PhD in Architecture + Design

PhDs

Architecture + Design

Dr. Renee Tobe Dr. Heba Elsharkawy Dr. Anna Minton Alan Chandler

Doctoral research in architecture at UEL is as transdisciplinary as the practice of architecture itself.

High level impact studies that examine smart cities, and intelligent design with contextual analysis mean that we work with both the Sustainable Research Institute (SRI) and colleagues from Humanities. International experts in city design, moving image, sensory perception, retrofit housing, mental health, cultural studies, natural environment, and philosophy guide students through individually develop research projects. The intent of the doctorate is to produce high quality researchers across the diffrent strands of the built environment, that supports students’ own concerns as well as funded research investigations.

PhD by Publication The Key to Modern Freemasonry: The Hidden Mysteries of Nature and Science

Investigator: Emeritus Professor Charles Lawrence Director of Studies: Dr Renee Tobe Second Supervisor: Prof Darryl Newport

Congratulations to octogenarian Emeritus Professor Charles Lawrence awarded his Phd by Publication for his research into the connections between Freemasonry and Engineering.

How and Why Science Influenced the Founding and Structure of Modern Freemasonry and why it is a Perfect Microcosm of the Same Impact on the Upper Echelons of Society at that Critical Time in British Social History.

Freemasonry’s rituals place great emphasis on understanding the science that underpins its basic philosophy and insists that Masons must strive to understand the implications of science. However, this scientific injunction only remained for the initial years of Freemasonry, while the Founders, such as George Payne, John Theophilus Desagulier and American Benjamin Franklin, were still active in the 18th century(1). Subsequent Freemasons and historians of Freemasonry have since ignored the contribution of science. Primary texts such as Jones’ Freemasons’s Book of the Royal Arch and Carpenter’s biography of Desagulier provide essential insight into this influential figure.

Current research on Freemasonry focuses on the esoteric, spiritual and cabalistic aspects while the origins were scientific and related to actual stone masonry. This research returns the history of Freemasonry to its origins and demonstrates geological, structural, and geometrical connections. This published work seeks to address this gap in knowledge. Each of the articles chosen for the submissions represents a stage in the development of this research.

Notes 1. A. Carpenter. 2011. John Theophilus Desagulier; a Natural Philosopher, Engineer, and Freemason in Newtonian England. London: Continuum.

PhD by Research The Positive Effects of Interior Design in Care Homes for People Living with Dementia

Investigator: Dina Al Qusou Director of Studies: Dr Renee Tobe Second Supervisor: Dr Anastasia Karandinou

Designing for dementia does not come in a handbook manual because every person is different, it effects everyone in a different way and a simple design change can help one person, and be a trigger for another. The different collection of data would prove that culture and different life experiences could influence ones’ senses and how they adapt to the environment. This research will able to identify ways to improve how a person is living just by altering the little details in one’s home whether it is in color, positioning of furniture, or how sunlight enters the room.

Design for dementia is a promising field in which there is still a lot of uncharted territory within this subject. The investigations will be a collection of recourses from different types of references in order to help analyze and create a better understanding for architects and designers when it comes to creating the “ideal” environment for those who suffer from dementia. The references will be different media such as references from industries, healthcare research, and design theories, but the care homes and designs that this research will be looking at is not unrelated. The research will be evaluating current work and existing evidence to propose new or innovative means to improve the lives of people with dementia. Otherwise, a proposal of new protocols relevant to diverse cultural practices to improve the lives of people with dementia.

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PhD by Research Heritage-Led Regeneration Schemes and Heritage Values of Historic Buildings within Different International Contexts

Investigator: Umut Gedik Kilic Director of Studies: Alan Chandler

The research begins with the hypothesis that heritage-led regeneration schemes for historic buildings, when considered of high importance in terms of their heritage value, should be planned according to each corresponding international context and condition that defines that particular community at that particular location. This is accomplished in pursuit of creating an identifiable place for the residents while promoting social and economic progress within manageable frameworks. This research aims to identify the parameters that should guide the formation of heritage-led regeneration schemes and guide the negotiation of the heritage value of historic buildings within different international contexts. The investigation intends to extract a toolkit of parameters that should highlight the importance of the genius loci of the architectural work under consideration, combatting the universalising and homogenising process of normative regeneration led development, in order to retain original and fundamental character. To test the outcomes of the secondary research, the case study of the infamous Norton Folgate development on the Northern fringes of the City of London is selected due to its controversial nature and articulate argumentation both for and against the scheme.

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PhD by Research Assessing the Domestic Energy Use and Thermal Comfort of Occupants in a Post-war Social Housing Development Estate in Famagusta, Northern Cyprus

Investigator: Bertug Ozarisoy Director of Studies: Dr Heba Elsharkawy Supervisor: Mrs. Maria Alessandra Segantini Supervisor: Prof. Darryl John Newport

This research study presents an investigation into the energy use and its measures in buildings in order to improve the energy efficiency of residential tower blocks (RTBs) in Famagusta, Northern Cyprus. On this Mediterranean island, which experiences hot and humid temperatures throughout the year, residential buildings need to adapt to the climate to improve the thermal comfort of their occupants. The current housing stock includes a prevalence of high density, medium- and low-rise post-war social housing estates that do not have any insulation materials implemented in the building envelopes. One of the main concerns is that Northern Cyprus is burdened with a legacy of poorly built social housing stocks that have accumulated over the last few decades. The aim of this study is to assess both the overheating risk and the thermal comfort of occupants in a post-war social housing estate, as an exploratory case study.

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4 The modular volumetric passive shading systems had been installed onto the building envelope in order to regulate both the exposure of sunshine hours and natural ventilation throughout the day.

PhD by Research Using Urban Green Systems as an Approach for Future Climate Change Adaptation in London

Investigator: Hashem Taher Director of Studies: Dr Heba Elsharkawy Supervisor: Prof. Darryl John Newport

The research investigates the influence of increasing the Urban Green Systems (UGS) percentage which might be considered as a key solution to mitigate Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect as well as provide thermally comfortable outdoor environments for pedestrians. The investigation is undertaken by comparing the morphology of precincts and streets in relation to air temperature, radiant temperature and surface temperature within specific street canyons in London city centre as an urban developed area. The focus is to explore the effect of UGS on the microclimate of the same urban canyon by adjusting its percentage from 10 to 30 to 50 per cent. The results of this research will prove useful to urban planners, architects, engineers and policy makers in that it will provide an in-depth understanding of the potential of UGSs to mitigate the UHI effect in a sustainable, energy-efficient and costeffective way.

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5 The four scenarios for increasing UGS in Westminster area, London (from top to bottom: current situation, 25% trees, 25% green facades, 50% trees, 50% green facades)

ISBN 9781998990917