Collaboration for innovation in housing: The role of the civic university in delivering new homes in the city

Jones, Matthew; Columbano, Alessandro

Abstract

The Birmingham School of Architecture and Design pioneered ‘live projects’ as a pedagogic model in schools of architecture in the UK and as part of this programme delivered a number of innovative housing projects in collaboration with the public sector. The School continues the tradition of live projects through its more contemporary initiative, The Co\\aborative Lab:oratory (Co.LAB). The module brings together students from across a range of disciplines, academics and external partners to work on inter and trans-disciplinary projects through collaborative working approaches. Working with Cherwell District Council’s Build! Team, Co.LAB has led the development of a low carbon timber frame selfbuild housing system. Continuing the tradition of learning by doing, students tested the system at 1:1 scale. Working with the council, a full prototype is under development for construction.

By comparing historic archival knowledge with our case study, the paper seeks to highlight the challenges and virtues of university-public sector collaboration as a means to deliver innovative outcomes. It makes a case for greater role in collaboration between the university and public sector as a means to develop alternative models of housing in the city.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: AHRA Housing and the City 17th Annual International Conference of the Architectural Humanities Research Association, 2020
• Start Date: Nov 19, 2020
• End Date: Nov 21, 2020
• Deposit Date: Feb 7, 2023
• Keywords: housing; live projects; self-build; sustainability; Co.LAB
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10440977
• Related Public URLs: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/conference/fac-eng/ahra-2020/index2.aspx