Building with/for Bridport: A systems thinking methodology for housing co-design in coastal communities
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Plymouth
Department Name: Sch of Art, Design & Architecture
Abstract
As agreed with AHRC please see the Case for Support attachment for the full application information.
Publications
Veliz Reyes A
(2024)
The De Gruyter Handbook of Automated Futures - Imaginaries, Interactions and Impact
| Title | Collection of creative media and print-based artefacts |
| Description | Collection of creative media and print-based artefacts, co-produced with research participants during fieldwork activity. The collection has not yet been curated at the point of this submission, although we do expect to do so with the support of an AHRC follow-on impact and engagement grant. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | The production of creative outputs was part of our research methodology and it has been instrumental to yield valuable data for our study. |
| Description | Our research trajectory over the last 4 years focuses on supporting the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and locally available natural materials for construction in communities not otherwise reached by digital innovation, mainstream planning and levelling up agendas. In that context, the project "Building with/for Bridport" has contributed to the stimulation of place-based cocreation methodologies with designers, builders, local communities, and supply chain stakeholders involved in housing delivery in Bridport, a rural community in Dorset. DEP funding has allowed us to explore the extensions and opportunities offered by collective "thinking through making" and reflection upon local industries, materials, and built environments. Through fieldwork, interviews and codesign activity "in residence" around material systems, supply chains for housing construction, and environmental concerns around sustainable forestry and technological innovation, we channeled this research into an understanding of local challenges around low carbon architectural production. Additionally, AHRC DEP funding has allowed us to create an impactful legacy through the development of a local Living Lab in Denhay Farm, a space for real-scale prototyping, material experimentation and codesign of housing elements with members of the community. This speaks not only to the implementation of a living lab as a research method, but more importantly signifies a direct contribution to the reshaping of rural industries and their role on the local development of rural coastal towns. After the completion of our award, Denhay Farm was utilised as a volunteering construction facility to produce the building elements of the Common House, a community facility in Bridport designed by the local practice Common Practice. Our research intervention is echoed by the recently published Bridport Local Investment Plan which acknowledges the need for skills to facilitate digital / net zero transitions, and the development of follow-on interventions such as a local pop-up FabLab. From a local policy perspective, our data has also informed the design proposal for Bolwood House, an affordable housing retrofit project for 8 local young families in Bridport. In terms of follow-on activity and reflective of our expanding network of partners, a recently awarded Forestry Commission-funded project in partnership with Open Systems Lab Ltd is developing the digital infrastructures necessary to produce MMC building elements through regional SME manufacturing networks and supply chains, supporting smaller innovation ecosystems outside mainstream innovation/urban hubs. Here, we expect Bridport and its broader South West ecosystem to be one case study location, and we are due to commence the prototyping of volumetric timber components in partnership with WoodLab Lts (Dartington). Additionally, this project has led us to join a network of partners involved in the regeneration of Whitleigh, Plymouth, and the design and construction of 10 affordable housing units (currently with planning permission by Plymouth City Council). |
| Exploitation Route | This project has allowed us to join follow-on funding opportunities to continue investigating forms of community-led engagement with local materials and technologies for architectural production, namely: - Forestry Commission Timber in Construction Innovation Fund (awarded, £200,000). - Enterprise Solutions (U of Plymouth) (awarded, £20,000). - Get Involved Award (U of Plymouth) (awarded, £6,750). - AHRC Catalyst Award proposal (not awarded but being considered for resubmission, £300,000). |
| Sectors | Creative Economy |
| URL | https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/digital-architectural-production-for-social-good |
| Description | The DEP model has now been more widely adopted by our School as a strategic model of research and knowledge exchange delivery. Our university currently benefits from 4 DEP and Accelerator projects, and a DEP-like partnership model is now being rolled out through Good Growth (Cornwall) funding across 13 other local research initiatives. Throughout the delivery of this project, we have been able to establish local partnerships in Bridport beyond WCA (e.g. Bridport Town Council) and nationally (e.g. Assemble, Open Systems Lab) allowing us to take part in a network of organisations advocating for more sustainable, high-value, community-led and just built environments. We have been able to establish collaborations with similar networks including the We Can Make program in Bristol, and an ongoing community housing scheme in Plymouth - translating our research into impactful scenarios that support communities suffering from digital and technological deprivation. As a result of external and audience engagement initiatives (such as the showcase of this project in the Congress of the Future, the largest R&I event in Latin America), we are currently scoping impact pathways leading on to international collaborations in similar rural areas, including an emerging partnership with the UN Habitat award-winning Chile Rural Housing Programme. In terms of academic productivity, this project has led to a range of conference presentations and publications, including more notably an upcoming chapter in the "The Gruyter Handbook of Automated Futures" (2024), and the upcoming Springer book "Sustainable Materials for the Built Environment" (2025). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Creative Economy |
| Description | International case study in Temuco, Chile |
| Organisation | Autonomous University of Chile |
| Country | Chile |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Submission to AHRC Impact Acceleration Account for an implementation case study in Chile, following Veliz's presentation in an international outreach event. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Submission to AHRC Impact Acceleration Account for an implementation case study in Chile, following Veliz's presentation in an international outreach event. |
| Impact | Grant submission |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Setup of a local fablab |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Setup of a local fablab to further explore material futures following our research methodology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |