Charles Holland from FAT architecture will speak about our collaborative work regarding the possibilities of adapting some of Croydon’s buildings and urban spaces. The work will examine technical issues, catalogue design tactics, illustrate conversion scenarios and most importantly push creative possibilities for Croydon’s existing buildings and spaces – appropriating the AF research knowledge into the context of Croydon’s central area.    

The AF team will be running two project-based workshops with KTA collaborator Nightingale Associates on April 10th and 11th discussing both a primary school and laboratory project.  The three hour workshops consist of a series of discussions and exercises designed to provoke the design teams to think about, map and sketch various aspects of the project around the topic of adaptability.  We will also be giving a general presentation to the Liverpool office on designing for adaptability on the afternoon of the 10th.

CBRE, a global leader in real estate services, has expressed interest in the research and we will be heading down to London to present an overview of the research and  to discuss collaboration opportunities.

The AF team will hold a three day optional design studio at Sheffield Hallam University focused on adapting Saint Vincent's church and adjacent buildings on site.  The studio will focus on the temporary nature of architecture and developing students' film making skills.

Unlocking your global growth, operational excellence and tomorrow's facilities Manufacturing facilities are the driving force behind much of the world’s growth, employment and financial prosperity. This Arup hosted event which will consider the drivers that influence the operation and design of future manufacturing. Insights will be shared from global corporates, academics and designers of leading facilities and will consider critical factors and trends. How will I expand my global footprint? How will I gain operational excellence? What will the future facility look like?

This lecture provided Construction Engineering Management and Architectural Engineering & Design Management students with an introduction to the issue of adaptability in buildings, focusing on the different types of change in the built environment and the design strategies that can be used to accommodate them. It also outlined the motives and obstacles to designing more adaptable buildings, and considered what might need to change for more buildings to be designed to be more adaptable.  The students will be completing coursework assignments which will case study the adaptability of buildings.

The kickoff workshop with Nightingale Associates (NA) aims to engage a team of designers from NA applying aspects of the adaptability toolkit around a specific project.

This lecture provided students from the Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development at De Monfort University with an introduction to the issue of adaptability in buildings, focusing on the different types of change in the built environment and the design strategies that can be used to accommodate them. It also outlined the motives and obstacles to designing more adaptable buildings, and considered what might need to change for more buildings to be designed to be more adaptable.  

The initial meeting for the KTA collaborators is set to introduce the members to each other and offer some preliminary feedback to the toolkit.  Discussion of the toolkit will be conducted around group exercises and project presentations given by David Rowley of Nightingale Associates and Soren Nielson of Vankunsten architects.

Recent years have seen growing interest in the issue of adaptability in the built environment. This interest has been stimulated by a number of factors, including increasing rates of technological change, concerns about potential climate change and a desire to make the built environment more sustainable by extending the life of our building stock. However, how does adaptability manifest itself in practice and what factors influence the capacity of buildings and urban areas to accommodate change? The conference will explore these and other questions by providing a range of perspectives on adaptability, relating to design, culture, management, business and sustainability.