Transforming Homes

The Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University #designresearch team have been leading a series of Spring #design #workshops in Cardiff and Bristol for the Transforming Homes project. These sessions bring together multidisciplinary partners from across the TH consortium to develop themes based on key insights from state-of-the-art review, findings from demonstration projects in Bristol and Swansea, interviews with diverse stakeholders, and lessons from community design charrettes held across the UK. Each workshop will help translate this collective knowledge into a catalogue of design solutions to transform 1920s–1940s council-built #homes into better places to live. The first four workshops focused on: ▪️ Space standards ▪️ Net zero operational carbon ▪️ Comfort and liveability ▪️ Bio-based and non-extractive materials Huge thanks to all our partners and collaborators who have been engaged in these discussions, sharing their expertise and insights. We look forward to seeing how the outcomes of these workshops will shape the ongoing development of the catalogue. UK Research and Innovation Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) the Design Museum University of Bath Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd University of Exeter University of Bristol GW4 Alliance Mikhail Riches Knowle West Media Centre WeCanMake Woodknowledge Wales Sevenoaks Modular Ltd City & County of Swansea #UKRI #AHRC #GTE #GreenTransition #netzero #climatechange #innovation #designresearch #research #housing #collaboration 📸 1 Joel Cady, 2-3 Veronica Albarran Carrillo

Research Associate Emma Taylor, will be speaking at Futurebuild 2025 about "Natural materials for new build and retrofit" . This is one of 3 sessions curated by our Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) partners Simon Corbey and Richard Broad. The session will explore the role of natural materials in both retrofits and new builds, with case studies, practical insights, and key lessons learned, including experiences from Transforming Homes. 📅 March 6, 2025 📌 Excel, London Learn More and Register: https://lnkd.in/dZe3dqz UK Research and Innovation Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) the Design Museum University of Bath Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd University of Exeter University of Bristol GW4 Alliance Mikhail Riches Knowle West Media Centre WeCanMake Woodknowledge Wales Sevenoaks Modular Ltd City & County of Swansea Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University #UKRI #AHRC #FutureObservatory #GTE #GreenTransition #netzero #climatechange #innovation #designresearch #design #research #housing

Introducing the Transforming Homes Bluesky Account Follow us to stay updated on the multidisciplinary, collaborative work happening across our consortium as we continue to co-design homes for present and future generations. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/grstFfmy #TransformingHomes is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation. #FutureObservatory, the Design Museum’s national research programme for the green transition ecosystem, supports the project. University of Bath Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd University of Bristol University of Exeter GW4 Alliance Alliance for Sustainable Building Products Mikhail Riches WeCanMake Knowle West Media Centre Woodknowledge Wales Sevenoaks Modular Ltd City & County of Swansea Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University

📰 February Issue of the Transforming Homes Newsletter Featured articles include: 🔹 Julian Ransom, Director of National Housing Maintenance Forum (NHMF) and iON Consultants, reflects on the relevance of Transforming Homes’ research on the social #housing sector. 🔹 Dr Eleni Toumpanaki shares insights on the recent Transforming Homes Consortium Meeting, highlighting progress across each Work Package, as well as the consortium’s dissemination efforts and plans for future research. Spotlight on: 🔹 Professor Pete Walker, Principal Investigator and Co-director of Transforming Homes, as he reflects on his career path and contributions to academia ahead of his nearing retirement. 🔹 Dr Christina Demski, Co-investigator and Work Package Lead at @University of Bath, who focuses on #collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders to develop, implement and scale #home transformation. Full newsletter 👇 Sign up to stay updated on the #TransformingHomes project.: https://lnkd.in/gxYwsWPA UK Research and Innovation Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) the Design Museum University of Bath Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd University of Bristol GW4 Alliance Mikhail Riches Knowle West Media Centre WeCanMake Woodknowledge Wales Sevenoaks Modular Ltd City & County of Swansea Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University #UKRI #AHRC #FutureObservatory #GTE #GreenTransition #netzero #climatechange #innovation #designresearch #design #research

Our journey continues as Transforming Homes colleagues hosted our third #community #codesign charrette last Thursday. Our team has thoroughly enjoyed travelling across the UK, speaking with social housing residents living in 1920s-1940s local council-built homes. This time, Prof Jo Patterson, Dr Steve Coombs, Dr Lucy McFadzean, Emma Taylor, Joel Cady, and Laura Brain traveled to Manchester with our bespoke charrette cart—central to our co-design activities. We explored innovative bio-based materials, energy systems, spatial layouts, and street infrastructure with residents, who came up with creative ideas for their #homes and neighbourhoods. Our team is always inspired by the welcome, energy, and creativity shared during resident co-design workshops—and Manchester was no exception. In the coming weeks, our research team will analyse the information we've gathered to develop a catalogue of transferrable, scalable Net-Zero design solutions for home transformation. We're excited to process all the insights and ideas shared during this valuable series. University of Bath Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd University of Bristol University of Exeter GW4 Alliance Alliance for Sustainable Building Products Mikhail Riches WeCanMake Knowle West Media Centre Woodknowledge Wales Sevenoaks Modular Ltd City & County of Swansea Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University #UKRI #AHRC #GTE #GreenTransition #DesignMuseum #FutureObservatory #TransformingHomes #netzero #climatechange #innovation #design #research #designresearch #housing #socialhousing #collaboration #communityengagement #creativity 📸: Francesca Jones

The Transforming Homes Team were delighted to be invited along to take part in the National Housing Maintenance Forum (NHMF) Conference last week. With an overarching theme of Clarity, the Conference focused on responding to evolving challenges facing the #housing sector, which ranged from Building Safety, Healthy Homes and Net Zero to Technology, Skills and Training. Prof Jo Patterson, Prof Pete Walker and Dr Louise King ran a workshop session with an engaged audience, presenting key aspects of the #TransformingHomes project and outlining initial findings. Valuable workshop discussions focused on the challenges of scaling up transformation and social equity within housing. Elsewhere, the Team attended an insightful plenary session examining developments two years after the Better Social Housing Review. Speakers Annie Owens, Policy Leader, National Housing Federation; Liane Davies Sheppard, Director of Property Services, LiveWest; and Dr Eve Blezard FHEA CIHCM, Policy Officer, Chartered Institute of Housing outlined key debates around #investment in #regeneration, new Decent Homes Standards and meaningfully engaging with residents, of particular interest to the TH Team. Jenny Danson, CEO of Healthy Homes Hub, led a fascinating session on #collaboration and #learning to achieve Healthy Homes, including a session led by Tessa Barraclough from Riverside, setting out future priorities to address #health and #wellbeing challenges within their housing stock. Overall, an energising day allowing the transforming homes Team to engage with key stakeholders and disseminate initial findings with key audiences.  University of Bath Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd University of Bristol University of Exeter GW4 Alliance Alliance for Sustainable Building Products Mikhail Riches WeCanMake Knowle West Media Centre Woodknowledge Wales Sevenoaks Modular Ltd City & County of Swansea Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University #UKRI #AHRC #GTE #GreenTransition #netzero #climatechange #innovation #designresearch #design #research #UKhousing #socialhousing

I've had a fabulous day in Manchester with my Transforming Homes colleagues Laura Brain Joel Cady Lucy McFadzean Steve Coombs and Emma Taylor. We've had the pleasure of spending the day co-designing the transformation of 1920-1940s council built homes with a lovely group of members of the public who live in the area. They've enthusiastically shared with us the things they like about their homes and the challenges, they've concentrated hard on making models of their homes and then excitedly transformed their model homes into their ideal home of the future, focussing on space, materials and technology. We were all in agreement that we had a fantastic time and all learnt so much from each other - a real day for connecting and a few new friendships formed! Huge thanks to Laura and Joel for designing and building the wonderful Transforming Homes #charette cart that everyone admired along with Lucy for putting together an amazing set of activities. Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) GW4 Alliance Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd University of Exeter University of Bath University of Bristol SO Modular Ltd City & County of Swansea Alliance for Sustainable Building Products WeCanMake Woodknowledge Wales #retrofit #netzero #lowcarbon

Last Thursday, the Transforming Homes consortium delivered a community co-design charrette in Newcastle. Facilitated by Dr Steve Coombs, Dr Robert Grover, Dr Louise King, Dr Lucy McFadzean, Joel Cady and Laura Brain, this was the second in a series of #interactive design days held with residents across England and Wales who live in 1920s-1940s council-built homes. Residents began the day by constructing models of their #homes and gardens, mapping their days and flagging areas they would like to see change. In the afternoon participants transformed their homes, before bringing their creations together to #reimagine their streets and neighbourhood. It was inspiring to see the #innovative solutions participants developed, and to gain real-world insights into how they live in and adapt their homes. We are thankful to them for sharing their knowledge about their homes, the challenges they face, and the community they have built, as well as to all those who helped us organise and deliver this event. This week consortium members be heading to Manchester to continue obtaining insights that will help us develop our catalogue of #design solutions to transform interwar housing in the UK! #TransformingHomes is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation. #FutureObservatory, the Design Museum’s national research programme for the green transition, supports the project. University of Bath Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd University of Bristol University of Exeter GW4 Alliance Alliance for Sustainable Building Products Mikhail Riches WeCanMake Knowle West Media Centre Woodknowledge Wales Sevenoaks Modular Ltd City & County of Swansea Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University #UKRI #AHRC #GTE #GreenTransition #TransformingHomes #netzero #climatechange #innovation #designresearch #design #codesign #multidisciplinary #collaboration #research #UKhousing #UKsocialhousing #socialhousing #interwarhousing #housing 📸 :Joel Cady and Laura Brain

🎉 It’s here and in action. Introducing the Transforming Homes Cart! This exciting new set of wheels will be used to store and access materials that enable #codesign with communities across the UK. This will help us to efficiently deliver workshops that will help to better understand the lived experiences of people in 1920s–1940s #homes. Designed to spark conversation, stimulate #creativity, and gather valuable material, our team of #researchers will be taking the cart to locations across the UK engaging with residents and exploring how they currently live in their homes and how they envision living in them in the future. Our goal? To create transformative #design solutions that ensure these homes remain great places to live for another 100 years! We’re thrilled to pilot the Transforming Homes Cart in our upcoming 'charettes' across the UK. Learn more about our project at: https://lnkd.in/dB_Nn4-Z University of Bath Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd University of Bristol University of Exeter GW4 Alliance Alliance for Sustainable Building Products Mikhail Riches WeCanMake Knowle West Media Centre Woodknowledge Wales Sevenoaks Modular Ltd City & County of Swansea Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University #UKRI #AHRC #GTE #GreenTransition #DesignMuseum #FutureObservatory #TransformingHomes #netzero #climatechange #innovation #research #designresearch #housing #collaboration #communityengagement 📸: Steve Coombs

It was a pleasure to speak at the National Housing Maintenance Forum (NHMF) annual conference today with Pete Walker and Louise King about the aims and early outcomes from our Transforming Homes research project. Having a housing stock that is well maintained and maintainable is critical for future generations. Fantastic to hear that progress is being made across the sector, particularly with regards to collaboration and knowledge sharing within organisations, and awareness of the co-benefits of having high quality housing and how maintenance teams play a key role. Strategies are being put in place to deliver action! We do need to be innovative but evidence is needed to support informed decision making so risk is minimised. Further joined up thinking will also speed things up. Thanks to Julian Ransom for the invitation to participate. Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University University of Bath Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) #futureobservatory the Design Museum #retrofit #transforminghomes #netzero University of Exeter University of Bristol SO Modular Ltd City & County of Swansea Woodknowledge Wales WeCanMake Alliance for Sustainable Building Products