its diversity. The proposal offers a space that benefits not only the immediate area but also fosters wellness and social interaction among building residents and the broader community.

- Tia Sharp

Designing Histories Unit 8

Milan, Italy

Unit Lead: Alexis Germanos

This year Designing Histories looks at the transition of Milan’s post-war modernist architecture into propelling monuments through the combined expression of architectural additions that weave historical and living memories; leading to discussions about the philosophical and theoretical dimensions of architectural conservation.

Tracing the footsteps of Milan’s modernist masters, we immersed ourselves in her cultural and memorial landscapes. An intensive primer research period examining the unit’s themes of history, mythology and monumentality generated individual lines of enquiry, using experimental film, collage, drawings, text-work and to develop intuitive architectural attitudes and design methodologies.

Critical readings expanded our definition of monumentality and stimulated our innovative attitudes towards preservation and creative modalities of designing with existing buildings. Using words and architecture to tell the story of a city in perpetual transition between the past, present and the future we asked- Can buildings stand as analogues of human memory? What should we remember and what should we forget?

The unit’s projects aim to dignify civic life and celebrate the past and present heritage of Milan, transitioning the dialectic from memory to invention to create meaningful expressions for a propelling future.

Cecily Peto Bostick

Longyu Chen

Dimitar Kolev Dimitrov

Emmanouil Polydakis

Gitika Joganpally

Jae Byeon

Keelan Hollis

William Parris

The Curation of Collective Milanese Memory

Centered around the Milanese tradition of the addition of “illustrious” names into the Famedio at the Cimitero Monumentale, the building looks to engage the Milanese with their collective memory by providing a central location for ceremony, conversation and exhibition. The architecture seeks to create a monument through the combined expression of my addition onto the existing Corso Italia 22, which was a building designed by the famous modernist architect Caccia Dominioni.

Cecily Peto Bostick

- Cecily Peto Bostick

The Re-restoring of Palazzo di Fuoco: A Monumental Tapestry of Collective Memory and Urban Renewal

My project is the transformation of the Palazzo di Fuoco office building into a museum and library. The building is intended to be an integrated space for cultural heritage, art exhibitions and knowledge dissemination. The central theme is “the rebirth and transmission of culture”, through the transformation of this historic building into a new landmark for culture and art in Milan. The design agenda is based on the preservation of the historical and cultural heritage, the creation of multicultural spaces, a concern for sustainability, integration into the urban fabric, urban cohesion and public participation. The aim is to respect the city’s rich heritage while promoting it towards the future, creating a harmonious whole that celebrates the enduring power of collective memory. A profound exploration of monumentality, memory and the evolving identity of the city.

- Longyu Chen

Longyu Chen | chenl73@cardiff.ac.uk

A Survey of Simulacrum

This thesis seeks to design a combined work that generates new meanings on top of old by using the pathological forms of the city and subverting them into the propelling. The site of La Nave maintains the modernist tabula rasa as it holds no memory of its past, yet this proposal seeks to weave past and present through the addition and subtraction of the symbols of Milan. Jean Baudrillard’s ideas of the hyperreal and simulacra, where imitation becomes more real than real, were formative in how the monuments of the city informed the proposal. The new expression began to form an imagined reality similar to that of Piranesi and his survey of Rome. Like Piranesi, in Milan I saw these familiar intelligent ruins that look not a day old since they were built. As Aldo Rossi postulates these familiar forms are urban artefacts that have become pathological elements too scared to change their expression because of how important they are to the heritage of the city. I wanted to explore this fear, and see how much you can change these symbols by creating their misremembered imitation.

- Dimitar Kolev Dimitrov

The Body Instrumental Complex

The Body Instrumental Complex is a public bathhouse, library for Milan’s queer publications, and abortion clinic, which extends current deliberations of the Italian zeitgeist beyond the hands of those actively using and preserving the spaces to the whole of Milan through the transference of meaning into the physical form, and thus (ruinous, or not) destiny of the scheme. By utilising concepts of the uncanny, the doppelganger, and Freudian and Lacanian psychoanalysis methodologies within the framework of Unit 8’s themes of memory, time and meaning to create a modern democratic monument, which could simultaneously represent and depart looming worries by monumentalising the previously hidden, pushed aside and forgotten.

- Eliya Akov

Casa Professa

An exploration of Milanese monumentality through the ideas of historical revisionism allowed me to explore the ideals of justice, judgment, and fate, and design a new Appeals Court for the city of Milan. The co-designing process was heavily influenced by the architectural attitudes of the architects who have shaped the site, and the site’s history was largely influential in my design. The two modernist architect groups, Figini e Pollini, and BBPR inspired my architectural attitude towards the existing, and their work shaped my design. My visual representation was inspired by the work of Milanese photographer Gabriel Basilico, and his use of black and white film and unpopulated urban landscapes to create a stronger relationship between the work’s textural qualities, and its relationship to light.

- Emmanouil Polydakis

Modacasa

This project, aimed at **designing histories**, weaves Milan’s diverse identities – as a guardian of cultural heritage and a leader in avant-garde expression. By reviving forgotten Italian fashion spirits, the archive sparks lasting inspiration for future generations. In this sartorial sanctuary, fashion’s fleeting nature finds permanence, transcending trends. The archival artifacts become talismans, witnessing their creators’ ingenuity. This reverence for the past isn’t nostalgia but a commitment to tracing creative genealogies, unearthing sparks that ignited aesthetic revolutions. Here, whispers of forgotten pioneers mix with avant-garde energy, transforming history into inspiration. Repurposing the modernist Isolato De Via Albricci 10 resonates with Alois Riegl’s vision of evolving urban identity. The juxtaposition of fashion artifacts against enduring architecture sparks a dialogue on creativity’s transience and material culture’s permanence.

- Gitika Joganpally

Hybridisation of Memory

“Hybridisation of Memory: Blurring the Boundary Between History and Contemporary in the Eyes of Fashion” is a project that integrates the identity of the historical monuments lost at the Diaz Centre site. This work explores how to combine two contrasting identities by studying Milan’s architectural history and fashion industry. Just as Prada’s first fashion show challenged the fascist regime’s framed image of women through deconstruction and reconstruction, this project revives and integrates the historical monuments destroyed by the fascist regime’s urban planning into existing architecture through deconstruction, reconstruction and subversion of conventions. By doing so, it aims to shed new light on Milan’s cultural heritage, emphasize the social and cultural significance of urban spaces, and provide insights for future urban planning and design. This approach goes beyond mere architectural preservation, aiming to enhance historical awareness, strengthen community identity and contribute to sustainable urban development.

- Jae Byeon

Jae Byeon | dmleotod311@gmail.com

Empathy & the Trace of Identity

Following unit themes of memory and monumentality, this project delves into the nature of memory, investigating the properties of decay, temporality and the relationships created by individuals and society with memory. Understanding this nature allowed for the creation of a monument within the cityscape, acting as a vessel for memory. The project also allows for the capturing and showcasing of personal and societal memories. The process of capturing and showcasing memories is achieved through the materiality and form of the building, using ephemeral material properties along with the building’s operative functions as an art gallery and hospice. It is within its site of an intersection rich in identities and Milanese culture that my project stands as a monument to the individuals and wider society whilst serving the current population.

- Keelan Hollis

12 Via Mazzini: The Living Museum

Aldo Rossi describes a monument’s persistence as its ability to constitute the city, its art, history, memory and being. The Living Museum explores this by creating pathological physical exhibit rooms, exploring the art and history of the city. It explores the memory and being by ‘Living Exhibits’, exploring the urban layers of the city in the site by other key buildings, which narrates the previous chapters of history the city has experienced.

Parris

- William Parris

Living Rooms Unit 9

Bradford-on-Avon, England

Unit Leads: William Beeston, Barnaby Hughes & Hamish Warren

This year in ‘Living Rooms’, the unit investigated in detail what makes a good space for living. We looked at both interior and exterior rooms: the ‘living room’ being the social heart of a home, a community or a dwelling. The unit explored what makes a good space to be in, a good space for privacy, a good space for bringing people together: the complex competing demands of a good ‘living room’.

The unit used this investigation to unpick the idea of contemporary rural housing, where we explored if different models of housing (co-housing, collective living, self-build…) could provide a transition in the way we think about our homes and communities in light of the recent pandemic, the current housing crisis and the climate emergency. The unit aims to challenge the narrow ‘Noddy housing’ development model monopolised by volume house builders so often seen in rural towns and villages.

Adem Corney

Anya Pavey

Ashleigh Wilson

Bethany Clarke

Catherine Towers

Charita Sathyanarayana Gowda

Eleni Polydorou

Jake Paisey

Joseph John Hugh Silcock

Kohana Bardolivala

Mara Voicila

Rand Hamadah

Ravya Singhal

Ruby Staple

Samuel Joseph Watts

Thomas Oliver Humphreys

William Freer

Compact LivingSustainability and Affordabilty

Co-housing scheme with central common house and other shared facilities including allotment space, shared outdoor green spaces/fields and other internal multi-use spaces Buildings designed to follow linearity of site/trees and 5-storey, relatively high density to provide greater numbers of homes, preserve green spaces and lower heat loss through building, without significantly imposing on surroundings Shared common house and other facilities enabling for compact homes conserving energy, focus on sustainability and affordability Design responding to key design themes including connection to the canal, site enclosure, exposed structure and indoor outdoor relationship. Looking at public private spaces and routes and linking with existing public realm at top part of site/Bradford on Avon Wharf.

- Adem Corney

CoHousing in Bradford on Avon

The cohousing scheme in Barton Orchard, Bradford on Avon consists of 1–3-bedroom homes for different occupants, such as families and the elderly. The Stone Wall was the main focus of the project, particularly exploring how public and private areas could be created and the interaction between new buildings and the existing wall. The extension of the wall into the site allowed courtyards and pathways to be created, giving a strong sense of direction through the site. The smaller courtyards allowed for a clear transition in the threshold of public and private from the larger shared areas. The heavy stone wall is contrasted by the light timber clad buildings.

Anya Pavey | anyapavey@icloud.com

- Anya Pavey

Dwelling in a Park

The scheme, set in Bradford on Avon, aims to address housing demand with homes featuring shared communal aspects. Positioned on a disused golf course cherished by the community, the project maintains the site’s openness by designing park housing. This allows the community to retain access while providing residents with shared back gardens as private outdoor spaces.

Two concepts were developed: the Nucleal Home (for existing residents) and the Coeval Home (for newcomers). Both feature internal communal spaces and shared roof terraces, offering private outdoor areas above the shared courtyards. The Nucleal Home includes three bedrooms, a family bathroom, an open-plan kitchen dining space, and a living room with a large front-facing window. The Coeval Home is designed for cohabitation, with shared kitchen, dining, and living areas for two 2-bed flats.

These designs align with principles of Meeting Place Design, Gateways Architecture, and Places Of Dwelling, fostering community bonds and honoring the site’s history and natural resources.

- Ashleigh Wilson

Ashleigh Wilson | aj.dby@outlook.com

The Wild Green Haven: A Co-housing retreat

The co-housing retreat aims to create a cohousing scheme designed to bridge the gap between different age groups in a town. The project prioritizes mental health by incorporating shared spaces that combat feelings of loneliness through shared kitchen that can be used for meals to get to know the people within to designed spaces to encourage inter flat interactions. This concept extends beyond the home, influencing the surrounding development through the creation of new civic centres, including a community centre and a health centre. These facilities foster greater connections within the wider community, anchoring the project in the local landscape and enhancing its impact.

- Bethany Clarke

Bethany Clarke | clarkeb6@cardiff.ac.uk

A New Approach to

Housing

The housing scheme presents a new approach to housing that benefits the existing community whilst integrating a new community based around encouraging interaction between residents. The project enables social interaction in the position it takes as a cohousing scheme. Space standards are challenged by creating shared spaces instead of providing each resident isolating private spaces, allowing for the design of high density housing, this scheme provides a total of 34 homes, and a range of mixed use spaces. The project pushes the boundaries of the limited and constrained site and presents innovative ways to fit within a protected historical area and greenbelt whilst engaging completely with the unique natural landscape.

- Catherine Towers

Harvest Haven

This co-housing project set in the town of Bradford on Avon, embraces diversity and inclusivity, offering spaces that appeal to multiple demographics and adapt to residents’ evolving needs. The central areas enhance connectivity by creating inviting spaces that blend seamlessly with the built environment and contribute to the broader neighbourhood. Residents cultivate relationships, share experiences, and foster a sense of belonging through inclusive design and programming. Shared spaces promote connections, dialogue, and bonds among diverse groups, ensuring a vibrant community spirit where everyone feels valued. Thoughtfully planned, the project bridges generational gaps, cultural differences, and varied interests. Multifunctional spaces support activities from communal meals to workshops and recreation, remaining adaptable as residents’ needs change over time. This co-housing project exemplifies inclusive living, where design and programming together build a strong, interconnected, and resilient community dedicated to enhancing quality of life for all.

- Charita Sathyanarayana Gowda

Charita Sathyanarayana Gowda | GowdaCS@cardiff.ac.uk

Redefining Co-Housing in Bradford on Avon

In envisioning this co-living project, my primary aim is to redefine contemporary living through four fundamental design principles: creating adaptable dwellings, establishing community gardens, maintaining the accessibility and connection between the site entrances and delineating a clear threshold between public and private spaces. These principles are the pillars guiding my mission to redefine the concept of co-housing as a harmonious blend of adaptability, community connection, inclusivity, and spatial definition.

Eleni Polydorou

- Eleni Polydorou

- Jake Paisey

COHOUSING PROJECT IN BRADFORD-ON-AVON

JOSEPH JOHN HUGH SILCOCK UNIT 9 C21069008

CONTACT: SilcockJJ@cardiff.ac.uk or joesilcock@btinternet.com

STUDENT INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @joesilart_

PROJECT THEMATIC:

A REACTION TO THE PERCIEVED DEPRECIATION OF SOCIAL HOUSING SCHEMES WITHIN THE UK, AND DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND SUBSEQUENT ISOLATION, SOCIAL HOUSING SCHEMES MUST BE INTRODUCED TO RECOVER WHAT WE LOST (SENSE OF CONNECTION TO LOCAL COMMUNITY, A FOSTEROUS ATTITUDE TOWARDS EACHOTHER AND THE OUR ENVIRONMENT). THE HOUSING PROJECT AIMS TO AID THE MOST AFFECTED GROUPS BY THE PANDEMIC, THE ELDERLY AND THE OUR CURRENT GENERATION BROUGHT UP WITHOUT BEING INITIATED AND CONNECTED INTO THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEIR NIEGHBOURS. THE PROJECT AIMS TO DESCRIBE ITSELF FAR AWAY FROM THE CONTEMPARY ATTEMPT OF THE PRIVATISED, MONOTOMY OF ‘NODDY HOUSING, AND WITH PRECEDENTS TAKEN FROM COHOUSING OF THE PAST AND PRESENT STRIVE FOR A BETTER FUTURE FOR BRADFORD-ON -AVON.

| joesilcock@btinternet.com

Joseph John Hugh Silcock

- Joseph John Hugh Silcock

Living Harmony

The project “Living Harmony: Bridging Nature and Community by the Water” explores the design of a sustainable co-housing community in Bradford-On Avon. Situated along the historic Kennet and Avon Canal, the development integrates the natural landscape with communal living spaces. Through careful site analysis and typology studies, the project aims to create a harmonious balance between private, semi-private, and public areas. It employs sustainable materials and energy-efficient technologies to foster environmental stewardship while enhancing the community’s social fabric. The design emphasizes the connection between residents and the canal, promoting a vibrant, inclusive living environment that honours Bradford-On-Avon’s rich historical context.

Kohana Bardolivala | BardolivalaKC@cardiff.ac.uk

- Kohana Bardolivala

(tables

It co-living as socializing

Defining Co-living in Bradford-on-Avon

My comprehensive project is a co-living scheme situated in the picturesque town of Bradford-on-Avon. The design draws from the unique character of Bradford and its community, regenerating the proposed site (the parking lot next to the train station). The scheme integrates two communal outdoor spaces (urban living rooms) and many shared facilities ranging in levels of privacy, addressing both the needs of the community and the residents. Because the design aims to find ways of humanizing the site, the main access is done through a shared deck at the first-floor level, a space which becomes a hub for socializing. This makes sense in the context of the flood risk as it creates an elevated access.

Moment in the Urban Living Room

- Mara Voicila

A place called home

The project aims to develop a co-housing project on the ruins of a golf club site in Bradford-on-Avon. A shared environment has been created not only between residents but for the entire town community, with the creation of public and private shared moments through residential designs/developments of the public urban environment, in addition to encouraging the expansion and celebration of nature as an essential part of the project. The concept is that housing is a comfortable and safe environment for the individual, and that sharing among a group of people is a way to create opportunities for communication, combat loneliness, enhance safety, encourage wellbeing, develop society, and enrich cultural diversity.

Rand Hamadah | randhamadah@gmail.com

- Rand Hamadah

Canal-side Communes

My project focuses on designing multigenerational compact housing with a strong emphasis on communal living and social interaction. By prioritizing shared spaces such as a spacious communal living and kitchen area, alongside private living spaces for moments of solitude, the design encourages residents to come together and form connections with their neighbors. Situated within a vibrant community setting, the housing scheme includes ample green spaces, playgrounds, and allotments, open for both residents and non-residents alike. Sustainability is also a key aspect, with construction utilizing environmentally friendly materials and passive house criteria. Overall, the project seeks to create a harmonious living environment that fosters a sense of belonging and community cohesion.

Ravya Singhal | SinghalR1@cardiff.ac.uk

- Ravya Singha

The Orchard

The Orchard uses limited materials in abnormal manner to create contemporary detailing inspired by the listed buildings encapsulating the site. The schemeuses narrow entrances that open into wide courtyard spaces to create soft boundaries with the public, inspired by co-housing schemes in Belgium. Additionally,the steep landscape creates the opportunity for dual entrances to increase circulation and retains the views for the existing dwellings. The existing contextincludes stepped alleyways throughout which I have continued into the scheme to weave the scheme into the context. Mosaics display the street name inspiredby Bradford-on-Avon and the existing trees on the site with names: Cherry Tree Lane, Hazelnut Alley and Lawson Street. The scheme utilizes sustainablesystems where possible which each dwelling incorporates PV panels and MVHR systems. The terraced aspect of the scheme reduces the exterior façades,reducing thermal loss and heating cost. The co-living aspect of the scheme will also help reduce costs and enrich the families by sharing and living together.

- Ruby Staple

Embracing Flooding

This project tackles the problem of “noddy housing” in the UK by incorporating European co-living concepts. Situated in the historic town of Bradford-OnAvon, Wiltshire, it focuses on preserving the town’s identity and heritage. Key elements of the project include urban corridors, materiality, community engagement, and flood response. These aspects have culminated in a diverse housing scheme that fosters varying levels of community interaction both across the site and within individual dwellings.

Samuel Joseph Watts | WattsSJ@Cardiff.ac.uk

- Samuel Joseph Watts

Living Closer Together

Living Closer Together is a project which aims to employ strategies of densification and communal living to a housing development in Bradford-on-Avon as an example of how the housing crisis could be eased in the UK. The current conventional housing models typical of new housing developments lack density and any sense of place or community. The cohousing project in Barton Orchard aims to achieve this and extend its social values to the existing community. This will be achieved by developing the design alongside a specification of guiding principles resulting from the primary site and precedent research. These guiding principles include: “Living Closer Together”, “Public Integration”, “Connectivity & Access”, “Environment & Landscape” and “Context & Character”.

- Thomas Oliver Humphreys

Riverside Apartments

A co-housing scheme seeking to increase biodiversity on site, and using the interaction of vegetation and architecture as a key design theme throughout the project.

Riverside Apartments is a co-housing scheme that moulds to, and wraps around existing vegetation on site creating social thresholds and increasing biodiversity throughout. It is used as a means of reconnection forthe existing community to the River Avon, and to increase mental well-being through this connection with nature. The scheme houses over 400 residents.

- William Freer

Study Trip

Pattern Making in Metroland Unit 10

London, England

Leads: Siobhan O’Keeffe, Joshue Wyles & Ryan Roberts

The Mayor of London has committed to build 20,000 new council homes by 2024, delivering ‘desperately needed... genuinely affordable homes’. The dominant form of this fastpaced densification has been high rise towers often in areas that have been cleared of existing housing.

Siting ourselves within Tower Gardens, Tottenham - a low cost council estate built in the early 20th Century to Arts and Crafts ideals - we have considered how low rise, high density homes could form a counterpoint.

Paying close attention to what already exists we have stitched distinct new pieces of city into the areas existing rhythms and aesthetics, always questioning how the original ideals of the estate – the belief in craftsmanship, enjoyment of nature and the value of simplicity and utility when seeking beauty – can be applied to contemporary homes to create a new form of ‘The English House’.

Alfie Randall

Benjamin Sullivan

Benjamin Kulagowski

Euniss Seh

Freya Kirby

Jasmine Dumelow

Joshan Verma

Kenneth Dhillon

Pak Chan

Unit

Seeking Refuge

The houses were designed to accommodate the needs of Ukrainian refugees arriving in the UK. Refugees experience their own unique journey of trauma. I worked with the principle that “these individuals have lost everything unwillingly, why should they continue to have nothing?”. It was important to me that these homes therefore returned to them what they lost to the greatest extent possible. The homes were for women as that was studied to be the largest demographic entering the UK however, the adaptability of these homes to suit different family arrangements was possible. Density is a huge concern for London, and the justification for not introducing dense high-rise housing was for the sensitivity of the surrounding architectural contexts as well as the capacity to label the dwellings as homes. Using the institutions of man famously articulated by Louis Kahn, my institutions reflect the need for rehabilitation, light and privacy.

- Alfie Randall

Alfie Randall | randalla2@cardiff.ac.uk

Metroland’s Cohousing Collective

The project aims to combine new and existing communities into a harmonious collaborative one, through research and design exploration community features have been designed to aid not only the co-housing collective but also the winder communities and the involvement of the preexisting gardening community helps to break this ‘new-old’ relationship. Brick has been a common feature throughout design and research, exploring physical and digital modelling as well as precedent has lead to a deeper understanding of a simple brick’s potential. The project responds to the surrounding Tower Gardens Estate and its Arts and Crafts Details, not by replicating them but instead reflecting on the use and developing the key themes into design.

- Benjamin Sullivan

Permeability in the Garden City

This housing scheme is at the centre of the Garden City. The space should feel inclusive and safe for both residents and visitors, hence the visual permeability through each garden space. The current centre of Tower Gardens - Waltheof Gardens - is a disused park, a space to become more useful for the residents. I wanted to create a scheme that would not only help the visitors of Tower Gardens to navigate (through the use of the beacon-like tower), but also help the residents feel safe in place with such a high crime rate.

Benjamin Kulagowski | bfkulagowski@aol.com

- Benjamin Kulagowski

Come On In

Rising cost of living crisis has especially impacted the daily lives of residents in larger cities. For some, this might have increased bill on daily expenses and money invested in a house. But for some, coupled with other personal circumstances, the rising living costs have threatened families andindividualsalikeintohomelessness.Homelessnessrequires more urgency and immediate action, as we cannot afford to have more livelihoods be negatively impacted by the traumatic experience and instability that homelessness might cause. Conventional models of temporary shelter lack sufficient sanitary facilities and privacy which will compromise the mental and physical development of asylum seekers, especially families with young children. The stigmatisation of homeless shelters has led to low self-esteem among its residents, which this project aims to break down and create an environment that reconnects families to the wider community by providing a dignified living quarter with supported spaces for all residents.

- Euniss Seh

Euniss Seh | sehex@cardiff.ac.uk

Houses in a Garden

Houses in a Garden attempts to densify Tower Garden’s Estate in Tottenham, North London in response to the current housing crisis. The site for the project is a disused allotment within the estate. The estate was built in two phases in an Arts and Crafts Style by W.E Riley between 1904 and 1928. The scheme endeavours to reflect the distinct Arts and Crafts style of the surrounding buildings whilst ensuring it meets modern housing standards. A key theme throughout the project was the priority given to gardens, stemming from the quote ‘A house should be clothed by its garden’ by William Morris. Whilst achieving a density of 95 homes per hectare (with homes ranging from one bedroom to four bedrooms), each home also has access to both private and communal gardens with shared facilities to allow for co-operative housing. The homes also sit within a series of shared gardens including an orchard, courtyard and kitchen garden. Greenhouses and plotting sheds supplement these spaces to encourage a shared productive landscape. The gardens are inspired by the traditional gardens of the Arts and Crafts movement with each becoming an outdoor room. They are each individual with different names, functions and appearances but all working together to create a cohesive garden for the houses to sit within.

Freya Kirby

- Freya Kirby

Social Housing Re-Imagined

This proposal responds to the unit brief of densifying Tower Gardens, Tottenham. During our site visit, I observed many poorly utilised small sites. This proposal examines one of these sites and considers what makes quality, low-rise, high-density, social housing. The key principles devised through the design process have then been synthesised into a guidance document, to be used by professionals in the development of the other identified sites. Previously a car park, this site now provides social housing for nine couples and families. Following Arts and Crafts principles of craftsmanship and simplicity, each building is designed using standard brick dimensions, and each home has a private garden or roof terrace, as well as access to a shared garden with pre-existing residents. There is a focus on ownership, privacy, and connection with the urban fabric.

Jasmine Dumelow

- Jasmine Dumelow

Uncovering the Details of Tower Gardens

Researching the history of the Arts & Crafts movement and analysing key architectural designs and features allowed a deeper understanding of the details that make the architectural style unique. A key concept of the courtyard housing scheme is the distinction between the realms. Looking at the arch as a defining feature that separates these realms, I utilise the form to distinguish between the public realm; the semi-public realm; the semi-private realm and the private realm. Stating clear principles with the resolution of the final design, I am able to ensure that the final design is successful and adds to the wider site of Tower Gardens.

- Joshan Verma

VICIS

This mixed-use residential scheme is a continuation of the phases of development in Tower Gardens. The scheme attempts to counter the current Londonvernacular with the consolidation of pattern making and a contemporary approach to the Arts and Craft movement. Furthermore, the proposal aims to challengeurban sprawl and high-rise buildings by offering low-rise sustainable densification as a solution. This is achieved in a CLT and Glulam hybrid system, with a limerender finish; these materials are expressed in the same artisan manner that detailed phase one of Tower Gardens. Inspiration for the architectural forms comefrom the monumental paintings by the Japanese artist Minoru Nomata. This was combined with the outcomes of the primer project (orientation, light, proximity,entrance, transition, patterns and details) to create phase three of Tower Gardens.

- Kenneth Dhillon

A Revisit to Tower Gardens in the 21st Century

Informed by the ageing population within Tower Gardens and London, this project challenges the traditional idea of seclusion in older people’s housing with three main design intent. Firstly, it aims to create an open and shared building that actively engages with the existing neighbourhood. This is achieved through the incorporation of communal spaces and shared facilities within the proposal. For example, a communal canteen and self-service laundry. Multiple entrances to the building also enable residents to navigate through Tower Gardens easily. Another focus of this project is care for elderly residents. A GP surgery is included as a part of the scheme and serves as an additional wing to the residential block. It provides healthcare services to all residents in the community. In addition, dwellings are designed according to the London Housing Design Guide and wheelchair accessible with roof lights and high-level windows to ensure generous levels of daylight without compromising privacy.

- Pak Chan

A Welcoming Home

‘Boundaries define space. Thresholds define place. Through their crossing, they both define theplace you have left and the place you are entering.’ 3 Following my Semester 1 primer project,the design of a pocket park has intrigued my perception of how boundaries and thresholdsdefine a space. Thresholds provide the key to the transition and connection between areas withdifferent territorial claims, a space for dialogue between areas of different spatial orders. Blurringthe boundaries between what is inside and outside and establishing a relationship betweenpeople, nature and the built environment.

- Shen Yi Ta

Densifying Tower Gardens

My goal in my semester two housing project was to seamlessly integrate my first semester exploration into my housing project, focusing on how nature can be re-appropriated within low-rise, high-density housing to enhance the biodiversity of tower gardens. I aimed to investigate how these natural elements influence the functionality and appeal of living spaces. In my low-rise, high-density project, I strive to honour the historical design intentions of the Arts and Crafts style and the contextual surroundings while contemporising the site. My objective was to offer a unique living experience by reimagining home entryways and living spaces, creating diverse and innovative ways for residents to interact with their homes. In the end I successfully achieved 123 units per hectare m2.

- Sumaya Payamon

United Nations Unit 11

Venice, Italy

Venice has always been a city in transition: between land and water, between east and west, between history and modernity. As a register of climate change, Venice is also (and most obviously) the canary in the world’s proverbial coal mine.

The work of unit eleven this year envisages a revitalised collective world spirit brokered through the UN and its many and disparate programmes. Our proposals bring together scientists and politicians in new homes for organisations which monitor the health of the Venetian lagoon as a barometer of the world’s oceans, investigate migration and shifting socio-economic dynamics, create libraries as repositories of ideas and change; and of course, to facilitate work on mitigating climate change and rising sea levels.

Unit eleven acknowledges a city where the past converges with the future, and through its considered proposals offers to facilitate both continuity and change.

Abby Su

Adeba Rahman

Alexander Hussell

Alistair Brookes

Amelia Earman

Cara Smith

Cameron Green

Yik Kiu Wong

George Palmer

Isabel Jin

Jacob Midgley

Juliet Hyde

Oliver Hall

Rhea Samaha

Salma Chouhaili

Srivrinda Ladha

Taeda Baird

Vansh Shah

Zehra Kasli-Walmsley

Yuzhou Zhang

Unit Leads: Tim Burton & Charles Chambers

Palazzo Di Molti Coloni

The project was inspired from the form, order and function in Piazza San Marco, one of the most development place in Venice. Noticing the similarity of elements in Piazza San Marco and Campo San Francesco (campo next to the site), the project then focused on creating another campo system and a smaller scale of Piazza San Marco. Each building in Palazzo Di Molti Coloni (Palazzo of Many Colonnade) has its own function, like the piazza, and by linking them with bridges they could enhance the circulation but also the privacy demands. The Libreria di Idee (Library of Ideas) inspired by and designed to become a contemporary version of Biblioteca Marciana Libreria, one of the most important buildings in Piazza San Marco.

- Abby Su

Palazzi Indegino

Palazzi Indegino, a place for building technology of Vernacular techniques of Venice, explores deep into Venetian localised materials stilt structures that the lagoon dwellers have built overtime. This building, made for UNEP programme, is built to educate and manage Venice’s ongoing climate crisis of rising water levels. Through the exploration into Palazzi Indegino, the project explores into the different vernacular materials and localised venetian materials that help to build a contemporary palazzi placed on the Gasometric site. The building tranverses the different technologies seen around Venetian palazzi’s and incorporates its own contemporary look into Palazzi Indegino.

-

Adeba Rahman |

Adeba Rahman

both tourism and climate change on Venice, its culture, and its people has deeply informed the proposal for Casa Dell’artigianato. These factors have contributed to the decline of craftsmanship within Venice and has arguably started to strip the Venetian way of life from its people. Understanding some of UNESCO’s aims of preserving cultural heritage and promoting sustainability has compelled me to make them my client. Together, we can enhance the urban realm of Venice and help restore its rich culture by reviving the dying trades that are integral to the city’s identity. Through this collaboration, Casa Dell’artigianato will not only add to the urban fabric but also safeguard the cultural and artisanal legacy of Venice for future generations.

-

Alexander Hussell | Hussella@cardiff.ac.uk

Alexander Hussell

UNEP Venice Headquarters

Ca’ Natura is the UNEP’s Headquarters in Venice, taking Inspiration from venetian cloisters and courtyard gardens. The focus of the building is around nature and greenery, as Venice has few public green spaces. UNEP’s main goals are tackling climate change, protecting the world’s oceans and plant life. For this reason, the site is the perfect location for this organisation, due to Venice being the heart visible climate change in Europe, with the city said to be submerged within the next hundred years. This project addresses the lack of greenery within the city, but also aims to research and protect Venice from sinking due to climate change.

Alistair Brooks |

- Alistair Brooks

Ca’ di Colonne Tortili

This project is an outpost office for the UN Tourism organisation located in the Castello region of Venice, Italy, designed in the traditional typology of a Venetian Palazzo. This office focuses on the development and research for the Silk Road Tourism Project, the promotion of sustainable tourism and creating physical seminar spaces for the Tourism Online Academy. In result of group research carried out in semester one of Venice’s key position in the world for trading between east and west, I felt it is an ideal location to house this outpost office in regards to the current Silk Road Tourism Project. The ground floor and courtyard is open to the public with varying spaces of interaction to enhance the community and promote public engagement.

Amelia Farman | farmana@cardiff.ac.uk

- Amelia Farman

Palazzo Segue

The Palazzo Segue, a UNEP HQ and UNEP Museum transitions seamlessly between spaces and narratives using horizontal and vertical axes in indoor and outdoor environments. Indoors, the horizontal axis facilitates fluid movement and connectivity between public and private spaces through enfilades, while the vertical axis introduces dynamic spatial experiences across different levels. Inspired by Venetian political and religious architectural statements, this design creates powerful reminders of UNEP’s goals. This is exemplified by views from each level to the ground floor, where rising water levels are visible. Outdoors, the facade transitions seamlessly, reflecting the museum’s function by preserving Venetian palazzo facades with indented details, transitioning through each era as you look up. This concept draws inspiration from Venice’s evolving facades, showcasing historical transitions over time.

- Cara Smith

Ca’ del Consiglio di Sicurezza

The Ca’ del Consiglio di Sicurezza is a key outpost for the United Nations Security Council in Venice, situated close to current and recent zones of conflict and tension such as Ukraine, Kosovo, and more. Venice has a rich history of diplomacy and international co-operation and trade, meaning that in a world at its’ most fragile since the Cuban Missile Crisis, this is the ideal location for a new outpost for the organisation chiefly responsible for peacekeeping. The building features a range of uses - from a public cafe and conferencing centre on the ground floor to link with local schools and communities, to office spaces for the day to day functions of the UN Security Council and larger discussion spaces for talks and high-level conferences.

- Cameron Green

Cameron Green | clgreen672@gmail.com

Palazzo Acquatico

project aims to establish a UNEP Head Quarter for researching and developing water reuse in Venice. It also seeks to educate visitors on water sustainability, aquaculture, and lagoon ecosystems, and to create interactive experiences within the building to inspire learning and play. The proposed Head Quarter is dedicated to protecting the ecosystem and addressing pollution issues in the area. Inspired by the Stampalia Querini Foundation, the project aims to create interactive experiences by designing the courtyard to interact with the lagoon water. For example, using materials that erode in salt water, such as bricks, can be educational and promote the recycling of reusable bricks from old buildings, which aims to raise awareness about lagoon pollution and climate change.

Kiu Wong

- Yik Kiu Wong

United Nations Forum of Sustainable Development

The United Nations Forum of Sustainable Development creates a sustainable oasis within the threatened city of Venice, acting as a beacon of hope for a sustainable future of architecture, diplomatic collaboration and political ambition. Integrated between Campo San Francesco della Vigna and the Venetian Lagoon, the Forum brings the Lagoon into the heart of the site through a Tidal Garden; acting as a physical metaphor for the Climate Crisis. The surrounding internal courtyard holds an Outdoor Theatre, Library and Colonnade Gallery, with the Palazzo at the water’s edge being home to traditional Function Spaces and the UN Office of Sustainable Development. A timber frame system was physically developed and modeled to form a framework for a new age of architecture – Climate-Age Rationalism. To build a sustainable future we need to be honest and responsible; the exposed internal timber structure does not hide its function and achieves beauty through its purpose.

- George Palmer

George Palmer

Palazzo Unito

Palazzo Unito is an office and educational building designed for the UN Climate Change and UN-Habitat organisations. These organisations very much align in their purpose and goals towards tackling the climate crisis and sustainability but differ in their approach. UN Climate Change take on a behind-the-scenes role working with higher authority, whereas UN-Habitat are on the front lines, actively making changes on the ground through projects and events promoting sustainable urbanisation. After a deep exploration into the Venetian typologies of palazzi and campi, it goes without saying just how significant they are as part of Venice’s cultural identity. Varying in scale and style, palazzi were once the residences of nobles. Nowadays, they are occupied for many uses such as hotels, banks and museums. This new United Nations base aims to educate the wider public on sustainability and the climate crisis via the form of a modern, statement palazzo, in addition to providing a new collaborative space for both organisations to work within. It takes on a modern twist of the existing palazzo, Palazzo Strozzi, whereby there is a focus on courtyards, proportions and circulation.

- Isabel Jin

La Torre Allagata

I am proposing a new collaborative outpost building for UNESCO, bringing both the Science and Cultural factions of the organisation together under the same roof. Venice is a flagship location for culture and the protection of ideas and artefacts important to humanity. From my research and visit to Venice I became interested in the lifespan of the City caused by the imminent threat of flooding at all times. A visit to the UNESCO Offices indicated that their Venice base lacked suitable facilities for collaboration and education, or the means to tackle the international issue of sea level rise and the management of the damage that it will cause. The project works closely with San Francesco della Vigna, a grand medieval Gothic church with a 16th-century façade by Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, located adjacent to the outpost the building had a significant impact on the design.

- Jacob Midgley

Jacob Midgley

AWARE - Palazzo Diedo

enice being a cultural and historical heart within Europe, the worldwide debate of replacing the world’s documentary heritage with digital copies is controversial. Opening a space for the Memory of the World UNESCO Programme to run an archive, office and gallery required a balance of security, accessibility and openness. This project depicts an integrated renovation and extension of the existing building Palazzo Diedo. Considering UNESCO values, restoring the historical assets of the building, all while preserving the essence of Venice.

Juliet Hyde

- Juliet Hyde

Ca’ del Nuovo Inizio

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is a government organisation that promotes orderly migration that is both safe and humane. Because of Venice’s history with trade and economic prosperity, I have decided that my design will focus on the economic, legal and educational areas of migration. Through research into the Venetian palazzi typology, as well as several other notable precedents, I have been able to iterate and develop my scheme from a humble starting point.

- Oliver Hall

Palazzo Del Futuro

In response to the pressing challenges posed by tourism in Venice, Italy, I propose the establishment of the first european regional office for UN Tourism. serving as a connection within the Meditteranean sea and its neighbouring countries. The city’s delicate ecosystem and flooding situation highlights an urgent care and attention to protect its residents and find suitable solutions to many posing challenges. I inspire to design a space that will serve as a beacon of sustainability and responsible tourism promotion, to engage all communities, both residents and tourists, promoting policies, guides and business ideas about eco-tourism practices.

Rhea Samaha | rheasm0602@gmail.com

- Rhea Samaha

Palazzo Marocchino

This project proposes a UN base for the Unites Nations Conference on Trade and Development to enhance international relations between Italy and Morocco. The building features flexible conference spaces and open-plan offices to foster bilateral cooperation between the two nations. Additionally, it includes a public square celebrating Venice’s rich history and traditions, as well as a Moroccan Souk, creating a vibrant environment. The design aims to strengthen trade and development ties, promoting mutual growth and understanding. Moreover, the project integrates Moroccan vernacular technology in Venice: using deep-set windows that act as a shading device and therefore help reduce energy consumption, blending cultural heritage with sustainable design. Thus, the main design concept is to emphasize cultural integration, reflecting the shared values and aspirations of both countries, while providing a dynamic hub for diplomatic and economic collaboration.

Salma Choubaili | choubailis@cardiff.ac.uk

- Salma Choubaili

Architettura vernacolare UNESCO Via della Seta Venezia

The UNESCO is bringing back the 2nd UNESCO Courier Forum to foster intercultural dialogue between the Silk Road countries and mutual learning in today’sworld for development and action for climate change. Climate change is an emergency that cannot be stopped but by bringing contemporary vernaculararchitecture practices we can lessen its effect on our life. All the Venetian architecture elements have been reintroduced in a contemporary vernaculararchitecture way like the chimneys for ventilation and as ligthwells, use of water for natural cooling, fondamenta, piazza, venetian window bays, columns andmaterials. A public revival was required by the site and hence a piazza typology with markets and learning centre facing Campo S. Francesco was introduced fora community based appraoch.

- Srivrinda Ladha

Srivrinda Ladha | ladhas@cardiff.ac.uk

UN Habitat in a Venetian Setting

How to create a base for the UN Habitat keeping in mind the Venetian context? This project included creating spaces for UN Habitat, also known as the United Nations Human Settlements Programme which focuses on sustainable urban growth. The process began inside out by designing a Portego space, a common feature of Italian architecture which served as a main gathering and salon space. As it began to look outward experimentation of cladding, arrangement of circulation of the three main spaces (public interaction, offices and conference) and implementing Venetian and Italian design elements developed.

- Taeda Baird

Ca’ Oceano

My project proposes a UNESCO IOC office in Venice to replace their existing office, aiming to support their collaborative public outreach and ocean awareness programs while establishing a strong presence in the city. Inspired by a detailed study of Venetian palazzi, Venice’s history, and its urban fabric, the design reflects Venice’s identity and collaborative spirit. The proposal creates a public campo that responds to the historic church, establishing a traditional church-campo-corti-portego spatial hierarchy that allows the building to blend seamlessly into and enrich Venice’s public realm. This integration creates a platform for multilateral collaborative events, such as the famous Biennale that allow public engagement and awareness. Incorporating water into the design aims to evoke Venice’s aquatic nature that enables one to experience and connect with the ocean in both intimate and public settings. This fosters a deeper awareness of the ocean, aligning with the goals of the oceanographic commission.

Vansh Shah

- Vansh Shah

| zehrawalmsley@hotmail.

Palazzo della Cultura

Venice’s historical fabric, rich in renowned artworks and architectural treasures, is meticulously preserved by institutions like the Accademia, art galleries, and museums. However, the sinking city faces imminent peril due to climate change, necessitating urgent attention for the prevention, preservation, and protection of its cultural assets. Art is not only culturally valuable, but it also helps us study history. Climate scientists are able to measure sea-level change by comparing moss marks in Canaletto’s paintings with those on Venetian buildings today. The focused allocation of resources through the new UNESCO office addresses this initiative, envisioning a publicly accessible campus where the celebration of arts and culture is integrated, fostering a symbiotic relationship between preservation efforts and public engagement.

Monumentality and craftsmanship are essential drivers for the project, with a deliberate intent to use materials harmonising with the urban landscape. The core concept is to evoke atmosphere through diverse methods, including Corten steel shading iterations derived from the UNESCO emblem. A ‘jewel piece’ of corten steel within the mezzanine levels allows inhabitants to connect with and appreciate a structure symbolising the protection of art and Venice’s endangered landscape.

- Zehra Kasli-Walmsley

Zehra Kasli-Walmsley

Palazzo Insieme

The architectural project “Palazzo Insieme,” meaning “together,” draws inspiration from Venice’s bridges and steps, designed to foster community-friendly and environmentally sustainable spaces. This initiative strategically utilizes the surrounding historical landmarks and scenic natural landscapes to enhance its design, promoting public awareness and interaction. Featuring innovative elements like inhabited walls and staircases, the project facilitates navigation and social engagement, aligning with the United Nations Environment Programme’s goals. “Palazzo Insieme” encourages individuals to actively engage in environmental stewardship while maximizing the unique advantages of its location to strengthen community bonds and integrate seamlessly into the urban fabric. This approach not only respects and highlights local heritage and beauty but also promotes sustainable urban development.

- Yuzhou Zhang

Architecture of URBANISM Unit 12

Land as a secret weapon

The city is in constant transition. Instead of being at the mercy of larger economic and political forces that shape and re-shape the city, architects and urbanists can design buildings, spaces, and infrastructure to be far more just and equitable. One potent starting point is to truly understand the often-invisible architecture of urbanism, such as how land works as an economic commodity and a political force. Redesigning land systems [e.g. to radically shift from private profit-making to collective well-being] and the structures that engage with such shifts [e.g. buildings and spaces that are explicitly public-facing and community-benefitting], can steer urban transition from exclusion to solidarity. Unit twelve, working in partnership with the Stokes Croft Land Trust in Bristol, worked on a “live project” on 10 key sites selected in consultation with the Trust. As an integral part of the design process, students conducted extensive research to benefit the community and inform their eventual building designs, including urban mapping, land research, reading seminars on books such as ‘Designing Urban Transformation’ and ‘Who Owns England?’, case study analyses, and field study visits to community land trust projects in Liverpool. These informed highly innovative building proposals such as a vibrant centre for community well-being, a hub of musical celebration, a place of creative craft and artistic making, a catalyst for community wealth-building, and a centre of CBD destigmatization due to its scientifically proven medical benefits.

Demirkan Byuyukoglu

Balraj Sangha

Cerys Goldsworthy

Josh Kindlon

Paarthivi

Unit Lead: Aseem Inam

Stokes Croft, Bristol

The Cape of Good Soap: Community Well-Being Centre of Stokes Croft

The Cape of Good Soap is for the mental, spiritual, physical, and economic benefit of all residents of Stokes Croft. Working with the Stokes Croft Community Land Trust, we are challenged to design a space primarily for the people which also functions as a valuable resource to the land trust. I responded with a project that has the potential to be cornerstone of Stokes Croft. The Cape’s primary objective is the connect the physical with the spiritual and create these mind-body spaces that lead to total healing in us. Then a complementary approach is added onto these to make the proposal financially independent. The ammenities include a soap-making studio, store, community soap workshop, laundry, toilets, changing rooms, showers, saunas, baths, social spaces, meditation spaces, yoga, steam rooms.

- Demirkan Byuyukoglu

SCHOFA (Stokes Croft Hub Of Food Activism)

SCHOFA is a space of culinary experimentation, exploring urban food systems while highlighting stokes crofts diverse population and their cultural dishes, in the hopes of tackling Stokes Croft and greater Bristol’s, lack of healthy food cultivation and cooking. How can food be a vehicle for change? The project will implement feasible urban farming techniques, with a circular economy design to create a holistic space that tackles some of Bristol’s food poverty issues by imbedding healthier food habits within Stokes Croft; bridging the gap created by governmental neglect. The building programme will consist of a community kitchen, specialising in teaching Bristolians an array of culturally valuable dishes, sharing recipes within the community, at an affordable cost, with lessons extending to feasible and realistic growth of crops, providing locals the knowledge to grow their own crops, demonstrated with classes at the on-site, community led, aeroponic greenhouse, polytunnels and planting green roof.

- Balraj Sangha

Only Green Cooperative : A CBD Revolution

A public facing CBD dispensary subverting criminal connotations of CBD and Stokes Croft as a place for drug use by approaching drugs a health concern.

- Cerys Goldsworthy

Croft Community Canvas

In this architecture and urban design unit ‘Architecture of Urbanism: Land as a Secret Weapon’ we explore alternative methods of land ownership in Stokes Croft, a unique, vibrant area of Bristol. My design proposes a public facing proposal grounded in community value rather than the typical profit lead development model. In response to the declining number of community orientated spaces, my project takes an adaptive reuse approach by transforming an existing 1970’s building into a mixed-use arts hub for the large community of artists that populate Stokes Croft. As the largest intervention to the existing structure, the design centres around a multi height atrium that hosts interactive artwork and live performances in addition to affordable artist studios, workshops and an exhibition gallery for local artists and formerly homeless Jamacia Street Project graduates whilst creating a closeknit community of creatives in the heart of Stokes Croft.

Josh Kindlon | Joshkindlon@gmail.com

- Josh Kindlon

Activist Library

My project aims to help encourage cultural activism in Stokes Croft, Bristol by creating a library whichnurtures all 4 aspects of it. It nurtures awareness by being a repository of knowledge and providing spacesfor active discussions to happen; it nurtures creative expression by nurturing imagination and providingaccess to examples and digital workstations; it nurtures collaboration having several community spacesand adaptable group workspaces and it fosters motive by nurturing and recording the memory of StokesCroft.

- Paarthivi Yadav

Land As A Secret Weapon

Exploring strategies such as promoting transparency in land ownership, using land more efficiently to address climate change and challenging the idea of land as purely a commodity for profit. Delving into original ideas based on research, analysis, and case studies. The focus will be on Stokes Croft in Bristol, England, as the site for these explorations. The Prior research undertaken in the first semester has sparked interest in regeneration through community-led foundations and has highlighted that for real change to happen, socio-economic growth must take place. My goal is to Expand the Stokes Croft land trust [SCLT] through urban expansion using the China shop located on my site run by The Peoples Republic of Stokes Croft, [PRSC] and generate a place that benefits the artistic community within Stokes Croft. The Design outcome is to create a place of making and craft to provide products for the shops relocated through urban expansion and boost funding for further Purchases of the SCLT. This process will take 8 - 10 years which requires the need for meanwhile projects to generate financial gain for the SCLT to enable the final phase of the project.

- Roan Kitto

Healing Center For Homeless Women

Building upon the foundation established in the previous semester’s pilot project (collage), this initiative advances through an exploration of the essence of art, art therapy, or art confrontation,examining how art benefits individuals within a space while also contributing to the improvement ofStokes Croft. In collaboration with BWV(British Women’s Voice), the project establishes an arttherapy healing center for homeless women. Tailored art therapy sessions are provided to homeless women, nurturing artistic skills alongside shelter provision. This includes a winter garden seamlessly integrating nature and art, aimed at innovative land utilization. The core concept is to promote the psychological rehabilitation of homeless women through art therapy, while engaging in graffiti art externally as a form of resistance to the gentrification of Stokes Croft, exploring strategies to realize this vision.

Yuhan Ma

- Yuhan Ma

MArch

Our Master of Architecture, Part II, programme encourages students to forge a personal stance to architectural issues, research and design through educational experiences that form the distinct settings of ‘the academy’ and ‘professional practice’. We continue to see students develop critical professional and ethical skills while studying and working in practice, mindful of how diverse practice experiences inform parallel academic development. MArch students have continued to develop a collegiate approach to studio culture, forging direct interaction with realworld issues through the Dissertation and a research-led, individual Design Thesis.

An essential element of the MArch is the ability to transition. Continual transition is required between practice and school-based learning environments, and professional and independent responsibilities. Moving from an undergraduate education into a year of education-in-practice promotes notions of learning from-, by- and in- industry. All MArch I modules encouraged students to reflect on how practice and industry operate within professional responsibilities, but simultaneously mindful of personal and societal ethical challenges. Within MArch II, students return to the school with acquired professional skills of design, management and attitudes to frame research questions, methodologies and arguments that are explored without preconception of outcome. Being mindful in transition embeds ways of knowing, acting and being through reflection, resilience, and confidence to respond and challenge the status quo, question current methods and practices and lead change for the Wellbeing of Future Generations.

As the School continues to respond to future challenges and structure new opportunities for student-led expertise, we congratulate all our students and graduates this year who have shown this continued criticality, curiosity and willingness to take risks in the endeavour to transition – developing a grounded, ethical, and creative stance. For those embarking on the next stage of your careers, we wish you all the best and know that you are well equipped as you address the global challenges that lie ahead.

Steve Coombs, Director of Undergraduate Teaching

MArch I, also known as ‘The Year of Education in Practice’, is a unique work-based learning programme that aims to bridge the transition between architectural education and practice by promoting active learning in the practice setting. Students typically work in full-time practice alongside their studies but return to Cardiff for three intensive short courses during the year. In work-based learning, the learning students are doing in practice is enhanced by university coursework that promotes critical engagement with the workplace and profession, requires self-reflection, and offers space for exploration, testing and preparation ahead of the final year.

During MArch I, students self-select an interest to explore as a part of their MArch dissertation, transitioning into increasingly independent architectural thinkers, writers and researchers. MArch I’s in-practice modules invite students to reflect academically on practice and bring their practice-based reflections to bear on their educational experience, collectively supporting and probing the transition from student to professional.

Design in Practice makes a link between design as experienced during architectural education and design as conducted by the practices in which our students are working. Students work on Live Project problems, framed around the RIBA Plan of Work 2020 to enable them to learn from and make connections with what they are doing in practice. Submissions mirror Practice through pitching competitions, design charrettes, public consultation and exhibitions to practice a range of soft skills needed for success in the field. Students initially work in design-teams to reflect the collaborative nature of the profession, engaging with clients and end-users at key moments to co-produce an authentic and meaningful output; bridging the gap between university and the real world.

Caroline Almond MArch One Year Chair

Beliz Akari

Antonios Spyros Nicolaou

Bethan Davies

Daniel Holman

Dongyang Zhang

Eleanor Collin

Ella Reed

Elliot Follows

Emelia Jessop

Erin Broadbent

Hazel Whittaker

George Harris

Ivan Biriukov

Jack Greening

Jenna Bailey Martina Marengo

Megan McCormick

Mimi Tam

Muskan Kheria

Key Atmospheric

Noor Alshukri

Naina Manglik

Nadine Abou Fakhr

Nube Abasolo

Roma Richardson

Ruko Okuda

Ryan Birch Sarah MacAllen

Tess Harland

Tara Maria Nayfe

Snigdha Khurana

Toby Cassy

Thomas Madgwick

Hanyang Wu

Qing Xiao

Zaineb Al-Ani

The second Year of the Master of Architecture is the pinnacle of WSA’s students’ journey of educational transitions, a major moment to ‘stop, reflect and act’ before confronting the challenges and opportunities posed by a dynamic, competitive and changing world of architecture.

MArch-2 at WSA is organised around the Design Thesis as a student-led and research-led design proposition that is supported by a written Dissertation and studies in the Practice, Management and Economics of architecture.

The Design Thesis begins with an individual and group design research exercise, ‘primer’, exploring cultural, political, tectonic, environmental, historical, philosophical or other approaches defined by the Unit, leading to defining specific sites, programmes, and research questions for the individual thesis. This has been supported by unit specific study trips for dedicated research and precedent studies to London, Delft, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Northern France, Belgium, Barcelona, Lisbon, and India.

In 2023-24, MArch-2 offered seven diverse and exciting studio units, each of which set out its own architectural agenda. Students explored independent stances across sites in Cardiff, Pontypridd, Bristol, London, and international Calicut locales, proclaiming and defending their individual architectural positions through the lenses of critical human-centred approaches to corporate workspace, exploring value through community engagement and civic actions, re-imagining ‘dwelling’ through the lens of aging, low-carbon building conservation, the complex relationship between urban transformations and liveabilty, creating spaces for thriving learning communities, and regenerative visions around progressive economic and environmental philosophies.

The culminating design propositions showcase research into real-world issues and agendas, addressing various cultural, social, formal, political, technological, contextual, tectonic, environmental, historical, philosophical, and economic aspects. MArch-2 is the preparatory step for becoming active independent architectural professionals and researchers ready to challenge aspects of architectural practice within a context of significant global environmental, economic, societal and cross-cultural challenges. It is the transit year preparing students to a world in-transit.

Yasser Megahead MArch Two Year Chair

Unit XI : De/re Programming the Corporate Workspace

Unit XII : Value: Sites of Engagement

Unit XIII : Dwelling Differently: Ageing in Place

Unit XIV : Carbon Past, Low Carbon Futures

Unit XV : Liveable Urbanism

Unit XVI : LE-DR Lab III - Learning Communities

Unit XVII : Regenerative Vision

De/re programming the Unit XI

Corporate Workspace Unit XI

Cardiff, Wales

Unit Lead: Yasser Megahed

In the multinational city, the corporate office building is not a ‘type’; it represents the constant flux of high finance, branding, and the powers driving the global economic progress in the shape of a building. From the early industrialists to multinational banks and insurance companies, to our current moment where giant IT, media and online shopping conglomerates are leading the global economy, the transformation of the corporate office space demonstrates the parallel transitions between the dominating economic actors, the values that they represent, the working cultures associated with them, and the architecture that envelops them.

Unit XI De/Reprogramming the Corporate Office engages with this complex equation from an active critical position that prioritises the creation of built environment, enhancing people’s lives and contributing to the wellbeing of future generations. Such engagement does not hide away from the realistic imperatives of the values of the neoliberal economy and the domination of certain attitudes to practicing architecture that echoes those values. Instead, it is committed to challenging the common formula of major regeneration projects that often adheres to generic architectural visions, lack a clear social purpose, and appear to primarily benefit private investors and prominent business figures.

Aisling Begley

Athanasia-Theofilia Mavrommati

Eleni Bertoli

Isaac Slater

Jermaine Chok Cjun Mae

Justyna Matuzewska

Matthew Gibson

Rokas Vilciauskas

The Investment ‘Biking’ Office

Designing for movement aims to revolutionise the workplace for investment bankers by integrating cycling into daily routines. This approach promotes a healthier, more vibrant office environment, enhancing employee well-being, productivity, and efficiency while addressing the demanding nature of the banking industry. Encouraging cycling for office movement and commuting fosters a wellness-centred lifestyle, offering health benefits such as improved cardiovascular fitness and reduced stress. Additionally, cycling supports environmental goals by reducing carbon emissions and urban congestion; using cycling to generate building energy reinforces renewable energy principles. Community engagement through group rides and social activities strengthens colleague bonds. Research shows that regular exercise improves cognitive function and productivity, making cycling integration a strategic approach for boosting employee performance and wellbeing. This vision aims to create a holistic workspace where employees thrive personally and professionally.

- Aisling Begley

i-HUB: Open Source Innovation Hub

The project aims to create an architectural solution that bridges the gap between the IT/Tech world and the broader community in terms of open accessibilityand knowledge sharing. Rapid technological advancements have led to a growing divide, with complex tech language and siloed knowledge isolating non-experts. This separation hinders the democratization of information, leaving many without access to crucial technological insights. The project seeks to addressthis by establishing a hub that encourages knowledge exchange and inclusive dialogue between technologists and non-specialists. Through educationalprograms, tech solutions, and community engagement—both digital and physical—the hub aims to dismantle barriers and promote shared learning andcollaboration. This inclusive environment will help break down entry barriers, ensuring the benefits of technological progress are accessible to all. Ultimately, theproject fosters equal opportunities and a more equitable, interconnected society, creating a welcoming space that inspires technological and social progress.

Athanasia-Theofilia Mavrommati | silia.mvr@gmail.com

- Athanasia-Theofilia Mavrommati

The Park

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant shift in work dynamics, leading to an increased preference for remote and flexible work arrangements. As traditional office spaces challenges during the pandemic, there is a need to reimagine the future of workspaces to align with evolving trends and requirements. ‘The Park’ is a visionary and sustainable development in the heart of Camden, London, designed to foster community engagement, flexibility and future adaptability. This project integrates co-working spaces, office rentals, residential units, retail, leisure facilities and a park within a flexible infrastructure that can evolve with the community’s and market’s demands. Embracing vertical growth, the design maximises space utilisation while prioritising a central park as the focal point of the development. This innovative approach reimagines the conventional business park model, emphasising communal green spaces and accommodating diverse functions to enhance urban living and working experiences in Camden.

- Eleni Bertoli

The City Within the City

The architectural thesis “Imagineering the Office as a Means of Investment” reimagines corporate office spaces to balance private use and publicbenefit, enhancing urban environments while maintaining functional workplaces. The project investigates the evolution of office layouts,proposing a hybrid model that combines open-plan and cubicle designs to optimize collaboration and productivity. A pilot study of CardiffCentral Station provides a foundation for a design proposal that emphasizes flexibility, sustainability, connectivity, public engagement, andeconomic viability. Key design features include vertical circulation, efficient core positioning, shading, ventilation, and sustainable technologies likerainwater harvesting and solar panels. The public realm strategy incorporates green roofs and parks, connecting urban areas and enhancing theuser experience. The thesis concludes by presenting a vision for future corporate offices that integrate public and private realms, creatingsustainable, profitable, and community-oriented spaces that benefit both occupants and the broader public.

Isaac Slater

- Isaac Slater

Follies 4 Finance

In today’s world, accounting and finance wield substantial influence over global economies and businesses yet grapple with multifaceted issues such as knowledge silos, toxic work cultures, and issues with inclusivity. This thesis presents an architectural manifesto to tackle these challenges by demystifying accounting and finance, enhancing workplace culture, and fostering inclusivity. Inspired by the “People as Infrastructure” concept and the metaphorical “Finance Forest” and the idea of “Follies”, the design adopts a transparent and honest approach to the corporate, employee and finance. Drawing from the dynamic essence of Johannesburg’s urban voids and the Senedd’s debating chamber, the proposal features warm, woody materials and extensive glass elements to craft welcoming, noncorporate spaces. By integrating lush greenery and abundant natural light, the design promotes knowledge sharing, prioritises employee well-being, and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere, transforming finance offices into vibrant, supportive ecosystems.

Jermaine Chok Cjun Mae

- Jermaine Chok Cjun Mae

Repairing the Fabric of the City

Repairing urban fabric requires addressing environmental, cultural, and social impacts through sustainable practices. This thesis advocates for rethinking fast fashion and architecture by promoting slow fashion, slow architecture, and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings. The fast fashion industry’s negative environmental and social impacts highlight the need for change. By cross-programming offices with on-site recycling and combining them with retail stores, and adaptive showed that reuse can revitalize areas and improve business models. The proposed project in Cardiff Bay involves repurposing three abandoned Grade II buildings with minimal intervention and constructing new structures around them. This approach preserves the courtyard, opens the site to the public, and creates rooftop spaces with city views. The project fosters engagement with Cardiff’s historical fabric, blending preservation with innovation. The thesis provides a blueprint for transforming urban spaces through thoughtful design and strategic reuse.

- Justyna Matuszewska

Justyna Matuszewska | just.mat@hotmail.com

The Resilient Office of the Sharing Economy

In the context of changing attitudes to work, the future need for offices can be questioned. The Resilient Office incorporates sharing economy principles to anticipate its own eventual obsolescence. Through the cross-programming of Office and Residential typologies, the design consists of ‘Units’ able to be easily converted between uses, allowing for an office that is able to directly and quickly respond to continuous corporate expansion and contraction. In a further demonstration of Sharing Economy principles, the thesis explores the concept of making better use of under-utilised resources within the built environment, space. Demonstrated through the adaptive reuse of NCP Westgate Street, a multistorey car park in the heart of Cardiff, the design includes a vertical extension consisting of a series of cantilevered mega trusses. The resulting scheme consists of a series of floorplates and built-in place Units, able to be deconstructed to allow the floor plates to be used for another unforeseen future use.

- Matthew Gibson

Gibson

Recycling Plastic Sustainably

Every year approximately 380 million tonnes of plastic are produced, while only 9% of total plastics are recycled around the globe. In the face of the escalating global plastic waste crisis, the root cause remains the separation between corporate responsibility and public awareness. Exploring the intersection of sustainability, corporate responsibility, and public engagement, this thesis investigates the pivotal role architecture plays in fostering a holistic approach to sustainable plastic waste recycling practices and embodying shared responsibility between corporate and the public. Initiating an architectural proposal incentivising the recycling efforts for the public and corporate and facilitating the recycling process on a citywide scale by adding to the recycling infrastructure in Cardiff.

Rokas Vilciauskas | vilciauskasr@cardiff.ac.uk

- Rokas Vilciauskas

Value : Sites of Engagement Unit XII

Cardiff, Wales

Unit Leads: Mhairi McVicar & Dan Benham

The Value unit embeds into partnerships developed over the last decade between Cardiff University’s Community Gateway and Grangetown, Cardiff. Committing to what Adrienne Maree Brown terms an ‘inch wide mile deep’ approach. The Value Unit, now in its sixth year, annually aligns to opportunities, challenges and priorities defined by community partners.

As Cardiff Council prepares a Local Development Plan addressing inequalities in Cardiff’s ‘Southern Arc’, this year’s unit addressed changing relationships between communities, government, and the third or private sector, imagining how diverse interests could collaborate in developing undervalued civic spaces.

The unit trained in appreciate inquiry with Rosie Cripps and collaborated in Community Gateway’s annual strategic planning event. Responding to ideas generated by over a hundred community representatives, theses challenge value-extraction by reimaging brownfield sites as developed by multi-sector partnerships, proposing co-operative housing at masterplan, neighbourhood and street scales and developing under-used lanes, parks, corners, back gardens and supermarkets with a Laundrette, Boxing Club, Wellbeing Centre, Urban Room, growing spaces and performance spaces. The unit anticipates cultural shifts in public policy demanded by the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act, applying creative thinking by proposing how collaborative development partnerships can raise the ambition of architectural and urban design strategies.

Avinash Ruckhunty

Benjamin Cook

Charlotte Woodfield

Evangelia Glentze

Henry Denham-Harding

Hannah Smith

Hana Rowlands

Jonathan Sadler

Tanya Khanna

Theodora Maria Filippopoulou

The Talking Laundrette

The proposal aims to address the community’s desire for a communal laundromat while incorporating social elements that promote learning and historical education. While the need for a laundromat may seem outdated with the prevalence of washing machines in households, the proposal seeks to enhance the space by introducing additional amenities conducive to conversation and education. This transformed hub could serve as a new focal point for community interaction. Moreover, as a space, it serves as a tangible reminder of the value of preserving historical components and acts as a repository for community memories and stories, fostering a sense of collective belonging and identity.

- Avinash Ruckhunty

Living in the city

This thesis explores a new vision for living the city, asking the question can housing design smelt harder for the people and communities who live and work within them and deliver value to its inhabitants over value in profits by putting the provision of homes firmly in the hands of the state? With the city of Cardiff approving tower after tower, the last bastion of low-rise on the eastern bank of the Taff had been approved for a 2,500 unit development with only 5% affordable housing and its towers casting its shadow deep into Butetown and Grangetown. This thesis proposed an alternative view to this development, pursuing quality over quantity and delivering value to those who live and work within the new proposal, the Currans Community. The design delivered 650 homes across a wide range of typologies that pushes space and technological standards, as part of a 100% social housing scheme for the flagship of a new housing policy, also produced for this thesis, named the Social Housing Contract.

- Benjamin Cook

Tomorrow’s Tesco

This thesis envisions a transformative future for Tesco’s superstore in St. Mellons, Cardiff, emphasizing sustainability and community engagement. The project addresses the suburb’s heavy car dependency and lack of community spaces aiming to create a vibrant hub that integrates seamlessly into St. Mellons’ fabric. Inspired by themes of suburbia, spatial theory, and adaptive design, the project proposes a 50-year evolution. Initially, Tesco will support local farmers and include performance spaces, using proceeds to fund a new transport interchange hub. Over time, the car park will transform into a dynamic public square, prioritizing pedestrian routes and cultural activities. The underlying meaning of the project is to redefine the role of the supermarket from a mere retail space to a cultural and social centrepiece. By fostering community interaction, supporting local agriculture, and promoting sustainable transportation, the project aspires to enrich the local community and create a model for future urban development.

Woodfield

- Charlotte Woodfield

Setting the Table

The scheme creates an opportunity to highlight community voice and peaceful protest from the initial conception of “selling” existing piles on site as a symbol of communal ownership to envisioning an adaptable scheme that respects past, present and future generations; with the hope of creating positive permanent change and an increase in social, environmental and economic value for Grangetown. By gathering around a series of tables, members of Grangetown’s community can come together to collectively share, discuss, dream and create for the future through active community engagement. In addition, the scheme explores an extended public realm, the formation of a cooperative, active involvement in planning and public consultations for locals and the placement of a permanent urban room inviting out of the box ideas. New spaces for community activities, local group meetings, socialising, office work, public conferences and talks, events and bread-making classes are provided.

- Evangelia Glentze

Evangelia Glentze | e.glentze31@gmail.com

A Sense of Home

My design thesis was centred around two key concepts, home, and community. I wanted to investigate how these could be integrated into the design of a housing masterplan before anyone had moved in. I was inspired by the community focus found in the cohousing concept but appreciate that not everyone would be comfortable living in such an environment. Therefore, I included other housing types within my masterplan but drew from cohousing principles throughout the site. I also felt it was necessary to have community assets on the site so a nature reserve, retail facilities, and sports courts are featured. Additionally, there is a memorial garden to commemorate the industrial heritage of the site located in the Grade II listed gas holder on the site.

- Hannah Smith

Hannah Smith | hannahlmsmith@btinternet.com

Hana Rowlands | hanarowlands1999@gmail.com

Restoring Human Value

With a focus on improving inequalities across the southern arc, Cardiff’s LDP and Welsh Government’s Well-Being of Future Generations Act focuses on the need to create “a society that promotes and protects culture, heritage and the Welsh language, and which encourages people to participate in the arts, and sports and recreation.” The regeneration of Cardiff Bay has created segregation within the district and Butetown is currently within the top 10% of deprived areas in Wales. This regeneration has resulted in the neglect of the rich cultural heritage and history that once defined the area. Areas of Butetown are slowly being regenerated but valued community assets are being demolished against the voices of the community. This design thesis aims to restore humanity value within the area and ensures that the community’s voices are heard and their cultural presence solidified in a period of change.

- Hana Rowlands

(Un)defined spaces

My project focuses on the lanes behind Victorian terrace houses. The existing lanes had been gated off from public use to prevent anti-social behaviour. However, this left the lanes as underutilised and undefined space with a lack of social responsibility. The work sets out a series of urban strategies that range in scale. The light touch interventions, Strategy 1 and 2 focus on creating interactive spaces and green pockets and to encourage people to explore the lanes. Strategy 3 consists of adding covered communal space within the lanes to make a clear public/ private distinction. Strategy 4 involves retrofitting the existing terraces that are working more effectively in terms of orientation but can be improved for energy efficiency. Strategy 5 involves demolishing the existing and redefining the terrace block with a new-build scheme. The strategies are designed as hypothetical to test the thesis position.

- Jonathan Sadler

Jonathan Sadler | JSadler3088@gmail.com

The Sacred Gateway

The thesis began with an interest in an ongoing initiative concerning the residents of Mardy Street and community members part of the Shree Swaminarayan Temple nearby. The intiative was to clean and revitalise the utilisation of the rear alleys behind homes in Upper Grangetown. Furthermore, there was an emphasis on fostering intergenerational interaction and creating cleaner, more accessible green spaces that are wildlife-friendly, while also providing opportunities for public edible gardens. These concepts were introduced to me during Love Grangetown, an event aimed at nurturing community engagement and understanding the genuine desires of the residents. Could the exploration of creating shared spaces within blocks, centered around the theme of urban farming and meticulously designed to cater to the needs of residents, serve as a means to connect us as a wider community through green corridors and shared spaces, thereby emphasizing the importance of self-sufficiency within the community through sharing?

Tanya Khanna | khannat1@cardiff.ac.uk

- Tanya Khanna

Pentre Gardens; A place for all

The thesis explores ways to enhance public green spaces in Grangetown with the aim of creating safer neighbourhoods and communities. More specifically, it investigates how the rearrangement of existing barriers on site promotes a connection with the park and its surrounding context to increase activity and interaction. The aim is to create a safe and innovative organising neighbourhood unit where people feel part of Grangetown’s strong and vibrant community.

Theodora Maria Filippopoulou

- Theodora Maria Filippopoulou

Dwelling Differently: Ageing Unit XIII

Cardiff, Wales

Dwelling could be said to resist transitioning, its primary objective being to remain in place, and yet the verb ‘dwellan’ from Old English can suggest an action that ‘goes astray’ or in some way departs from the expected path. Dwellings (pl.) – the places of residence – could be considered backdrops, or infrastructure even, for transient everyday activities, bearing witness to significant life events and transitions (births, deaths, and everything in-between). This year, students within unit XIII Dwelling Differently, have developed a range of design theses responding to the theme of ‘ageing-in-place’ and transitions into and through the third and fourth age, with the projects operating at different scales and sites within Cardiff.

At the macro scale, students proposed an alternative development plan for Taff Embankment, prioritising climate resilient co-housing and homesteading (Powell); a floating parkscape for Roath Dock, placing older people as park-keepers within tied accommodation (Lennard); and a housing-led regeneration of Canal Park, Butetown, that promotes play across the life course (Khlif). At the micro scale, dementia-friendly designs for sheltered housing and associated public realm, integrating with a Cathays high-street (Benbow); adaptive re-use of wharfs, exploring place-attachment and familiarity for those ageing in Tiger Bay (Jones); and a Cathays back-lands site, reimagined for a community kitchen and Chinese migrants ageing ‘out-of-place’ (Yat Fan). Lastly, meso scale intergenerational neighbourhoods, including a co-living scheme at Talybont that offers an alternative approach to university campuses (Payne), and visions for investing in the marginalised, including a trackside Canton site where poor-quality, outdated bedsit accommodation is remodelled for shared living done differently (Adams).

Unit Lead: Sam Clark

A Familiar Place

Adelaide Street Extra Care Residence’ is a residential development for sufferers of dementia (also involving an adjoining line of retail and office spaces). The key theme of this project is to promote residents’ ability to become, and stay, familiar with their environment through a deep association with the area’s historic significance and a clear understanding of the site and its functionality. This is achieved through establishing a strategic tactile and visual connection with the local layout. It is designed, to a significant extent, to be visually permeable, making it relatively simple to identify location and function.

Butetown Dementia Action Allaince Cameron Jones

- Cameron Jones

Roath Basin’s Residential Masterplan

The Floating Residential Masterplan Proposal for Roath Basin focuses on creating ‘sheltered housing’ for an older community in a forgotten part of Cardiff Bay. The masterplan connects the areas surrounding the Roath Basin, creating new enlivening routes surrounded by wildlife and water, while extending the Welsh Coastal Path. Homes are designed for safe and comfortable living to support ageing in place and innovate retirement housing by encouraging healthier and fulfilled lifestyles. The masterplan’s sustainable design challenges rising sea levels and their flood risks to cities by introducing a completely floating community in a neglected basin that produces its own heating and electricity while limiting disruption to the limited land available to cities.

Chantelle Lennard

- Chantelle Lennard

Investing in the Margins

This project offers a re-examination of the opportunities of marginalised and interstitial urban sites as remedies to the housing and demographic crises. Through a sustainable retrofit, infill and fabric first approach, a marginalised and fairly dilapidated social housing estate in North Grangetown is transformed. Shared deck access, new light wells, and active communal spaces at the ground are introduced thereby exemplifying a housing commons which is socially vibrant and inviting. New co-living dwellings are imagined, whereby elderly gather with younger coliving individuals who constitute a social support network and medium for daily interactions. New forms of urban, social, and demographic regeneration through the crucial catalyst of older custodians are conceived. The project acts as a rallying cry to reject the policies of weakening housing standards, social displacement, and territorialisation, and instead argues for reinvestment in the margins, transforming marginalised spaces, and marginalised people, into something which is more integral to the life and vitality of the city.

- Christopher Adams

Ageing in Place •

Ageing in Play

This scheme aims to explore a new form of living called lucid urbanism, where housing integrates with play spaces, promoting both social and environmental sustainability. Designed with older adults in mind, it addresses the reduced mobility and increasing distance from play spaces that often come with age, encouraging longer engagement with these spaces as people get older. The agenda is to revitalise a neglected public park by filling ‘soft edges’ with new, environmentally sustainable residential developments for later living. These interventions will activate the park, create play spaces in between, and promote social interaction and community cohesion. The goal is to establish a retirement community that serves as a resource for play and social engagement, while also enhancing the environmental health of the urban realm.

- Elias Khlif

Intergeneration Living

This project seeks to pioneer a new typology of sheltered housing that accommodates students with older people as a way of reducing their social isolation. The occupants are integrated in dwellings separated not by age but by activity/sociability level, with everyone coming together in the central spine where all the social spaces are located. The social agenda seeks to integrate the two age groups through activities related to the growing, cooking and eating of food together, with additional spaces and interventions that encourage the sharing of knowledge through spontaneous interactions. The project also prioritises connection to nature for each individual, providing multiple private, semi-private, and public outdoor spaces that support a range of activities and occupant needs. These social and natural interventions facilitate the improvement in every resident’s physical and mental well-being and ultimately eliminate the experience of social isolation.

- Hannah Payne

Hannah Payne| h.e.payne99@gmail.com

The Familiar Home

”The Familiar Home” seeks to reimagine dementia care by addressing the crucial role of housing in supporting both those with dementia and their informal caregivers, who provide tireless support at home. By creating a community that integrates essential services and draws inspiration from local architecture, the project aims to enhance independence and joy for those with dementia. Each home incorporates unique elements for familiarity while prioritising non-institutional solutions and accessibility. The design fosters a supportive environment where residents and caregivers coexist. The landscaping of the sensory garden, ensures safety and freedom for residents to explore and connect with their surroundings, all from the safety of their collective and familiar home.

Phoebe Benbow | benbowp@cardiff.ac.uk

- Phoebe Benbow

Cimate Resilience

thesis explores a design that tackles climate change and the issues surrounding over densification, food and fuel poverty that it is causing. Testing the benefits of cohousing to create a new type of community that is focused on sustainability, supporting a different way of living, where residents are more independent. This independence allows residents to adapt to the changing climate environment, like more frequent extreme weather events and social conditions of the impacts of irregular corporate prices. Implementing these sustainable principles firstly within the cohousing blocks and their agricultural landscapes, and then across the entire masterplan should have a positive effect on the wider surrounding neighbourhood, reducing the impact of climate change on as many people as possible.

- Samantha Powell

Carbon Pasts, Low Carbon Unit XIV

Futures Unit XI

A sustainable future for Pontypridd

Market Quarter

In the face of the climate emergency, it is essential that we transition to a low carbon society. To achieve this, it’s essential to prioritize building reuse and reduce our operational carbon. For the past two years, this unit has explored sustainable futures for abandoned coal mines, sites of carbon extraction. This year, the focus shifted to the social infrastructure that supported the mining communities, in particular Pontypridd Market Quarter.

As seen across the South Wales Coalfield during the 19th century, Pontypridd saw a rapid transition from rural crossroads to urban service hub, exemplified by the Market Quarter. Today, the market itself continues to play an important role in the town, and yet above it stands the derelict former Town Hall Theatre, closed since 1982 and rapidly decaying. The students have been challenged to consider the role of this historic site in supporting our societal low carbon transition. Issues explored include promoting a circular economy, facilitating intergenerational living, addressing first floor vacancy, the importance of storytelling, green infrastructure, incremental changes, community governance and collective action.

The unit thanks the owners, stall holders and shopkeepers of Pontypridd Market Quarter and members of Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council for their collaboration and support.

Unit Lead: Chris Whitman

Pontypridd, Wales

Unearthig a Collective Vision

This scheme aims to help renovate Pontypridd’s former theatre space above its bustling market quarter into a multifunctional scheme based on the idea of developing circular economies through collective action. Inspired by the operational model of Fablabs, the program will involve resource collection, a workshop space to build with discarded material, a repair café to fix old household appliances and devices, a digital lab working closely with the workshop to allow more precise fabrication of parts and teaching digital creative skills to local students and ultimately redistributing upcycling material as well as knowledge resources across Pontypridd. Thus the scheme will catalyse the heart of the town that challenges the ownership-based society in favour of greater accessibility and more equitable distribution of tools and materials.

- Chinmay Kale

The Memory Collective

The thesis explores whether a building can tell it’s own stories. A position defined through the use of playwriting as a new form of architectural interrogation. This play defining the main spaces of the Pontypridd Market Quarter as individuals grappling with their relations to themselves and their pasts. The project expands on this expressionism and looks to re-capture the role of storytelling in society against the backdrop of the growing digital realm we embrace today. Architecturally, the proposal explores multiple avenues in how a building can tell of it’s self, amongst the wider programmatic offerings of a main memory hall, classroom and intimate one to one conversation spaces. The result is a building’s story that is exposed to its audience, a new backdrop and facilitator of storytelling and social cohesion amongst Pontypridd.

- Connor Bryan

Dominic Hart | HartD3@cardiff.ac.uk

Philosophies of Repair

The schedule of accommodation is bringing together aged communities in order to re-instate multi-generational living and their inherent benefits. It aims to repair fractured communities through the recreation of extended family values through multi-generational living and mixing of young and single parent families, and elderly people. This is completed through the concept of a 15 minute city through its inherent low carbon nature, to push the market quarter as the centre of Pontypridd whilst restoring the condition and value of the existing town hall. It aims to make all key amenities within a 5 minute walking distance for those with reduced mobility

- Dominic Hart

Rooted Resilience

The thesis focuses on recognition of the positive aspects of nostalgia within a community that is often overlooked. The design thesis looks to comprehend how the successful method of small incremental change existing within Pontypridd Indoor Market can expand across Pontypridd Market Quarter and the wider townscape over a generational time-period. The thesis aims to discover how a series of small incremental changes can increase local engagement and participation through a community led design and build process to increase understanding of historical value and forge a network grounded by a united ambition for low-carbon regeneration. The thesis aims to reshape the linearity of typical design frameworks by proposing a format aligned to the successful Miyawaki method of forest creation, an application of natural reforestation principles. The approach mimics the fragmental Miyawaki method by bringing together existing local organisations to re-engage vulnerable individuals through access to support, education, and innovation opportunities.

Lizzie Eves

- Lizzie Eves

Re-activating the High Street

High street vacancies are widespread in the UK, often with upper floors ignored in redevelopment plans. This thesis focuses on these upper floors in Pontypridd, aiming to create accessible social spaces using low carbon methods. Research examined the decline of UK high streets and existing policies. An audit of Pontypridd revealed high vacancy rates and limited accessibility, especially on upper floors. It highlighted a need for social spaces, noting Pontypridd is “deprived physically but has community and tradition” (Interview, 2023). Initial plans to insert lifts were abandoned due to high carbon costs. Instead, a masterplan with internal/ external walkways and vertical access nodes was developed. A building taxonomy guided the design, incorporating the site’s history and heritage. The scheme enhances community engagement by extending socialising hours and increasing footfall, working with Pontypridd’s Market. It promotes reuse, social sustainability, and low carbon living, reactivating the high street and creating a new identity for Pontypridd.

- Lydia Jane Sturgess

Lydia Jane Sturgess |

Conversations with Nature

This thesis intends to challenge the existing negative perceptions of post-industrial communities, specifically Welsh Valley towns in decline. Decades of deindustrialisation and neglect have left a severe physical and physiological fragmentation across users and Wales’s rich natural landscape. The design thesis aims to redefine the experience of these rural spaces, proposing a collaborative design approach using a flexible nature-based programme within a built fabric prioritising shared ownership and access for future generations. This proposal acts as a demonstration project for the wider Welsh Valleys, creating green community spaces and green social prescribing facilities that utilise post-industrial towns ‘lost spaces’ as catalysts for lasting sustainable change. The thesis proposes ‘designing for decline’ as an extension of the existing theories of ‘designing for disassembly’ and curated decay, the project working in synergy with the natural degeneration and re-wilding of the existing building fabric as opposed to a large-scale invasive regeneration.

- Poppy Suggett

Poppy Suggett | poppy@suggetts.co.uk

The Peoples’ Pavilion

My thesis delves into the intersection of community governance and design. Centred around the former Town Hall above Pontypridd’s market, my research seeks to leverage the rich historical context and the aspirations of Pontypridd’s community. By exploring adaptive reuse strategies, I aim to honour the tangible and intangible heritage values of the site while addressing contemporary environmental challenges. Through inclusivity, transparency and empowerment the project seeks to liberate the community to actively shape their futures, foster community cohesion, and collectively advocate for positive change.

Sophie Smith | sophiegsmith@hotmail.co.uk

Front Elevation

- Sophie Smith

Dolen

Dolen - Pontypridd Circular Economy Centre breathes new life into the abandoned Grade II listed Pontypridd Theatre, honouring the town’s coal mining heritage. Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of ‘Mottainai,’ which emphasises the regret of waste, the project revitalises the historic building into a vibrant hub for sustainability and community engagement. The design features a community garden, kitchen, environmental education facilities, and a biomass fuel plant, all centred around the food lifecycle. The facility’s core operation creates a new social infrastructure by redistributing goods to vulnerable community members, turning environmental problems into social solutions. This proposal nurtures community bonds, promotes sustainable lifestyles, and preserves the area’s historic significance, making the theatre a beacon of cultural and environmental resilience.

Yoya Muraki | murakiy@cardiff.ac.uk

- Yoya Muraki

Liveable Urbanism Unit XV

Calicut, India

Cities, being the engines of the global economy, consume a disproportionate 70% of global resources and produce more than 75% of global emissions. With more than 55% of the global population residing in cities, occupying less than 3% of the landmass, cities across the world need to transform into more sustainable, liveable places by reducing consumption and pollution, resulting in the eradication of social, environmental, and economic injustices.

The Liveable Urbanism studio unit critiques the postindustrial models of urban development that consider the city to be a static rather than dynamic system. The unit intertwines social, environmental, economic, and institutional subsystems that manifest through the spatial system constantly in transition.

The studio has been working on rapidly growing cities in the global south. In 2023-24 the studio was based in Calicut, a coastal city of half a million that is in constant flux and transition spatially, architecturally, socially, and economically since the start of the spice trade (8th century).

The studio started by students developing a GROUNDING in theory and approach to the liveable cities, and tools for modelling them, followed by an intense RE-SEARCH that included a study trip to Calicut to develop a personal agenda. Students then developed their first set of ACTIONS, in the form of urban strategies, to achieve their agenda which, in turn, informed their RE-ACTION with an urban catalyst project which helped the city to transition from an unsustainable to a liveable city.

Unit Lead: Shibu Raman

Living on the Edge: Kozhikode’s Migrant Labour Force

In today’s increasingly interconnected world, the issue of social integration among migrant communities has become a pressing concern for many urban areas. My thesis focuses on addressing this challenge through the creation of a catalyst and urban strategy aimed at facilitating the seamless integration of the local internal migrant community within the social landscape of Calicut. This initiative ultimately aims to elevate the overall quality of life, enhance social mobility, through creating better access to resources for the migrant population.

- Alanoud Al Saud

Whose Ocean Is It?

WHOSE OCEAN IS IT? Without a healthy ocean environment, a liveable world cannot exist. Research highlights many issues affecting Kozhikode’s coastline and relationship with the ocean, but also reveals potential ways to address them in the future. Kozhikode must implement bold and forward-thinking policy and spatial interventions to change course in its management of the ocean. A design competition was launched to develop an architectural infrastructure that can address key challenges and catalyse the development of the 2030 Aquatic Transition plan. The New-South-Pier development focuses on sustainable production through mariculture, boosting biodiversity through artificial reef seeding, and engaging the public with cultural and leisure facilities. As one city takes steps toward a better future, others soon will follow. In time, our influences combined can create lasting change for the environment, its inhabitants, and for ourselves and our communities in return. For whose ocean is it but ours?

- Barney Johnson

The Negotiated City

This thesis explores the concept of a liveable city as a socially cohesive one, with social cohesion being the glue that holds societies together. It is the prevention of social fracture and the formation of community built on values of, belonging, identity, tolerance, respect, equality, and human connection. Further, social cohesion is not the absence of diversity but instead its celebration. Calicut is showing signs of fragmentation within its social landscape, with low levels of tolerance in the city through a lack of opportunity for human connection. The negotiated city promotes formation of community, providing access to, and opportunity for, human interaction and cultural exchange through a linear park and node sites.

- Jasmine Hounslow

Hidden Virtues

Urbanisation creates stressors linked to housing demand, increased vehicles, and limited access to services, especially affecting younger, more active populations. In Calicut, the population has surged from 1.2 million to 4.4 million over 20 years, expanding the urban area and decreasing accessibility. This growth has stressed financial security, nutrition, education, housing, employment, and healthcare. Consequently, mental health issues have risen, with Kerala reporting the highest number of young people seeking educational stress helplines. To address these issues, a network of care across Calicut is proposed. Understanding mental health through the continuum model and viewing it from social and medical lenses are crucial. Using qualitative methods, the study identified a decline in interactions, greenery, and nature connection, with increased seclusion. The response involves establishing community recovery care services coordinated from a central hub; The Wellness and Recovery Center. The catalyst project aims to provide green spaces and safe, informal support networks, countering cultural stigma around mental health.

- Methila Ganasooriar

Power Shift

Gender equality is key to just and sustainable cities. This thesis explores how power imbalances restrict women’s movement in Kozhikode, impacting their overall quality of life. It reveals how these disparities limit women’s social, physical, and digital mobility, hindering their participation in urban life. The proposed solution is a proactive urban strategy. Instead of reacting to existing gender bias, it aims for transformative change. A network of connected infrastructure, leveraging existing resources and new developments, will enhance accessibility and awareness for women and girls. This network’s heart will be a Women’s Centre at the central bus station. It empowers women by addressing perception issues, increasing opportunities, and providing solutions across individual, community, and city levels. Additionally, the centre advocates for the importance of female participation in Kozhikode’s prosperity, fostering a more equitable society.

- Nikita Lad

Just Housing?

“Just Housing?” Seeks to question the (lack of) social housing provision system in Calicut. Formed on the basis that housing is fundamental to every person’s experience of the city and critical to quality of life, the project seeks to understand the culture of Calicut, and to develop a social housing system which can maintain this whilst densifying the city and enabling economies of scale and sharing through co-operated, subsidised, not-for-profit self building. The project centres on the concept of the street neighbourhood, which is reflected in the arrangement of maisonettes connected by wide deck access, in order to foster a sense of street life and encourage activity throughout the development. In combination with on-site amenities and retail space, the project aims to develop a typology for the densification and democratisation of housing in Calicut.

- Timothy Purves

Invisible Weavings

Without economic certainty, a city cannot sustain its population, thus affecting its overall liveability (World Bank, 1991). Following the flexibilisation of the economy in India, informal economies rose to over 80% of overall economic activities. Meanwhile, nearly half of the gross domestic production is covered by informal economies, which is not acknowledged; therefore, informal economies are invisible. The textile industry has been a historically significant traditional production in Kozhikode (Kerala); however, weaving as a profession and cultural heritage is in decline. The textile industry will continue to decline if weavers’ contribution to the traditional industry is not recognised. To protect the textile and associated industries, traditional industries need to be reweaved within the city by preserving the cultural and architectural heritage of weaving practices, integrating weavers back into the street, and blurring informal and formal economies within the textile and associated industries.

Zsófi Veres | verescz@cardiff.ac.uk

- Zsófi Veres

LE-DR Lab III - Learning Unit XVI

Social relationships will be vital for humans to flourish in the changing economic and technological context. Relationships matter for all and at all stages of life: living, working and learning. LE-DR Lab III focuses on creating a university campus environment where social relationships can be nurtured. It aims to investigate the spatial, digital and organisational strategies for developing learning communities on university campuses. Hillary Cottam’s Radical Help offers a valuable springboard when considering spatial, digital and organisational integration. LE-DR Lab is based on mobilising the Cardiff University campus as the Living Lab, where students can learn first-hand about the challenges and develop design responses based on their individual and collective learning experiences. The unit worked collaboratively with the Cardiff University stakeholders to develop project briefs and testing ideas. The design responses from LE-DR Lab III highlight how higher education as a sector might transition in the context of the cost-of-living crisis, the climate emergency and engaging the civic society. The projects also embrace adaptive reuse and bring new life to underused spaces. But most importantly, the projects provide a glimpse of where the higher education learning experience might transition from the learners’ perspective.

Unit Lead: Hiral Patel

Cardiff, Wales

Educational Third Spaces

The thesis project aims to create a decentralised Educational Third Space within the historic Roath Branch Library in Adamsdown, ensuring students and residents have access to a suitable study area. This urban space, distinct from living quarters and formal educational settings, is informed by Third Space theory. It seeks to meet the needs of both universities and the community, fostering social collaboration, alternative knowledge production, and learning through boundary crossing rather than traditional methods. By preserving the library’s existing structure and listed elements, the project repurposes and extends the building to provide valuable educational resources to the Adamsdown community.

-

Alejandra Alvarez Gutierrez

Higher Imagination

Higher Imagination considers how the value of the imaginative process is increasingly de-valued over the course of the educational system, yet this very process could the answer that we need to solve the old, persistent problems that we still cannot seem to solve. If we can imagine a different future, then we can plan how to get there. This project considers how to re-value the imaginative process in higher education to provide students, no matter their discipline, with a basis of imagination and an established process that allows them to face their chosen speciality with a new future in mind. This is activated through the sharing of creative, artistic space with the local community, learning how to activate their imaginative processes through engagement with both the arts and lots of different vibrant individuals.

- Anne-Marie Howick

Anne-Marie Howick

Public Exhibition Centre, Cathays Campus

The Public Exhibition Center project at Cardiff University’s Cathays Campus serves as a bridge between the academic community and the public. This Centre is designed to be a dynamic spacethat showcases our research and innovation, inviting engagement and fostering a sense ofbelonging. With a focus on sustainability and adaptability, the project utilizes local Welsh materialsthrough a newly proposed Welsh timber supply chain. As I conclude my architectural studies,Cathays Campus has been the vessel of my university memories, and this design will serve as acarrier for future generations’ memories, continuing the memory forward.

- Zengyong Dong

Regenerative Vision Unit XVII

St Phillips Marsh, Bristol

Unit Leads: Shankari Raj & Lawrence Duck

We are in a world ‘In Transition’. What if climate destruction has meant that humanity is approaching the end of the road and, as of tomorrow, we need to take radical steps to change the way we live. What would this world look like? How would we change the way we live? The relentless pursuit of economic growth has delivered ecological destruction, financial fragility and social instability.

We need to act now with a transformational approach to our way of living and consider our future through the lens of positive imagination, based on a complete economic and societal shift. ‘There are no non-radical options left before us. I believe imagination is the only thing we have that is, or could be radical enough to get us through, provided it is accompanied, of course, by bravery, and by action.’ Naomi Klein

Our collective imagination:

The Regenerative Vision unit will explore progressive economic and environmental philosophies and their potential influence upon our urban environment. From using ‘Donut Economics’ at city scale to ‘Circular Economy’ principles at building scale, the unit will develop imaginative and creative responses to regenerate our urban environment. The expected outcome will be a developed design at city master-planning scale; fully integrated and resolved public buildings to 1:1 detail; and a thorough understanding of the impact policy can play to deliver societal and environmental change through net zero Architecture.

Adam Summers

Annie O’Rourke

Clare Passau

Maria Daliouri

Prity Chattergee

Michael Dorsman

Thomas

The Restorative Centre

Regeneration of St Philip’s Marsh is not a point in time, but an ongoing process. The medicine of ‘Salutogenesis’ offers a system for designing healthy environments for people and communities; both literally healthier and resilient against the challenges of time. The challenge and aim of this architectural proposal, will be using both form and function to manage the positive impacts on the human immune system, that come from integrating the landscape of the freshwater wetland, with a clinical medical space that is controllable, consistent and cleanable. The solution to this dialectic is resolved by combining architecture and ecology, creating a unique typology based on seeing nature as an asset, not a hindrance or box to be ticked. Designing in such a holistic manner will lead to all-encompassing benefit at St Philip’s Marsh, at every level that design can impact, from the microbial, to individual, to national scale.

- Adam Summers

Inhabiting Urban Pockets

The critical position of this design thesis is that education and environment-focused schools are the epicentre of change and the main catalyst for climate action. The design thesis addresses innovative school design which inhabits the urban voids between existing buildings on St Philip’s Marsh with pockets of learning opportunities. The proposal is designed for deconstruction and the architecture is constructed from recycled glulam bolted together, existing steel frame buildings and reclaimed red brick. The holistic approach to school design puts the climate emergency at the core and encourages future generations to become leaders of climate action.

- Annie O’Rourke

The Sanctuary

The population of vulnerable individuals seeking refuge in Bristol and across the UK is growing. The Scheme Explores Methods for enhancing safety in an environment where such considerations are often intangible, subjective, and individualistic. By applying principles of safe design, the industrial site transforms into a sanctuary that addresses ecological needs, species preservation, social context, and the built environment in a cohesive solution. The scheme demonstrates how short-term accommodation can be achieved in a regenerative manner, specifically designed for the most vulnerable populations. As conflicts, climate insecurity, and civil unrest continue to displace more people in the UK and globally, the Sanctuary and proposed policies for St Philip’s Marsh present a successful model for reducing inequities and increasing safety in times of crises.

- Clare Passau

Spatial Justice for Urban Mobility

The thesis starts by looking at the wider issue of the degradation of the environment and quality of life caused by car-dependent cities and how it is enabled through the urban realm which is designed to prioritise the efficiency of vehicle mobility instead of pedestrians and the human scale. This is defined as a ‘spatial injustice’. Based in St Philip’s Marsh, Bristol, the project suggests the creation of public infrastructure that enables alternative mobility while incorporating spaces for community mixing and action towards the improvement of public spaces, the regeneration of existing ecological habitats and embracing the flooding challenge through a passive approach. The design is centred around the concept of creating a threshold that enables different movements and rhythms considering different vehicles types, pedestrian activities, existing ecological species and the movement of water. Looking into the future, the proposal of the urban mobility hub seeks to enable human and ecological wellbeing and activity while striving towards climatic resilience and the longevity of communities.

Daliouri

- Maria Daliouri

Back To The Marsh

A catalyst embodies the idea of a point source of ‘change’, adeptly expediting reaction rates of a wider more larger and greater change from that point source. Operating as a facilitator, it provides an alternative pathway, thereby mitigating the initial barrier needed for the wider and more larger change. In this project, the catalyst is the re-envisionment of the exisiting Fruit and Vegetable Market located on the highest area of land on St Philip’s Marsh. Completely impermeable and completely inaccessible to the public, it is the area which requires the largest amount of change which can then become an example for similar typologies of buildings, lands and communities to live and work symbiotically with nature. The re-envisionment of the 5 warehouses which sit on a wholesale market site of 17,000 sqm, the warehouses taking up 9,450 sqm, this project creates a new vision for homes within a light industrial landscape; a water purfication centre within a site often submerged with flood waters; and a new creative and leisure centre within a site in need of such spaces desperately whilst working passively to reduce flood risks. A space for all on the Marsh Estate which inspires the slow change across the site to bring itself Back To The Marsh inorder to live with flood and use water based ecology as a tool for regeneration.

- Prity Chatterjee

Food with a Face

Food justice is crucial in today’s global markets, which prioritise cheap production over people. This results in 8.4 million UK residents suffering from food poverty and 33% of food being wasted (Business Waste, 2023). “Food with a Face” aims to change this dynamic by integrating into St Philips Marsh’s circular economy. It plans to revitalise contaminated land using regenerative agriculture, transforming it into fertile grounds for local food production. This project will provide fresh, local food, create economic opportunities, and strengthen local food systems. Incorporating green spaces and urban farming will reconnect urban dwellers with their environment, fostering a sense of stewardship and responsibility. Additionally, food justice and sustainability educational programs will engage the community, empowering individuals to shape a more equitable and sustainable food future. “Food with a Face” represents a transformative vision, aiming to make food justice a reality for all.

- Michael Dorsman

Social Building Blocks

There are tens of thousands of people on the housing waiting list in Bristol. The city needs to create a vast quantity of genuinely affordable, high-quality social housing typologies to put roofs over people’s heads. The housing crisis is now a long-standing, ever-escalating problem across the country. Future residential dwellings need to encompass current environmental + social concerns and deliver this through the architecture. The scale of high-rise must be carefully considered as part of this solution. The context of this design thesis is St Philip’s Marsh; an area that is surrounded by some industrial heritage buildings which are to be reused, repurposed + encompassed within high quality social housing.

Thomas Limbrick

- Thomas Limbrick

Halls of Encounter

This architectural project in Bristol addresses the city’s heritage, which has been shaped by industrial achievements while often overlooking its role in the transatlantic slave trade. The toppling of the Colston statue in 2020, a pivotal event highlighting systemic inequalities, inspired the proposal. Situated at the remains of a demolished factory façade in St Philip’s Marsh, the project aims to redefine the site’s identity by embracing Bristol’s vibrant art sector. Using graffiti as a symbol of public dissent and activism, the design incorporates gallery spaces for contemporary art and conflict resolution areas to foster dialogue and healing. An undulating brick wall complements the original heritage structure, creating spaces for confrontation and reflection. The proposal includes pavilions, artists’ studios, and raised pathways, offering a transformative experience that honors and reinterprets Bristol’s complex history.

- Tay Yik Teng

This year we celebrate 30 years of postgraduate teaching provision by the Welsh School of Architecture. In 2024 we continue to bridge education with research and practice, on a broad range of subjects from computational methods, urban design, building conservation and design research to energy efficiency and holistic sustainability.

Our current portfolio is diverse and is addressed to built environment professionals who aspire to positively shape the future of architecture, in ways that are ethical, inclusive, inspirational and sustainable. Our specialist programmes enable students to reach their desired career position, however central or tangential to the typical practice of architecture this may be. In this exhibition we celebrate the achievements of our current students and observe not only the impressive acquisition of new skills but also the evidence of emerging new knowledge and approaches that are creative, original and transformative. Please join us in applauding the new generation of professionals, en route to their new roles, as they prepare to act against pressing global challenges.

Eleni Ampatzi Director of Postgraduate Taught

Dun Jin

Jassar Alijassar

Longkun Zhang

Yiwei Lu

Maira Waqar

Malik Haider

Sally Mounla

Seba Hussein Abuhassoun

Syeda Ramsha Khalid

Dongyang Zhang

Architectural Design MA

The postgraduate MA in Architectural Design (MA AD) is an advanced, experimental, and innovative design research course focusing on the multiple connections between design and research within complex multidimensional environments, aiming to address current global challenges from innovative perspectives. By pursuing the MA AD, the students transition from merely addressing sitespecific issues to becoming sophisticated design-research practitioners producing consistent design-driven knowledge with the potential of being replicated and adapted to diverse contexts.

MA AD uses design-led research tools, techniques and methods to inform the student’s iterative design research explorations informed by relevant theories and responding to the demands of sites, contexts and people. In this process, the student’s architectural design research projects are conceived as open-ended test beds of ideas, spaces, materials and languages, articulated through a dialogue at multiple scales with contexts, locals and relevant stakeholders. It also integrates knowledge drawn from many adjacent disciplines to architecture.

The Heritage for Development (H>D) Unit is jointly run by MA AD (UK) and the MArch of the Department of Architecture of the University of Engineering and Technology of Lahore (Pakistan). The H>D Unit focuses on the historic Walled City of Lahore, the capital city of the Pakistani region of Punjab, in close collaboration with the public sector institution of the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) in charge of its planning and heritage preservation, and with the Aga Khan Cultural Trust-Pakistan (AKCT-P).

The H>D Unit’s final aim has been to develop and test architectural design research strategies at multiple scales to reactivate the abandoned spaces of the Walled City by promoting its heritage values while enhancing the local community’s participation and empowerment through codesign processes. In collaboration with our institutional partners, the unit has developed preliminary design research proposals as the grounds for future funding applications, preliminary studies and professional projects.

Course lead: Federico Wulff

Informal Commercial Space

The project focuses on the issues of commercial encroachment, sanitation, and employment in Chowk Jhanda; proposes the research questions of improvement of business lives, environmental quality, and the unemployed person and women with social sustainability as the research glasses; went through two loops of reference study; finally, designs an architectural proposal to solve the above research questions.

- Dun Jin

Empowering Heritage

This project in the Walled City of Lahore addresses gender inequality and empowers women through strategic architectural interventions. Revising a building that lays next to the historic Haveli of Nau Nihal Singh and integrating new community-oriented spaces creates a safe, accessible, and supportive environment for women. The intervention includes educational workshops, legal aid services, and health education facilities, all designed to foster economic independence and social empowerment. The project enhances the urban fabric by improving connectivity between the Haveli, now functioning as a girls’ school, and the new women’s centre, creating vibrant public spaces that encourage community interaction and cultural preservation.

- Jassar Alijassar

Empower Her

These pictures show the section, facade and some scenarios of the multi-functional women’s center building that I designed. How I protect the privacy of women, and how different functions are arranged according to their level of privacy, the combination of materials, how to make women feel comfortable and safe and so on. Also included is how to respond to Pakistan’s climate (removable shed design)

- Longkun Zhang

The Role of Inclusive Social Heritage in Supporting the Development of Urban Youth and Street Children

By preserving the historical structure and character of Pani Wala Talaab, the design combines modern building techniques and sustainable materials to create a multi-functional learning and exchange space. The design philosophy is based on three core principles: conservation, education and inclusion. Preservation: Preserve the original architectural style and some of the old structures of Pani Wala Talaab, and restore the original appearance of the site using restoration art and traditional techniques. Education: Create multifunctional classrooms and workshops that offer a range of courses from basic education to vocational skills training, especially educational programs designed for street children. Inclusive: The design of an open and flexible space layout encourages community members from different backgrounds to participate in the daily activities of the center and promotes interaction and support within the community.

- Yiwei Lu

Empowering Hands

In contemporary Pakistan, economic challenges and gender discrimination impact small businesses and families. The neglected Pani Wala Talab, situated in Lahore’s historic walled city is surrounded by a bustling shoe market where men dominate the workforce and women’s participation is minimal. This project aims to transform Pani Wala Talab into a training and business center, promoting socioeconomic development and women’s empowerment. Leveraging the prevalent craft of leatherwork, the project seeks to provide training in leather crafting and production targeting male daily wage workers and women. Simultaneously, it aims to create a safe space for women to participate in leather production and entrepreneurship fostering economic independence and social empowerment. Through heritage preservation, skills training, and economic initiatives, the project envisions positive socio-economic change in the community. By addressing local workforce needs and empowering women through skill building and entrepreneurship the project aims to promote sustainable economic growth and social transformation in Lahore’s historic walled city.

- Maira Waqar

Urban Resurgence

My research seeks to unite WCL communities by fostering a strong collective identity and sense of belonging, particularly through the utilization of in-between spaces in urban squares. By community interactions and relationships, I seek to identify strategies that embrace pluralism while encouraging collective participation. This will strengthen community bonds and enhance social cohesion, enabling communities to thrive with a shared purpose and enduring connections. The objectives are to cultivate a profound sense of belonging within the community, explore the concept of interstitial space to revive lost heritage and art, develop modular and adjustable spaces, cater to evolving needs and celebrate cultural richness, and foster a dynamic and inclusive environment.

Malik Haider

- Malik Haider

Reviving Heritage

This architectural design research project focuses on the revitalisation of the Pani Wala Talab site in Lahore, transforming a neglected British water reservoir into a cultural centre and museum. Employing a social inclusion approach to preserve and promote cultural heritage through craftsmanship. It explores adaptive reuse and the integration of traditional crafts into contemporary settings, emphasising community engagement and economic sustainability. Key elements include the use of earth colours, flexible space design, and the repurposing of materials to reflect the site’s industrial past while honouring its cultural identity. The project seeks to empower local residents, foster a sense of belonging, and create a dynamic, visually striking environment that balances preservation with innovation.

- Sally Mounla

Bridging Borders

The Walled City of Lahore, located in the heart of Lahore, Pakistan, is renowned for its rich social heritage and architectural splendor. Since 1947, it has also become a refuge for numerous immigrants from neighboring countries and beyond. Recently, Pakistan has reported that the large number of immigrants has strained the country’s resources, caused friction between refugees and locals, and posed risks to internal security and political stability (Bhatty, 1987). Consequently, it is essential to create inclusive spaces for immigrant youth and young women to foster a sense of belonging and empowerment. These spaces should reflect and value diverse groups, celebrating their contributions and promoting inclusivity. By recognizing and addressing the challenges faced by marginalized groups, such spaces can support fairness, diversity, and a sense of community within society.

- Seba Hussein Abuhassoun

Unveiling Gendered Spaces

The walled city of Lahore, Pakistan, stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of the region. However, beneath its architectural splendor lies a complex web of social challenges, particularly regarding gender inequality. Despite advancements for women in other parts of Lahore, those within the walled city find themselves constrained by traditional norms and a lack of opportunities, perpetuating a cycle of stagnation. This research project seeks to confront and overcome these entrenched barriers by utilizing architectural intervention as a means of empowerment. By providing women with dedicated spaces within their community and fostering a sense of belonging, the project aims to create tangible pathways towards equality in education, healthcare, financial independence, societal participation, and labor force engagement.

- Syeda Ramsha Khalid

Mixed-use residential renovation under sustainability

To improve the living environment of residents through the development of economically led sustainability and social Spaces to promote social interaction, a sense of belonging and identity.

- Dongyang Zhang

Urban Design MA

Course leads: Neil Turnbull, Nastaran Peimani & Hesam Kamalipour

The MA Urban Design programme aims to enable practitioners and scholars to transform the field of urban design through critical thinking and creative practice. The course is run across two Schools, the Welsh School of Architecture and the School of Geography and Planning at Cardiff University. The course enables students to learn by deploying design, theory, and development and design control practices, which inform urban design.

Urban design embraces a state of being ‘in transition’ as a transdisciplinary practice that it not only straddles professional fields such as architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, and public policy, but also disciplines such as urban politics, economics, sociology, and cultural studies. From this rich and varied background –including a wealth of multiple research approaches, methods, and knowledge of practical tools – practice and learning evolves.

The multifaceted complexity and plurality of the city – itself always ‘in transition’ – is in turn embraced by the practice of urban design. Through taking time to engage and learn through observing, listening, measuring, drawing, mapping, and reading – both in the academy and in the field – urban designers not only witness and give voice, but bring and offer possible, needed, and appropriate solutions to the wicked problems of the built environment.

Our graduates move on to careers as urban designers, or in urban design related work – in the fields of architecture, urban planning, property, or public policy. These opportunities may be within the public, private, or voluntary sectors. Some of our graduates continue to higher research degrees.

Carlos Valenzuela

Jiajian He

Karthikeyan Chokkalingam Velayutham

Zonghui Liu

Rachel Marian George

Rehma Harshita Palaparthi

Srivaishnavi Ganti

Yasha Yathisha Shetty

Rethinking Support

This design project transforms a post-industrial waterfront site along the River Taff in Cardiff, Wales, to provide community-led mixed-use housing, public spaces, and facilities that generate and support creative and educational opportunities. The development is informed and led by the existing social service infrastructure on the site, addressing socio-economic issues through design led by the community and prioritising marginalised groups. This is partly achieved by regenerating existing industrial warehouses to offer residential, educational, commercial, and community uses, utilising the flexibility provided by the warehouse’s typology and its larger floor plates to accommodate these functions. Pedestrians are prioritised through design aspects such as lower building heights, active ground floor facades, adequate infrastructure for pedestrian movement, and the offering of various public spaces and outdoor activities that prioritise social interaction. The site will become a strategic location in the twenty-first century to lead urban transformation in the Welsh capital.

- Carlos Valenzuela

Red Line

Due to the legacy of urban development, Guangzhou’s new central axis has been interrupted by a nearly 30-year-old large community-Liuyun Residential District. This area has transformed from a solely residential function to a mixed commercial and residential one due to nearby commercial squares. The old residential buildings clash with the new commercial centers and office buildings, and the

Jiajian He

Jiajian He

- Jiajian He

Glan Afon Quarter

To create a healthy, interconnected urban space that defines its character through diversifying land use, densifying public spaces, establishing recreational corridors, and enhancing the public realm through a sense of commonality and belonging. To incorporate a circular framework encouraging a sociocultural mix, and ecological balance thereby engaging communities through placemaking to ensure adaptability, inclusivity, and resilience, with the overarching goal of regenerating transit oriented urban areas into a shared space reflecting the identity and aspirations of all residents.

- Karthikeyan Chokkalingam Velayutham

Exploring Sensory-Driven Transit Urban Design

This proposal aims to integrate Transit-Oriented Design (TOD) principles with sensory experience-driven design strategies to transform Area A into a vibrant, mixed-use community that amalgamates sustainability, transportation efficiency, environmental friendliness, and sensory richness. Simultaneously, it seeks to mold Area A into an iconic gateway that epitomizes the capital city of Wales.

- Zhonghui Liu

Re:connect: A healthy future

A new waterfront neighbourhood that re-connects riverfront to city, healthy choices for people, communities back to their neighbours, history within new surroundings, character and life back to an industrial heartland in a way that is environmentally sustainable Re:connect: a healthy future is an exploration of a neighbourhood in Cardiff that is disconnected, often inaccessible and already a process of change. Although usually a place to improve wellbeing, access to the river front is blocked off and industrial units are being demolished ahead of re-development. Yet this project envisages a different outcome. Utilising urban design aspects and the additional study area of ‘health’ enables the author to consider the opportunities posed by developing a set of objectives and strategies under a new vision that seeks to re:connect the place and people, providing a neighbourhood for the future.

- Rachel Marian George

“Transit Tapestry: Enhancing Urban Mobility”

The “Transit Trails: Greening Urban Mobility” project reimagines urban design by integrating green spines and networks, transforming the way people move and interact within the city. The central concept of a green spine provides a continuous, linear pathway that connects various parts of the urban environment, enhancing connectivity and creating a seamless transit experience. This green corridor is complemented by diverse public spaces, such as pedestrianized underpasses and activated riversides, promoting greater interaction and community engagement. Incorporating heritage preservation, the project integrates historical buildings, maintaining the area’s cultural character while embracing modern sustainability. Flexible, mixed-use developments and temporary structures ensure the urban environment adapts to community needs, fostering a dynamic and evolving space. By weaving green spaces into the urban fabric, the “Transit Trails” project enhances in-transit experiences, making urban mobility more efficient, enjoyable, and environmentally friendly. This innovative approach honours the past and paves the way for a vibrant, inclusive future.

Rehma Harshita Palaparthi

City Renew

The project aims to revitalise underutilized areas in and around Callaghan Square, transforming them into a vibrant urban oasis. This revitalisation will focus on creating spaces that encourage interaction and collaboration among people of all ages. The goal is to develop a multifunctional environment where different activities and uses can coexist harmoniously. This approach not only maximizes the potential of the area but also promotes a sense of community and connectivity. By enhancing these spaces, the project seeks to foster social engagement, support diverse activities, and provide a welcoming environment for everyone, contributing to the overall vitality and livability of the urban.

- Srivaishnavi Ganti

Butetown

Ageless Avenue

Creating a vibrant and inclusive community involves thoughtfully integrating open spaces with mixeduse housing to promote social interaction and accommodate people of all ages. My goal is to design a welcoming, accessible environment through functional zones that foster pedestrian engagement and connectivity. By incorporating green spaces, playgrounds, and communal areas, we ensure that residents of all ages have spaces to relax, play, and socialize. The mixed-use housing model combines residential units with commercial and recreational facilities, forming a dynamic neighborhood where amenities are conveniently within walking distance. Architectural design is key in visually inviting social interactions, using wide sidewalks, benches, and community art installations to establish a sense of place and belonging. Furthermore, prioritizing pedestrian-friendly pathways enhances connectivity and reduces vehicle dependence, encouraging a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle. This comprehensive approach aims to create a community that is both livable and vibrant.

- Yasha Yathisha Shetty

Computational Methods in MSc

Architecture MAc

Course lead: Wassim Jabi

The Computational Methods in Architecture programme addresses the industry’s need for creative professionals equipped with computational design and digital fabrication skills, along with the ability to design custom software to generate, analyse, and solve unique design problems. Its multidisciplinary approach provides students with the knowledge and skills to discover innovative computational methods for use in the creative and design industries. The ethos of the programme is based on the concept of rigorous creativity, where algorithmic thinking, systematic parametric design, analytic methods, creative intuition, and tectonic sensibilities are integrated into a more innovative design outcome than traditional methods currently allow. More recently, artificial intelligence has challenged the traditional notion of creativity as solely human, blurring the distinction between human- and machine-generated solutions. The Computational Methods in Architecture programme has embraced AI technology and is thus a clear example of the “In Transition” concept. The methods taught in this programme have abandoned the clear distinction between digital and analogue methods in favour of hybrid approaches, where traditional notions of agency and authorship are renegotiated, reflecting a blending of human and AI-driven design processes.

Akansha Agrawal

Ashwitha Sunkara

Darshan Dilipkumar

Kripa Panjari

Labiba

BEYOND

Before, we presented an intriguing exploration of architecture through the metaphor of dance, specifically analyzing Fred and Ginger’s 1930s roller skate dance in “Dance with Me.” The study that was done draws parallels between the dynamics of dance and the principles of architectural design, particularly in the context of material systems and design processes. Central to the exploration is the concept of using dance movements to understand structural forms and functionality in architecture. The addition of roller skates in Fred and Ginger’s performance is likened to architectural elements that transform a structure’s form and utility. It emphasizes the importance of blending analog and digital techniques in architectural design, including physical model making and 3D physics-based digital tools, highlighting the intersection of technology and creativity. The analysis delves into the physics of roller skate dance balance, managing friction and force, and aerodynamics and parallels these with the principles of earthquake-resistant buildings. It underscores the significance of precision, highquality components, and meticulous engineering in both dance and architectural structures. Furthermore, there are various physical principles such as friction, bearings, aerodynamics, and energy conservation, connecting both dance performance and architectural design.

- Darshan Dilipkumar, Nishanthan Ramasamy, Akansha Agrawal

Darshan Dilipkumar, Nishanthan Ramasamy, Akanksha Agrawal

OPTIMIZED EROSION: A Sculptural Synthesis

The “eroded tree of life” metaphor depicts the dynamic interplay between biotic (living) components, represented by branches and leaves, and abiotic (nonliving) factors like climate and soil, which act as “erosive forces” sculpting the environment. Environmental changes alter abiotic conditions, leading to adaptation, decline, or extinction of species, effectively reshaping the tree’s branches. This continuous biotic-abiotic interaction drives cyclic transitions in ecosystems, reshaping landscapes and biodiversity over time.

Akanksha Agarawal, Darshan Dilipkumar, Nishanthan Ramasamy, Mukil Latha Mohan, Ashwitha Sunkara, Labiba Tasnim

- Akansha Agrawal, Darshan Dilipkumar, Nishanthan Ramasamy, Mukil Latha Mohan, Ashwitha Sunkara, Labiba Tasnim

Computational Form Finding

This portfolio details a computational formfinding experiment inspired by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers’ dance in “Pick Yourself Up.” The project blends physical and digital explorations, using dance modulation concepts to analyze the musical. By rotoscoping, 144 frames were identified from 2,880, focusing on significant tonal changes. Convex hulls were generated from these frames to explore minimal surface forms. The Circle of Fifths informed the modulation arcs and placement of convex hulls. Tensile membrane structures were physically modeled with fabric stretched over a pyramidal frame, examining fabric behavior under tension. A digital workflow using Kangaroo simulation translated these forms, highlighting insights on material properties, tension effects, and structural deviations. The study concluded that fabric shape, material, and interstitial spacing significantly impact tensile behavior and final form stability.

- Kripa Panjari

Environmental Design of MSc

Buildings MAc

Course leads: Vicki Stevenson & Sarah O’Dwyer

Welcome to the MSc Environmental Design of Buildings, a program deeply embedded in the theme of ‘In Transition’. The world has seen continuous transformations in human civilizations and the natural environment throughout its history. Today, the built environment faces a pressing challenge: climate change demands a shift in our approach. Sustainability and adaptability are now paramount in navigating the ever-changing landscape of the modern world.

This innovative program emerges as a beacon for those seeking to contribute to this transition, training futurebuilt environment professionals to lead in the creation of sustainable, responsive built environments, emphasizing that we are in a constant state of flux—ethically, environmentally, and socially.

‘In Transition’ captures the essence of our curriculum: it is dynamic, continually evolving to integrate cutting-edge sustainable practices and technologies. This approach prepares our students to think critically and creatively about the long-term impacts of architecture, ensuring they can adapt to, and influence changing environmental and societal needs and equips them with comprehensive expertise in crafting comfortable, healthy built environments that seamlessly integrate with nature, leveraging modern scientific approaches.

Our focus is on educating built environment professionals who are ready to address today’s challenges with solutions that are not only viable but visionary. The program promotes a deep understanding of how buildings can affect both people and the planet. It encourages students to explore sustainable design in ways that are practical, innovative, and bold, preparing them to lead the transition towards more sustainable practices in the industry; both enhancing their individual value in the job market but also enriching the pool of professionals capable of crafting contemporary designs that resonate with nature and promote a healthier environment.

On the course, students embark on a transformative educational journey, developing a robust set of skills that empowers them to make significant, positive impacts on the built environment, and cultivates built environment professional’s adept at creating climate conscious designs. The ethos of ‘In Transition’ is reflected in every aspect of our teaching, inspiring students to embrace change and to see it as an opportunity for innovation and improvement.

simulations/CFD

Enhancing Thermal Comfort and Energy Efficiency in Ningbo Museum Office

This project focuses on designing an adaptive outdoor area for bamboo weaving activities at the Ningbo Museum. Extensive wind analysis has shown that the site experiences strong, multi-directional winds, which present significant challenges for outdoor activities. To address this, the design incorporates a versatile structure with three adjustable configurations: fully open, fully closed, and partially open/closed. This adaptability allows the outdoor area to be modified according to wind conditions, ensuring a comfortable and functional space for bamboo weaving. The structure employs innovative materials and mechanisms that facilitate easy adjustments while maintaining aesthetic harmony with the museum’s surroundings. The design aims to enhance the user experience by providing a sheltered yet flexible environment that supports sustainable cultural activities. This project not only addresses practical issues related to wind but also contributes to the museum’s commitment to preserving and promoting traditional bamboo weaving crafts.

Design Propsal

Outdoor bamboo weaving zone

- Manal Sandougah

Design Propsal

Enhancing Thermal Comfort in Ningbo Office Space

Through Passive Design Strategies

Daylight

This window design is the most suitable for the building, with the concept adapted from the Ningbo Museum’s random window shapes. After conducting a thorough daylight factor analysis, it’s evident that the majority of readings fall between 2-4.

The thermal performance simulation for the office space in Ningbo, using passive design strategies, reveals varied results. From May to September, the operative temperature exceeds the comfort band, suggesting a need for additional cooling measures. From October to April, temperatures fall significantly below the comfort band, indicating a need for improved passive heating solutions. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing passive strategies, such as ventilated facades, thermal mass materials, innovative glazing, and strategic window placement, to enhance year-round thermal comfort in the office space. Tailoring these strategies to seasonal variations is essential for maximizing energy efficiency and comfort.

- Manal Sandougah

Cladding: The 20 mm thickness is typical for terracotta tiles Terracotta provides a durable and aesthetically pleasing exterior mass and weather resistance. gap size is within the standard range for ventilated

Insulation: Mineral wool is a good choice for insulation due sound insulation, and fire resistance. A thickness of 140

dimensions : 600x1800 mm

This window design is the most suitable for the building, with the concept adapted from the Ningbo Museum’s random window shapes. After conducting a thorough daylight factor analysis, it’s evident that the majority of readings fall between 2-4.

Extruded Terracotta Cladding: The 20 mm thickness is typical used in cladding. Terracotta provides a durable and aesthetically with moderate thermal mass and weather resistance. 50 mm Air Gap: This air gap size is within the standard range

140 mm Mineral Wool Insulation: Mineral wool is a good choice to its thermal properties, sound insulation, and fire resistance.

of the building.

Maximum panel dimensions : 600x1800 mm

Sustainable Building MSc

Conservation MAc

Course leads: Oriel Prizeman & Chris Whitman

The project this year aims to address and question the current definitions of cultural landscapes and the current challenges to their future care in the context of numerous natural and man-made threats. Who will be or has been responsible for change? What are the limits and what are the new constraints? How are the concerns of global and local significance and governance to be balanced?

Historic cultural landscapes may be intentionally designed or have emerged as an unintended consequence, they may be urban, picturesque, industrial or predominantly natural. They may often be host to a complex mixture of coexistent values. The command of a landscape is rarely secure and often layered.

UNESCO defines cultural landscapes under three distinct categories

clearly defined landscape designed and created intentionally by man.

organically evolved landscape:

• a relict (or fossil) landscape

• continuing landscape

associative cultural landscape.

We address our interpretation and understanding of these categories critically and how they are applied. Following the study of Margam and a visit to Rome, many of the issues relating to the of long-term custodianship of Cultural Heritage Sites emerge. New questions will arise regarding the real benefits of mass tourism and its inter-relationship with issues such as climate change and changing patterns of behavior. The legacies of cultural heritage management have been adopted globally – to what extent is this pattern appropriate as a way forward?

Karen Friend Mahak Khan Morgan Davies

Reuse of a Prefabricated Corrugated Iron Building

Built around 1900 to provide religion to a suburb within a growing railway town’s population, St Helens is a prefabricated Mission Room and has been left to decay and be taken over by trees and other vegetation since the 1980s. Corrugated iron is an undervalued traditional building material and as a result, many of these prefabricated buildings are lost to unsympathetic redevelopment. The building sits within a local conservation area and is considered to be a building that provides a positive contribution to the area. The work for this project was to establish if a viable future use for the building could be found.

-

Karen Friend | FriendKV@cardiff.ac.uk

Karen Friend

Conservation Management Plan for Assagao

The conservation management plan proposed for Assagao aims to preserve, protect, and enhance the unique cultural, architectural, and historical heritage of Assagao while promoting sustainable development and community engagement. Objectives Preserve Architectural Heritage: Protect the distinctive Indo-Portuguese architecture and other significant historical structures. Promote Sustainable Tourism: Encourage tourism that respects the cultural and environmental values of Assagao. Engage the Community: Involve residents in heritage conservation efforts to foster a sense of ownership and pride. Ensure Sustainable Development: Balance development needs with conservation principles to maintain the village’s character.

- Mahak Khan

Rethinking Neath Abbey

The focus of this report is the ruined complex of Neath Abbey, a schedule ancient monument, located on the West bank of the River Neath, a historic site within the public’s guardianship since 1949. The feasibility report identifies and captures the risk associated with the site and demonstrates opportunities they pose. The three proposals identified are areas of the building that are currently undervalued, are failing to provided a quality visitor experience, and do not sustain a viable future for the building. The document produced explores the history and context of the site, which in turn has inform how the site can manage and sustain a high level of change. Using existing sources of information and reports commissioned on public engagement (Thomas, 2022), the feasibility explores how the approach, welcome, and reuse of existing assets, and how landscapes can safe guard the future of the site.

- Morgan Davies

(De Cort, 1790)

Exploring The Scope Of Conservation And Management For Sustaining Heritage

The Town Hall complex, located along themain Chandni Chowk Road, overlooking the Old Delhi Railway station houses some geen and vacant open areas, other smaller buildings & residential havelis. The main attraction within the complex is the 150-year-old Town Hall building that dates its construction during the British Raj, and today sits as a dilapitated version of its former self. The proposal details out a conservation management plan to strategise physical interventions and recommendations to improve the appeal and accessibility of the site, thereby making it more welcoming in order to highlight it’s lost legacy and reinstate its identity as a urban heritage realm.

- Sandhya Ayar

Gyeonghuigung

Palace Conservation Management Plan

Consider rethinking the significance of Gyeonghuigung and evaluating historical interventions to find the most sustainable ways to utilize the cultural heritage with minimal further intervention. Propose methods such as museum-linked programs and exhibition techniques using digital technologies.

1: Dynamic Landscape change © Seoul Museum of history (2015) Kyunghee Palace Lives: Exhibition Catalog

Figure 2: (1) National Meteorological Museum of Korea ©Seoul Metropolitan Goverment (2020). Available at: https://mediahub.seoul.go.kr/ archives/1504302 (2) © Donuimun Museum Village(No date). Available at: https://dmvillage.info (3) © The Salvation Army Museum of History(2019). Available at: http://museum.salvationarmy.or.kr/main/main.php

Figure 3: Museum is the biggest intervention © Jongno-gu Office (2018) Comprehensive Plan for the Regeneration of Gyeonghuigung Palace Site. Seoul: Seoul Metropolitan Goverment.

Figure 4: Digital can help to understand the original landscape © Yunseo Joung (2024)

Yunseo Joun

- Yunseo Joung

Figure

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Anusha Pradeep Achandi

Divya Raj Chaudhary

Keshav Khandelwal

Meghana Shyam Madineni

Rohin Shanthi Rathinavelu

Suhailah Maysun

Viswa Sekar

Sustainable Mega MSc

Buildings MAc

Course lead: Eshrar Latif

The Sustainable Mega Buildings programme focuses on equipping graduates with a profound understanding of sustainable planning, design, and performance for large-scale and high-rise buildings. Our course addresses the pressing need for sustainable practices in the construction of megabuildings, often criticised for their high energy consumption and environmental impact. By integrating principles of sustainable design, students are prepared to create innovative solutions that contribute to the development of environmentally friendly and energy-efficient skyscrapers.

This academic year has been particularly successful for our students, especially Suhailah Maysun and Ahmed Abdullah Al Tawheed. They, along with their team, won second prize in the Northern Electricity Supply Company PLC (NESCO) Main Control Centre Building Design Competition. Organised by the Institute of Architects Bangladesh, this competition recognised their exceptional work in rigorous passive design and energy optimisation. Their achievement is a testament to the high level of skill and creativity fostered within our programme, highlighting the real-world impact our students can have on sustainable architecture.

The theme of this year’s exhibition, ‘In Transition,’ aligns perfectly with the ethos of the Sustainable Mega Buildings programme. ‘In Transition’ underscores the significant societal shifts we are experiencing today, including challenges to human rights and the urgent need to address climate change. Our course prepares students to respond creatively and effectively to these transformative changes through sustainable building design.

Throughout the year, our students have demonstrated their ability to take strong, informed positions and apply their creativity to the evolving demands of sustainable architecture. Their projects and research have shown how sustainable design can address the energy consumption concerns of large-scale constructions. By focusing on the sustainable planning and design of highrise and mega-buildings, our students contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future. This year’s exhibition is a testament to their dedication, creativity, and the transformative potential of sustainable design in addressing the critical issues of our time.

Climate-Responsive Design for Sustainable and Energy-Efficient office buildings in Abu Dhabi

This project investigates a climate-responsive design approach for sustainable and energy-efficient office buildings in Abu Dhabi. A comprehensive site and climate analysis informed passive design strategies, including the optimisation of glazing, shading devices, building shape, and orientation. The project explores the optimisation of building services and the integration of renewable energy sources. Embodied carbon throughout the building lifecycle was minimised through careful material selection and adherence to circular economy principles. This research contributes to the development of high-performing office buildings in hot and arid climates.

- Anusha Pradeep Achandi

Anusha Pradeep Achandi |

Designing for Sustainability: Energy and Carbon Efficiency in Abu Dhabi’s CBD

This project focuses on sustainable urban design for a mixed-use development in Abu Dhabi’s Central Business District. Key aspects include shape optimization to minimize energy consumption, ideal opening ratios to enhance natural lighting, and effective shading strategies to reduce solar heat gain. Advanced fabric materials are selected for their superior insulation properties, contributing to overall energy efficiency. HVAC optimization is achieved through innovative strategies that balance ventilation and heat gain principles, while lighting optimization incorporates energy-saving technologies. The integration of renewable energy systems, particularly solar panels, further reduces the building’s carbon footprint. Utilizing precast concrete supports the circular economy by minimizing waste and maximizing resource efficiency. This comprehensive approach not only enhances the environmental performance of the building but also sets a new standard for sustainable, energyefficient high-rise developments in hot desert climates.

- Divya Raj Chaudhary

Sustainable Design of Mega Building in Abu Dhabi

The document is a project report titled “WSA 2024,” detailing the energy performance and optimization strategies for a building. It covers phases of design, energy consumption analysis, window-to-wall ratio (WWR) impacts, and improvements through shading devices, glazing types, and insulation materials. The report includes detailed data on energy consumption for different facade orientations and scenarios with various architectural modifications.

- Keshav Khandelwal

Mega Building - Design Optimization

This project, aimed to significantly reduce the environmental impact of a tall building by transforming it into a nearly net-zero energy structure. The project achieved this goal through a comprehensive three-phase design process: Phase 1: Baseline Analysis: A deep dive into the existing building’s context, energy usage, and services established a baseline performance level. This identified areas for improvement and provided a clear path for optimization. Phase 2: Passive Design Strategies: Focusing on minimizing energy demand, this phase emphasized strategies like improved building orientation, enhanced insulation, and optimized natural lighting and ventilation. Phase 3: Advanced Building Services: Services like high-efficiency HVAC systems, renewable energy integration, and smart building management systems were incorporated to improve energy efficiency further and ensure optimal building operation.

Meghana Shyam Madineni

- Meghana Shyam Madineni

Comprehensive Energy Optimization of the Bank of America Tower through Computational Analysis using Design builder software

The study evaluates the energy performance of the Bank of America Tower through computational analysis, comparing it to CIBSE and New York standards. After the building was demolished and reconstructed, various energy optimization strategies were explored, including shape optimization, window-to-wall ratio adjustments, shading optimization, the use of specific glass and fabric materials, infiltration, HVAC optimisation and pv panel. These strategies significantly reduced net energy consumption and enhanced energy efficiency, contributing to a more sustainable building design.

Rohin Shanthi Rathinavelu

- Rohin Shanthi Rathinavelu

Exploring the Potential of Designing Near Zero Energy

Commercial High-Rise Buildings with Innovative Building Materials in the UK

Located in the northeastern section of London, Tower 42 is nestled within a vibrant neighborhood dominated by commercial zones and mixed-use complexes. It is conveniently accessible via Old Broad Street to the west and Bishopsgate (now A10) to the east. Tower 42 boasts 43 storeys of office space, encompassing approximately 30,100 square meters of gross area.

Suhailah

- Suhailah Maysun

Zero Carbon Design

The work we be going thorugh to last 3 months was to design net zero carbon building in which we started doing it from site analysis in this part all analysis as completed such as sun path, shadow analysis,wind analysis, comfort temperature of the building by using climate software, and we did the study part of the building as from structure to its materials knowing this helped us to focus in which part we need to redesign the building to achieve zero carbon building. Our building is located in manhattan new york, i designed for 54 floor highrise mega building, this building usage for office purposes. we started doing optimisation floors,walls,,roof,and glasses providing low U value according to new york standards, and we did services part and lighting and renewables to reduce our energy consumption by using design builder

Viswa Sekar

- Viswa Sekar

Transition is at the heart of postgraduate research at the WSA. Our cohort is a dynamic and diverse group of researchers pushing the boundaries of architectural science and humanities research. Interdisciplinary collaboration thrives and drives over 60 students. Aligned seamlessly with the rich research culture of the WSA, our PGR endeavours epitomise the institution’s ethos of innovation and excellence. From exploring energy transitions to addressing ecological and human imperatives, our research spans a myriad of critical domains. Whether investigating social, urban or technological frontiers, our scholars are at the vanguard of architectural inquiry.

Transition defines our research. It is not merely a theme but a hallmark of our research ethos. Within the realm of PGR, transition takes on myriad forms, from shifts in paradigms to changes in design priorities at all scales. Materials and building construction transition projects explore innovative materials and construction techniques, driving forward the frontier of architectural practice. Simultaneously, technological transitions propel us into the digital age, where advances in computational design and fabrication revolutionise the way, we conceive and construct architecture.

Moreover, our research extends beyond the physical realm, encompassing social and humanitarian dimensions. Transition in humanitarian research endeavours to address pressing social challenges, from fuel poverty to disaster resilience, championing architecture as a catalyst for positive change.

Our diverse range of projects is illustrated by posters which relate architecture to a range of topics including: alternative materials, biodiversity, energy efficiency, environmental injustice, heritage, human health, national identity, political activism, spatial analysis and whole life carbon.

Basak Ilknur Toren

Fahad Alharbi

Hussa Al-Ghunaim

Juan Usubillaga

Kamal Haddad

Phakthima Wangyao (Ked)

Mahdis Yousef Jamali

Monirh Aldagany

Raghad Alsufyani

Seyda Yildirim Valeska Pack

Vicki Stevenson Director of Postgraduate Research

Research Background and Focus

55% Now, world's population live in cities. 70% Will live in cities by 2 2050

30%

Global adults are physically inactive. 50% Even higher in countries like KSA and Kuwait

This study examines how walkable environments with comfortable outdoor conditions can promote walking behaviour, addressing a gap in prior research that overlooked the impact of thermal comfort on neighbourhood walkability and walking activity (figure1).

Neighbour hood walkability

Established relationship

Physical activity, i.e., walking

thermal comfort (OTC)

Figure 1: Research’s focus and hypothesis.

Understudy relationship

Research Aim

To examine how w walkability and O OTC influence walking behaviour at the n neighbourhood scale in the h hot-arid climate of S Saudi Arabia and identify d design strategies that can improve both factors s simultaneously to promote w walking behaviour

Research Methods

This research employs a mixed-methods approach with statistics and content analysis to achieve its aim (figure2).

Walkable and Thermally Comfor table Neighbourhood

Initial Results and Variations Between Cases

Three Buraydah City, Saudi Arabia neighbourhoods were chosen as case studies The selection criteria included urban growth patterns, population density, and land surface temperature within different zone boundaries (Figures 3 and 4).

10111213141516 Mean Tg (C°) 7-16 Sep 2023

GIS

Spatial, Statistical, and content analysis

RESEARCH GROUP

• Urbanism

Questionnaire

Face-to-face & Online

Observation

Video recording

Name: Fahad Alharbi 2nd PhD student

Email address: Alharbif3@cardiff.ac.uk

Room: 0.51, Bute Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB

• Neighbourhoods vary in microclimate, pedestrian activity, and thermal sensation.

• Further steps will examine

Re search Stage and Next steps

• EEP SUPERVISOR NAMES

• Dr Shibu Raman (1st)

• Dr Simon Lannon (2nd)

Following the successful c collection of primary and secondary data, the research has now entered its s second year, with a primary emphasis on d data analysis and results Descriptive analysis has been completed, prompting a shift in focus towards a advanced spatial and statistical analysis

NBHD 2: Al-Fayziyyah

NBHD 1: Al-Khabib

NBHD 3: Al-Nahda

Figure 3: Maps showing Buraydah’s urban growth (A), population density (B), and land surface temperature (C).

Figure 4: Maps of the selected neighbourhoods within Buraydah City.

A Co-Design Fr amewor k to Enhance Biodiver sity in Univer sity Campuses T hrough Staf f and Student Par ticipation:

The Case of the Oasis at the Sabah Al-Salem University City

Hussa Al-Ghunaim

Supervisors

Dr. Hiral Patel (Welsh School of Architecture)

Dr. Magda Sibley (Welsh School of Architecture)

Research overview

The aim of this research is to develop and pilot a co-design framework in order to create a vision for enhancing biodiversity in the new Kuwait University campus, the Sabah Al-Salem University City. The research will be particularly centered around the Oasis, an outdoor landscaped area at the heart of the campus.

The research is relevant and important as the current environmental situation in Kuwait is extreme, due to factors such as climate change, war, and rapid urban expansion. In this research, particular focus will be placed on trees and plants, or, flora biodiversity, as projects related to green spaces often overlook this aspect.

Research methods

As the first part of the project’s methodology, a review and analysis of previous research and applications of enhancing biodiversity on university campuses is being undertaken. It will be followed by comparative case studies of selected codesign frameworks used in these applications.

The second stage will be a piloting of co-design tools in interdisciplinary workshops, specifically with staff and students from Kuwait University. These will be centred around the Oasis and will be aimed at addressing biodiversity preservation and enhancement. Gigamapping, community asset mapping, stakeholder mapping, and reflective tools such as questionnaires will be explored.

Research summary

This project addresses the following research question; How can a process of multidisciplinary co-design address the issue of biodiversity loss in the context of university campuses in the hot arid region of the Arabian gulf countries?

The four categories in the research question guided the literature review, which highlighted a gap for a project addressing all four categories. It concluded that Currently, there are no examples of implementing a co-design framework for biodiversity preservation in Kuwait. In the greater Arabian Gulf region, the Qatar University Permaculture implements some co-design elements, but this is solely done through a design-research approach, and for the issue of food security rather than biodiversity. Further, in the design of the new University City, an emphasis has been made on aesthetic and temperature regulating factors, rather than on biodiversity.

Stage of research

The project is in its second year. The next stages will include developing and piloting the first phase of the workshops, followed by an analysis and refining of a co-design framework tailored to the Kuwaiti context.

Contact

(+44) 7498218275

hussaalghunaim@outlook.com alghunaimhj@cardiff.ac.uk

Cardiff University Bute Building, King Edward VII Ave, Cardiff CF10 3NB Room 1.50, Desk 10

Master Plan of the Sabah Al Salem University City, WZMH Architects

Beginning Stages of Stakeholder Mapping, Hussa Al-Ghunaim

Political Activism as Urban Design

Investigating

Activist Practices and how they Transformed Urban Space in Bogotá and Berlin between the 1970s and 1990s

The research project is aligned with efforts to expand the understanding of urban design practice by looking at unsanctioned / nonprofessional ways in which cities are built. Activist practices in the district of Kreuzberg (Berlin) and the neighbourhood of Potosí (Bogotá) are compared to exemplify how activism can go beyond defined political agendas and transform the material and immaterial aspects of cities.

Methods:

The project has a comparative methodology in which case studies in two cities are analysed to explore how political activism operates as a form of urban design practice.

Data is collected primarily through archival search. Meeting notes, pamphlets, maps, and other material found in activist and local archives in Bogotá and Berlin are analysed to produce timelines and maps to answer the research questions. Additionally, semi-structured interviews with activists in both cities are analysed using thematic analysis to complement the data found in archives, especially when it comes to exploring activists’ visions of urban change.

Research Summary:

The project investigates how political activism operated as an urban design practice in Bogotá and Berlin between the 1970s and 1990s. Activist practices in the district of Kreuzberg and the neighbourhood of Potosí are compared to exemplify how activism can go beyond defined political agendas and transform the material and immaterial aspects of cities. More specifically, the research addresses the following questions:

- Practices: How were repertoires of political action built through the deployment of informal tactics and strategies?

- Urban Transformation: In what ways did activist practices transform urban space?

- Means-Ends: How were activist practices conceived in relation to visions of urban change?

Juan Usubillaga, Welsh School of Architecture

Urbanism Research Group

Supervisors:

Professor Aseem Inam [Welsh School of Architecture]

Dr. Anthony Ince [School of Geography and Planning]

Stage of Research:

I’m currently writing up my thesis.

Publications and Dissemination

Peer-reviewed journal articles:

Usubillaga, J. (2022). Change by Activism: Insurgency, Autonomy, and Political Activism in Potosí-Jerusalén, Bogotá, Colombia. Urban Planning, 7(1), pp. 72-81.

Preliminary findings have also been presented at: - London Festival of Architecture Symposium (2020)

- RGS-IBG Annual International Conference (2021)

Contact

UsubillagaNarvaezJ1@cardiff.ac.uk @jfusubillaga linkedin.com/in/jusubillaga

Map of housing struggles and squats in Kreuzberg SO36 (1979-1982). Source: author.

growth in Potosí (1984-2022). Source: author.

Syncretism and Hybridity

of Siwilai Siamese Royal Mint

Traditional Siam and Civilized Western Ideology

This study examines the syncretism and hybridity within the Siwilai Siamese Royal Mint, focusing on the rise and fall of syncretism between traditional Triphumikatha and scientific Western influences. While Siwilai architecture has indeed been celebrated as a symbol of Thailand's modernization and the establishment of its national identity through architectural development, there remains a significant gap in comprehending the broader dimensions of industrial architecture. This includes aspects such as technological advancements, labor dynamics, and contributions from minority groups By analyzing the complexities of cultural exchange and integration, this research sheds light on the intricate interplay between traditional Siam/Thai elements and Western scientific ideas through the Siamese Royal Mint and its context. Through this exploration, the study aims to provide a deeper understanding of Thailand's industrial architectural heritage and its significance in the global architectural discourse. Additionally, it seeks to reveal the hidden value of the royal mint, which has been marginalized due to its perceived insignificance in shaping the nation's identity.

RESEARCH METHODS

RESEARCH SUMMARY

OBJECTIVE

This study delves into the syncretism and hybridity of the Siwilai Siamese Royal Mint, focusing on the interplay between traditional Triphumikatha and Western influences. While Siwilai architecture symbolizes Thailand's modernization and national identity, there's a significant gap in understanding industrial architecture's broader dimensions, including technological advancements, labor dynamics, and minority contributions. By analyzing cultural exchange, this research sheds light on the intricate relationship between traditional Thai elements and Western ideas It aims to deepen understanding of Thailand's industrial architectural heritage and reveal the hidden value of the Royal Mint, often overlooked in shaping the nation's identity.

RESEARCH GROUP

Research Group: History, Heritage and Conservation (RSG)

SUPERVISOR NAMES

Dr. Federico Wulff

Dr.Christopher Whitman

STAGE OF THE RESEARCH PHAKTHIMA WANGYAO (KED) Wangyaop@ cardiff.ac.uk

Analysis : Within currently state, the research underscores the intertwined nature of traditional and modern ideologies in shaping urban development and governance, with the royal mint serving as a focal point for understanding these shifts over time

This process exemplifies syncretism, where traditional beliefs and modern ideologies blend and coexist over time

The royal mint serves as a central point in this narrative, symbolizing the convergence of physical and spiritual realms As societal structures evolve and new ideas are embraced, the mint's transformation from a private to a public institution reflects the ongoing syncretic process, wherein Western cultural elements gradually replace traditional ones while still retaining traces of the past.

The first mint was built in 1860 during King Rama IV's reign, following the opening of Siam's economy through the Bowring Treaty of 1855. This era marked the transition from traditional to rational and scientific thought. The second mint was established in 1875, early in King Rama V's reign, signaling Siam's direction towards modernization and siwilai development. The third mint was founded in 1903 towards the end of King Rama V's reign, reflecting Siam's progression into a fully-evolved siwilai society amid colonial pressures and comprehensive reforms These mints' establishment periods divide the city's transformation into two main periods: the pre-reform era from 1855 to 1888, encompassing the construction of the first two mints, and the post-reform era from 1888 onwards, corresponding to the establishment of the third mint

Top : First Royal Mint at Grand Palace (1860)

Middle : Second Royal Mint at Grand Palace (1875)

Bottom : Third Royal Mint at the north of Grand Royal Plaza (1903)

Source : National Archive of Thailand

The Podduang Workshop The Podduang Workshop The First and Second Royal Mint The Third Royal Mint (Bullet money) (Bullet money) (1860 and 1875) (1903)

Phakthima Wangyao (Ked)

Evaluating international experiences in the adoption of low-carbon retrofit housing policies to accelerate the

transition in the Persian Gulf region

Research Summary

Low carbon retrofit policies:

Policies are essential to promote low-carbon retrofitting and overcome the barriers. By adopting the right set of policy instruments, governments can support the adoption of housing retrofit and the development of the energy efficiency market Several retrofit policies have been implemented around the world. These policies are categorised into six categories: financial support policies, direction-based policies, organization and professional training policies, regulation-based policies, evaluation-based policies, and knowledge and information policies. Among all these policies, financial policies are very important in promoting and adopting low-carbon retrofitting of housing and could reduce the financial barriers, which are the most common barriers based on research.

Learning from other countries in energy transition:

There is a need for all nations to contribute toward a successful energy transition and it is not achieved by efforts of just developed nations. Most developing countries still rely on fossil fuels due to a lack of appropriate regulations, policies, and technologies. Developing countries that are at the beginning of this energy transition and do not have a structured framework, could learn from other countries’ policies and pathways. A lack of appropriate policies and learning means that many developing countries are poorly prepared to make the most of opportunities for greater influence in the energy transition. As researchers state “The process of lesson drawing starts with scanning programs in effect elsewhere and ends with the prospective evaluation of what would happen if a program already in effect elsewhere were transferred here in future”

The necessity of energy transition in the Persian Gulf region: Persian Gulf region which is classified as developing economies are among the highest countries in the world in terms of per capita energy consumption and emission of environmental pollutants. As fossil fuel producers they usually have high CO2 emissions because fossil fuel is built into their national energy systems. This makes it more difficult for the transition to lowcarbon energy systems to take place. The housing sector of the Persian Gulf countries is among the highest energy-consuming in the world and will continue to rise in the business-as-usual scenario Most Housing in the Persian Gulf region is unsustainable and should be retrofitted into low-carbon energy-efficient housing. Housing also consumes the major share of energy in the region. Moving towards sustainable and low-carbon housing instead of inefficient conventional housing can help the countries of the Persian Gulf to solve their energy and environmental problems and fulfil their commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Research Aim & Objectives

The research aim is to identify and evaluate international policies that have been introduced to increase low-carbon retrofit of housing to share knowledge with the Persian Gulf region, to help with the drive towards Net-Zero housing.

1) Identify global policies that have been established to promote and accelerate low-carbon in retrofit building.

2) Evaluate the role that the identified policies have played in impacting low-carbon retrofit housing where they have been implemented and review the challenges and lessons learnt associated with their implementation.

3) Assess the main challenges that the Persian Gulf region face in low-carbon retrofit housing policies.

4) Evaluated how low-carbon housing policies could be applied to the Persian Gulf region.

5) Prepare a report to enable knowledge transfer on the policy requirements, appropriate for the Persian Gulf region.

RESEARCH Method

Details yousefjamalim@cardiff.ac.uk

www.researchgate.net/profile/MahdisYousef-Jamali-2

Welsh School of Architecture Energy, Environment and People

Supervisor Names:

Prof. Joanne Patterson

Dr. Marianna Marchesi

I M P ROV I

I N F R A S T R U C T U R E :

Introduction:

Scope: The research will explore the effect of emergency departments (EDs) and hospital's ground floor spatial design on staff, patients and their family and friends’ movement and wayfinding during different operational periods of the chosen hospitals.

Research Background:

Spatial arrangement of hospital environments has been proven to have impact on hospitals users such as wayfinding, privacy and operational efficiency. Understanding the use of space by humans has become an important essential to improving the operation performance. The perception of space describes the multiple ways in which people receive information from their surroundings, to know their space. There is some missing information in depth about hospitals ground floor and emergency department (EDs) space layout design using space syntax analysis, and its impact on the general interaction of the staff and patient’s movement flow in the hospital environment. The researcher tries to fill that gap in knowledge in this area, and addresses this promising research topic, which could produce valuable and useful outcomes in this vital area, of architectural and internal design to be used in future planning and development of health facilities in Saudi Arabia and similar culture Middle East countries.

The statistics:

During the years of 2016 to 2019, “ED visits increased during Ramadan by 83.0%, 74.8%, & 40.3%, respectively, when compared to non-Hajj, non-Ramadan months. Hospital admissions rose by 21.05%, 50.96% & 48.22%,” proven in Almalki’s paper on mass surges in Saudi hospitals provided evidence of the demand in services

Research Aim:

FOCUS: This research focuses on the spatial organisation and design of the hospital’s emergency department and ground floor layout by utilising space syntax analysis methods with CONDUCTING A field observations STUDY FOR five public hospitals with emergency departments located within 4 KM radius distance from Al Haram, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

The study aims to improve the architectural and internal design of healthcare facilities in Saudi Arabia, utilising space syntax analysis methods along with field observations of several public hospitals with emergency departments located in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Research Questions:

1. What are the cons and merits of the current architectural design of the ground floor and Emergency Departments in the chosen hospitals?

2. How are the staff, patients and public users' behaviour and interactions is influenced by the hospital’s ED and ground floor layout design?

3. Which areas does the space syntax analysis could reveal to be currently unsuccessful in coping with overcrowding and could benefit from architectural adjustments?

Objectives:

1. Applying computational spatial syntax techniques to analyse the spatial layouts and movement patterns at five public hospitals in the Makkah region Saudi Arabia

2. To evaluate the relationship between the plan charts of hospital buildings and the wayfinding decisions of first-time users

3. Conducting a survey using of A staff and patient environment toolkit (ASPECT) questionnaire for the hospital patients and medical staff and an Achieving Excellence Design Evaluation (AEDET) checklist be completed by chief investigator

4. Interviewing members of staff and management team along with collating surveys regarding the general spatial layout and how it affects the movement and interaction patterns between staff, patients and visitors in the ED and hospital's first floor

Architecture Energy, Environment and

Design Research & Prof Practice.

Na m e: Monirh Aldagany. Second-year Ph.D. student.

E m a i l :

AldaganyMM@cardiff.ac.uk

Ro o m : 1.40, Bute Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB.

Literature Review:

Similar Studies.

Peponis et al. (1990). Finding the building in wayfinding.

Haq, S. (2003). Investigating the syntax line: configurational properties and cognitive correlates.

Lu et al.(2009). Cultural perspective of wayfinding behaviour: exploring the sociospatial variable in three Chinese hospitals case.

Setola et al. (2013). The Role of Spatial Layout of Hospital Public Spaces in Informal Patient-Medical Staff Interface.

Bendjedidi et al.(2018). Open spaces: spatial configuration, visibility analysis and use: Case study of mass housing in Biskra, Algeria.

Noraslı et al. (2021). Analysis of Konya City Hospital circulation areas using the spatial alignment method.

Geng et al.(2021). Comparative analysis of hospital environments in Australia and China using the space syntax approach.

Methodology:

First, quantitative data will be collected, and then qualitative data follows for explaining the initial results The quantitative data provides a foundation of evidence, where qualitative data is used to illustrate and further explain it

Quantitative Approach.

The quantitative data will be collected by using a series of spatial network analysis to calculate a set of measures: Integration value, Integration Core, Choice value, Connectivity, Intelligibility, step depths and Correlation values between the configurational properties of the setting that obtained from space syntax analysis and search trajectories obtained from study participants on filed observation (Open Exploration and Direct Search) In addition, a staff and patient environment toolkit (ASPECT) questionnaire for the hospital patients and medical staff will be collected from each hospital

Qualitative Approach.

the qualitative data will be gathered at a later stage using Achieving Excellence Design Evaluation (AEDET) checklist to be completed by chief investigator In addition, semi-structured interviews and focus groups (hospital directors and head of departments and ED staff) methods to achieve a better comprehensive view of the numerical results and bring the research study to life

Data Collecting

Combining space syntax analysis method with field observations (30 male and female participants for each hospital, they are university students between the ages of 18-25 years old, who had never visited any of the hospitals included in the study before) of hospital emergency departments and ground floor layout of five public hospitals with emergency departments located within a radius of 4 KM from the Al Haram Makkah, Saudi Arabia

• Al Haram Emergency Hospital

• Ajyad Emergency Hospital

• King Faisal Hospital

• King Abdullah Medical City Specialist Hospital

• Al Noor Specialist Hospital

For the qualitative data collection, using Achieving Excellence Design Evaluation (AEDET) checklist be completed by chief investigator In addition to face-to-face interviews using semi-interview and focus groups using Grounded analysis will be conducted to explore the perception of hospital Samples 10 staff member from each hospital will be invited to the semi-structure interviews and focus groups

R ES EA RC H G RO U P: Computational Methods in

People.

S U PERV I S OR N A MES : • Professor Wassim Jabi (First) • Professor Eshrar Latif (Second)

QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

Impact of The UNESCO World Heritage Listing on Urban Development in Saudi Arabia: intersecting urban heritage and sustainable development

Raghad Alsufyani

This research will focus its study on the changes in the urban heritage sites and their surrounding areas before and after being listed in the UNESCO WHL and its impact on the sustainable urban development.

PhD student Year 1

AlsufyaniRO@cardiff.ac.uk https://www.linkedin.com/in/raghadomar/

RESEARCH GROUP: Energy, Environment and People Heritage, History and Conservation

RESEARCH METHODS:

The study adopt a qualitative/quantitative approach. The researcher intends to employ mixed methods using case studies to investigate the changes that occurred to each UNESCO listing process

IMPORTANCE OF THE RESEARCH:

•This research aims to understand how Saudi Arabia has benefited from the UNESCO listing of its sites, utilising them as attractions and tourist destinations. As a result, it has improved the tourism sector and fostered overall economic growth.

•The recognition of UNESCO listing's impact on World Heritage List (WHL) sites could also be beneficial for heritage sites that are not listed with UNESCO.

•Understanding the impact of UNESCO listing on urban and sustainable development, can inform policy decisions and new strategies for managing heritage sites. This includes both listed and non-listed heritage sites, ensuring benefits for both local communities and the wider region.

•The examination of how urban development intersects with heritage preservation will contribute to sustainable development practices. By implementing vernacular architecture principles in contemporary development, thereby promoting environmentally conscious design.

•Saudi Arabia's rapid urbanization and recent focus on heritage preservation make it a unique case study for exploring these issues. It provides valuable insights for other countries facing similar challenges.

RESEARCH PROCESS:

STAGE OF THE RESEARCH:

This research is in the early stages where it has started in early January 2024 and currently engaged in a systematic approach to conduct a comprehensive literature review. It involves analysing existing research on the intersection of climate change and heritage to gain a deeper understanding of how climate change impacts world heritage sites and vice versa. This initial phase of my research is crucial in laying the foundation of the study to shape the direction for future work.

With the wellestablished potential of cultural heritage to support Sustainable Development, it is important to further elaborate the role of cultural heritage in delivering climateresilient development pathways that strengthen sustainable development and efforts to eliminate poverty and reduce inequalities while promoting fair and multiple adaptation of resilience in a changing climate.

SUPERVISOR NAMES: Tania Sharmin Magda Sibley

AN ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE FOR JUST GREEN SPACES IN CITIES

Thisresearchendeavorstoadvanceequitableurban greenspaceplanningthroughanuanced,multi-faceted analyticalframework.Itinterrogatesthedimensionsof distributional,recognitional,andproceduralinjustices withinenvironmentalcontexts.Bysynthesizing environmentalmetricswithsocioeconomicindicators, thethesisaimstoelucidateandrectifythesystemic inequitiesthatunderservedcommunitiesencounterin urbangreenspaceallocationandgovernance.

RESEARCH METHODS

RESEARCH SUMMARY

RESEARCH GROUP

 Aim: Topromoteequitableurbangreenspace planning.

 LiteratureReview: Comprehensiveanalysisof academicliteratureonEnvironmentalJusticeand UrbanGreenSpaces.

 TheoreticalFramework:Developedfromliterature, focusingondistributional,recognitional,and proceduraljusticeingreenspaces.

 Fieldwork: CasestudyvisittoLondonforfirsthand observationsanddatacollection.

 GISMapping: Employedtooverlayenvironmental andsocioeconomicfactorsandidentifyinjustice hotspots.

SUPERVISOR NAMES

STAGE OF THE RESEARCH

Asadedicatedsecond-year PhDstudent,myresearch journeyhasbeendeeply rootedinthequestfor EnvironmentalJustice,with akeenfocusonequitable distributionofGreen Spaces.Theliterature reviewhaslaidasolid foundation,revealingthe multifacetednatureof EnvironmentalJusticeand guidingmetoconcentrate onGreenSpaceasapivotal elementofthiswork.

SEYDA YILDIRIM

yildirims@cardiff.ac.uk

https://www.linkedin.com /in/şeyda-yıldırım-b9

• Urbanism

• Energy, Environment & People

• Professor Aseem Inam

• Dr.Marianna Marchesi

The Most Vulnerable Neighbourhoods in London

Seyda Yildirim

Slashing the burden!

With the construction industry currently responsible for 39% of global carbon emissions to 2030 in lieu of the 42% reduction required to limit global warming to 1.5°C, there is a necessity to build without carbon emissions forthwith.

The focus of this research is in Stadia and is intended to provide a methodology to enable the application of carbon reduction strategies which will facilitate iterative WLC reduction towards net zero carbon during the design process for design professionals.

Methods:

The research approach adopted will include structured literature reviews related to circular economy principals with embodied and operational carbon reduction strategies, and mega-events associated with sustainable stadium buildings.

The structured literature reviews are intended to decipher benchmark and case study criteria, boundaries and carbon reduction strategies, in order to proceed to a cyclical testing process of whole life carbon reduction, for three selected live case studies which will each be compared to similar benchmarks for review of efficacy and ultimate refinement of a methodology.

Research Summary:

The research will be focussed towards facilitating net zero whole life carbon reduction of the stadium building. This study is critical due to the Stadium building type being the most energy consuming and potentially inefficient building type with estimated carbon emissions of 3250-5000 kgCo2e/m2 which are 3 to 5 times more than other types.

The findings from this research will provide a validated methodology for use in industry immediately during the design process which enables the most opportunity to achieve net zero carbon reduction in the building design and construction process. As a result this research will make a considerable dent in our global carbon emissions for our future generations.

Valeska Pack

PhD Year 1

Welsh School of Architecture

Energy, Environment and People

Supervisors:

Prof. Juliet Davis (WSA)

Dr Eleni Ampatzi (WSA)

David Jarratt (Populous)

Mohit Mehta (Populous)

Stage of Research:

This research began on 2nd January 2024 this year and is therefore in its infancy. The duration will be 3-4 years within which the developed methodology will be tested and of benefit to live projects currently at design stage within Populous Architects EMEA region.

References

United Nations Emissions Report (UNEP), 2023, Emissions Gap Report 2023, UNEP.

Francis, A.E., Webb, M., Desha, C., Rundle-Thiele, S., Caldera, S., 2023, Environmental Sustainability in Stadium Design and Construction: A Systematic Literature Review., Sustainability, Vol. 15, Issue 6896 Pages 1-25.

RICS Professional Information, 2012, Methodology to calculate embodied carbon of materials, RICS QS & Construction Standards, Page 14.

Contact

PackVE1@cardiff.ac.uk 07972 803451

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pack-7060b12a2/

Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle USA (courtesy of Populous)

A bridge between what was and what will be, where transition is the path | Kamal Haddad Optimising the Hygroscopic, Thermal, and Structural Performances of Sustainable Bio-Based Earthen Materials by Utilising Experimental and Computational Methods: Cob as a Case Study

It is now or never; that was the main statement of the United Nation’s climate report to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, which insisted that unless policies are drastically reassessed, our future on this planet is in peril.  Sustainable materials like cob offer a glimmer of hope, not only in reducing CO2 emissions but in revolutionising energy consumption through advanced hygrothermal performance. This research seeks to unlock the full potential of biobased earthen materials, with cob as a case study, using cuttingedge methods to optimize structural stability, thermal comfort, and moisture resistance. The time to act is now, before it is too late.

Lizzie Wynn | Worthy or worthless material, encapsulated by earth Waste as a construction material; reuse of single-use plastic and tyres, with earth

Single use objects, headed for the crusher have been preserved in architectural forms, to demonstrate an alternative solution for durable materials. This window is within a cement free building at Incredible Edible Porthmadog on a public site. The construction method also includes PET bottles, tyres and cob mortar. The research examines the construction process, the building’s performance and public perception. This window has been vandalised and rebuilt 3 times. Is this to do with our relationship with waste or would it happen with a conventional glass window? This was part of the set of recorded images of the construction process, taken when the window was first completed.

Within this section of our yearbook, we convey our genuine appreciation to our sponsors for their invaluable assistance in ensuring the remarkable success of the WSA Student Exhibition 2024. We would like to recognize the unwavering support provided by Foster and Partners, Hopkins Architects, Formation Architects, Gaunt Francis Architects, SNHA, Tor & Co Architects, Rio Architects, ib Architects, Hyde + Hyde Architects, RSHP, and Hammond Architectural Ltd, who have aided us in the celebration of our student’s work through their generous sponsorship.

We are truly indebted to all these architectural practices for their substantial contributions towards making this year’s exhibition a memorable event. — The Student Exhibition Team

Exhibition Chair |

Zsófi Veres

Exhibition Shadow Chair | Jessica Surender

Digital Exhibition Chair |

Justyna Matuszewska

Digital Exhibition Shadow Chair | Jerono Turgo

Physical Exhibition Chair |

Cameron Jones

Physical Exhibition Shadow Chair | Annabel Harris

Physical Design Team Lead |

Physical Design Team |

Jacob Midgley

Benjamin Sullivan

Edesi Akhile

Ella Rolls

George Palmer

Martha Spencer Jones

Meiling Choi

Xin Yuan Wong

Yearbook Team Lead |

Yearbook Team |

Shania Johnpulle

Annabelle van Delft

Abby Su

Annabel Harris

Choo Kim

Jerono Turgo

Jiayin Zhuo

Malissa Akram

Meiling Choi

Rebecca Clery

Yumna Mansoer

Website Design Team Lead |

Website Design Team |

Charita Gowda

Freya Kirby

Inanna Heslop

Maria Daliouri

Nathan Barreto

Yumna Mansoer

Graphics Team Lead |

Graphics Team |

Yumna Mansoer

Angela Lin

Emily Prust

Faiz Law

Jiayin Zhuo

Kimberly Yong

Kyaw Khant Zaw

Oliver Coupe

Wilhelm Salaveria

Student team

Social Media Team Lead |

Social Media Team |

Paarthivi Yadav

Lakshmi Sunil Vishnu

Ravya Singhal

Seanna Omogbai

Wilhelm Salaveria

Curation Team Lead | Zehra Kasli-Walmsley

Curation Team |

Abby Su

Ayusha Thapa Magar

Choo Kim

Chun Rui Huang (Toby)

Malissa Akram

Sava Kochorapov

Sathvik Kandukuri

Snigdha Khurana

Finance and Sponsorship Lead | Cara Smith

Finance and Sponsorship Team |

Events Team Co - Lead | Adeba Rahman

Malavika Khrisna

Piotr Hejdysz

Manahil Syed

Events Team Co - Lead | Sanjula Sundararajan

Events Team | Kohana Bardolivala

Smiha Netyam

The WSA Exhibition Yearbook 2024 is the result of a collaborative effort between Spectrum Printing and the WSA Exhibition team, aimed at creating a product that represents the values of the WSA. Spectrum Printing, a local business, was selected due to their enthusiasm for working with us and their commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes. This partnership allowed us to gain valuable insights into the printing process, influencing various design elements such as paper finish and cover detailing, with a focus on optimizing quality and minimising waste.

Moving away from the crafted hard cover style to soft touch high quality finish, this year’s yearbook concept focused on the WSA’s constant transition towards offering higher quality teaching. The culmination of these efforts is a book that perfectly embodies the ethos of this year’s exhibition and one that we take great pride in calling our own.

— The Yearbook Team