Designing Where We Live

'2019 marked the 175th anniversary of the founding of the YMCA and the 170th anniversary of the founding of the YMCA Newcastle' (YMCA, 2020) and I write this application with a huge enthusiasm to help co-design high quality innovative housing solutions with young adults not in Employment, Education or Training (NEETS). I feel my interests and background would align very well to this PhD design based collaboration, having worked in the architectural industry now for over seven years, five of which have been in residential architecture (thirteen years including my architectural education). In my first employment in the industry with Fitz Architects, we delivered a "proposal that comprised of 21 residential eco-friendly dwellings which are carbon negative in energy-use. The project was highly innovative and also achieved Code 6 of The Code for Sustainable Homes" (Fitz Architects, 2012). During my current employment with Atkins Global, I have been exposed to a bold new initiative, creatively titled EDAROTH (Everybody Deserves a Roof Over Their Head):"at EDAROTH it is our mission to have a meaningful impact on the housing crisis and support the replenishment and growth of social and affordable housing across the UK." (Atkins EDAROTH, 2020). YMCA Building in the late 1800's From these two short examples, which I am happy to expand on in further opportunities, it is clear that innovate housing solutions are being sought from local authorities, small architectural teams, large scale international practices, charities and more. This PhD has the potential to be a huge market disruptor and more importantly, could positively affect the housing crisis at the introductory level, getting young adults (NEET) to be part of the design process, fabrication, installation and build.