Building Performance

Professional organisation

AECB, ongoing

Member of the Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB), attending annual conference, contributing to discussion groups and participating in continuing professional development.https://aecb.net/Membership, Climate Emergency, Building Performance, Pedagogy, Sam Brown

Technica Conference

Teaching Technology in Architecture Conference, May 2024

Technology Leads from UK Arch Schools participated in a full day event, exploring ways to advance teaching and research of technologies subject.ARC207 is under development and a presentation at the conference will inform how embodied carbon can be better incorporated and represented within the module.A full set of conference slides is available from the E+T team.Event, EDI, Building Performance, Pedagogy, Jennifer Kerr, Sam Brown, Yun Wu and Pierangelo Scravaglieri

Student resource

Retrofit Resources, January - June 2024

This is a shared resource developed by Sheffield School of Architecture in collaboration with Architecture Students for Climate Action (Sheffield) and Bath Climate Action Group. The aim of the resource is to to collate the collective knowledge within the 3 organisations on Retrofit into a single location. The intention is that the tool can be used by both staff and students.The shared resource was initiated in response to a Architects Journal survey of students within architecture schools in 2022 that recognised a retrofit teaching gap within architectural education. The survey asked important questions around where schools were teaching enough about the climate emergency and reuse/retrofit with the results set out below.Retrofit Resources miro boardTeaching Resource, Climate Emergency, Digital Learning, Building Performance, John Sampson

(p)ersonalised (VE)ntilation and shading (D)esign for residential elderly (Ca)re environment

pVEDCa, 2024

Ongoing collaboration with academic colleagues, students and a "live" client to simultaneously develop analysis and proposals for a case study sheltered housing project located in Sheffield, together with teaching materials based on the work for use in a variety of academic modules.Climate Emergency, Building Performance, Pedagogy, Sam Brown, Dan Jary

Sustainable Architecture Studies collaboration

Dobbin Hill, 2024

Ongoing collaboration with students from the University of Sheffield School of Architecture's MSc in Sustainable Architecture Studies (MSc SAS) programme to explore strategies for the thermal-comfort focuses retrofit of a typical, solid-walled semi-detached family home in Sheffield.The work will inform physical adaptations to the property to be carried out in the near future. The work will be documented and building performance analysis will be carried out before, during and after the works.Built Project, Climate Emergency, Building Performance, Sam Brown

ARC554 24-25- Lecture 02 - Gando School Buildings_ISSUED

Technology teaching

Gando School Buildings by Francis Kéré, 29th March 2023

Sam prepared an in-depth case study on the school buildings built at Gando in Burkina Faso, initiated and designed by the Burkinabé architect, Francis Kéré. The case study was used as the basis of new teaching content in the MArch in Architecture module, ARC554 - Environment & Technology 1, in support of efforts to include content situated in climate contexts other than western Europe within a diversified offering to students. Presentation, Climate Emergency, Building Performance, Material Cultures, Pedagogy, Sam Brown

Technology teaching

The work of Prism Facades: terracotta curtain walling system at Blue+William in Sydney, 8th March 2023

Sam collaborated with the facade designer Troy Donovan of Prism Facades, based in Sydney, Australia, to develop a guest presentation and associated worksheet of teaching resources covering the role of a facade designer in design teams, the innovative approach to digital sketching used by Troy to develop detail design proposals and the application of this in the context of an innovative curtain walling system in use at the Blue+William development in Sydney, designed by Woods Bagot. ARC554 22-23 - Troy Donovan worksheetEvent, Teaching Resource, Climate Emergency, Building Performance, Material Cultures, Sam Brown

Fuel Poverty Research Network

Guest speaker at FPRN 'Damp & Mould' event, 1st March 2023

Question and Answer session hosted by the Fuel Poverty Research Network at which I was a guest expert. This was on account of my Retrofit knowledge and expertise. Over 110 people from industry, councils and local authorities attended.Event, Climate Emergency, Building Performance, Rachel Harris

Student project awards

ASCA Education Prizes, 2023 - Ongoing

Recognising that students are influenced by what the school outwardly recognises as excellent performance I worked with Architecture Students for Climate Action to initiate and deliver a new set of awards presented at the Schools end of year exhibition. In 2023 an award was presented to a student in each year in recognition for the quality of the work in response to the climate emergency. In 2024 I supported the initiation of 2 new awards recognising excellence in climate writing. Recognition, Climate Emergency, Building Performance, Material Cultures, John Sampson and Catherine Skelcher

Technology teaching

Retrofit Fundamentals for Construction Professionals, 8th December 2022

In response to the increase in student projects and project briefs focusing on Retrofit, Sam participated in a collective training course for design studio teaching staff in the School of Architecture.The session was facilitated by experienced retrofit contractors, People Powered Retrofit, and was designed to help staff understand the fundamental principles of eco-retrofit works, build on existing knowledge and skills, and to get up to date with the latest green building techniques, products, and regulations.Event, Climate Emergency, Building Performance, Pedagogy, Sam Brown

Press article contribution, Novara Media

This is How Britain Can Actually Prepare for Extreme Weather, 26th July 2022

Contribution to a press article exploring the resilience of our homes in the 2022 heat wave. Press Article, Climate Emergency, Building Performance, Rachel Harris

Metropolis meltdown: the urgent steps we need to take to cool our sweltering citiesAll over the world, temperatures in urban areas are rocketing. What can we do? Axe air-con, whitewash roofs, unleash buried rivers – and try to be a bit more like Norwich

Press article contribution, The Guardian

Metropolis meltdown: the urgent steps we need to take to cool our sweltering cities, 14th July 2022

Contribution to and direct quote to an article written by Oliver Wainwright during the 2022 summer heat wave.Press Article, Climate Emergency, Building Performance, Rachel Harris

Book chapter contribution

Collaborative Design and Practice: A New Future for Architecture Together, April 2022

Invited to contribute to a book chapter Authored by Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios detailing my collaboration with them in incorporating FCBS Carbon calculator into my Y3 E&T module teaching and assignment. Chapter titled: 'Getting to Grips with Embodied Carbon: How a Collaborative approach made FCBS Carbon more resilient, easier to use and more relevant to the climate crisis.'Book, Climate Emergency, Building Performance, Pedagogy, Rachel Harris

Student resource

ASCA Climate Resources Hub, 2022 - 2024

Within the School of Architecture we place significant emphasis on supporting and facilitating student led learning. As a Department we have embraced the emergence of ASCA and valued the role they have played as a critical friend. I secured an Education Grant in 2022 in partnership with the group that has helped to invigorate and enhance their activities over the course of the year and beyond.Recognised the long-standing challenge in universities of sharing and disseminating the exceptional work, often laden with specialised knowledge, particularly in light of the climate crisis both with and beyond the school I supported ASCA facilitated by the Education Fund to established a virtual platform called the "Climate Resource Hub." Using the widely accessible Miro platform, commonly used in the school of architecture, this hub initially became a centralised repository for all things climate-related. It featured an extensive, organised reading list, showcases master's level works on critical material appraisals for a deeper understanding of climate-conscious materials, provides an active events calendar, links to talks we hosted, climate-related articles, and fosters collaboration and suggestions from fellow students. Over the summer, the platform continued to evolve into a Climate resource website.Event, Website, Toolkit, Climate Emergency, Building Performance, Pedagogy, Participation, Material Cultures, History and Representation, John Sampson

"The response to the Climate Emergency has developed into a real strength of the programme. I was amazed how the school had stepped forward in response to the Climate Emergency over the past 2 years."

Prof. Sussanne Hoffman, MArch External Examiner 2023

Sam Brown - Certificate of Attendance Masterclass Net Zero.pdf

Knowledge sharing

Getting to Net Zero: Masterclass, 14th July 2021

The increased focus on the Climate Emergency has led to a stream of declarations to achieve Net Zero. But what does that actually mean to the built environment? Do we really know how to design and deliver a true net-zero building? This masterclass was undertaken collectively by design studio teaching staff, module leaders and programme leaders in the undergraduate and MArch programmes at the University of Sheffield School of Architecture as a way to enhance our teaching practice.The event explored the issues around net zero, providing practical illustrations of what it takes to achieve both net-zero operational energy and net-zero embodied energy and highlighting what can be done at design stage to achieve the biggest impact.Event, Climate Emergency, Pedagogy, Building Performance, Sam Brown, Simon Baker

South Yorkshire Housing Association collaboration

SYHA / SSoA Housing Exhibition, June 2021 - ongoing

The exhibition is designed to celebrate two years of student work developed through the School's collaboration with South Yorkshire Housing Association, showcasing design projects, dissertation material and Live Projects.The exhibition is designed to be deployed indoors or externally to reach as wide an audience as possible.The exhibition would expose the excellent work of over 300 students from across the School to the general public, providing an engaging forum for discussion around topical housing issues. It is intended that several students would be involved as key members of the curatorial team.Event, Presentation, EDI, Climate Emergency, Participation, Placemaking, Material Cultures, Building Performance, Carolyn Butterworth and Leo Care

ribabooks.com/Designing-for-the-Climate-Emergency-A-Guide-for-Architecture-Students_9781859469644

Climate emergency curriculum

Designing for the Climate Emergency, 2021

RIBA publication. Part 1 of a 3 part series.Part 1: Climate emergency curriculum for architects – Bachelor studentsPart 2: Climate emergency curriculum for architects – Masters students and Part 3: Climate emergency curriculum for architects in practice – TBC (may not be needed pending other publications) This book proposal is set against the background of the climate crisis and countries’ targets of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, with the Nordic region aiming for carbon neutrality sooner (e.g. Norway by 2030, Finland by 2035 etc.). These ambitious carbon neutral goals can only be unlocked through well-planned, and executed designs of new buildings, neighbourhoods, and cities, and the careful and effective (re)design of the built environment we have created thus far. This will mean a significant shift in how we practice architecture, and by extension a radical re-thinking of the curriculum for the next generation of architects is needed. Yet, in built environment education and practice a significant skills and competency gap exists to address this crisis, highlighted, for example, by the architecture profession’s own ‘architects declare' and similar 'architectural education declares’ announcing a biodiversity and climate emergency (e.g. in the UK and Denmark). Another example is the formation of ACAN (Architects Climate Action Network), and architecture students collectively forming the ‘Anthropocene Architecture School’ to conduct ‘crisis studios’ and ‘crisis crits’ to plug the design and knowledge gap in architecture education (all in the UK).Book, Climate Emergency, Pedagogy, Building Performance, Aidan Hoggard

Case Study 04 - Woodland Community Hall at Hill Holt Wood - Worksheet 21-22.pdf

Technology teaching

Woodland Community Hall at Hill Holt Wood, 7th December 2020

Sam prepared an in-depth case study on the Woodland Community Hall at Hill Holt Wood, an ancient woodland located on the border of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire in the UK. The hall is constructed of rammed earth and native UK timber used "in the round" and has been the recipient of a number of awards in recognition of the innovative means of construction and process of design. The work involved extensive original interviews with a wide range of people involved in the building's construction and use. The case study was used as the basis of new teaching content in the MArch in Architecture module, ARC554 - Environment & Technology 1, in support of efforts to include content on low impact construction techniques within a diversified offering to students. Presentation, Climate Emergency, Building Performance, Material Cultures, Pedagogy, Participation, Sam Brown

Decarbonise your House NOW Exhibition GuideFirst Edition 211126.pdf

Exhibition and research

Decarbonise your house now, 2020 - 2022

Acting as a research mentor I supported Editional Studio to develop The Decarbonise Your House Now! guide and exhibition.The research commissioned by the RIBA explores the barriers that small practices play in communicating the importance of environmental upgrade to their domestic clients. The research culminated in an exhibition of experimental building fragments exhibited in Editional Studios local high street shop.Exhibition, Research Publication, Climate Emergency, Material Cultures, Building Performance, John Sampson

Project archive

SYHAxSSoA Project Stack, 2019 - 2024

Welcome to the SSOAxSHYA Project Stack Archive!The School of Architecture at the University of Sheffield and South Yorkshire Housing Association have been working together on a number of collaborative projects since 2019. We call this the SYHAxSSoA Project Stack. This archive collects and celebrates all the fantastic work created so far from across the School, including the Y2 Housing Project, PG Live Projects, MArch Dissertations and SAS Case Studies.The archive is organised in 3 themes:

New Homes: To meet the housing crisis and to meet demand, SYHA have to build new social housing. Through the project stack, SSOA and SYHA are exploring how Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and other sustainable techniques can be used to deliver fantastic new homes with excellent environmental credentials.
Futureproof Homes: Making our homes ready for the future is a multi-faceted problem, with the two main issues being the climate crisis and an ageing population.
Living Together: Living Together healthily and happily at all scales, from neighborhood level down to communal facilities, is an increasingly important area of study and development.

The work that SYHA and SSOA have done together to asses and design new ways of living together is already having an impact within SYHA, who are now "thinking, more and more about how we can create a sustainable public realm." and are using the tools created by students and researchers to, "influence our our policy and what we do in development going forward"Website, Climate Emergency, EDI, Building Performance , Participation, Placemaking, Carolyn Butterworth and Sam Brown

"At SYHA, we've got over 6,000 homes and we need to make sure that they're going to be fit for the future" [working with SSOA] "challenges us to think in different ways about them and builds on our knowledge...to influence our policy and what we do in development going forward."

-South Yorkshire Housing Association

How we build homes_URBED.pdf

Housing delivery models

How we build homes, December 2018

In December 2018 I was invited to present alongside the critic and designer Phineas Harper to the RIBA Housing Group. My presentation drew upon my experience working with URBED (Urbanism Environment Design) Ltd and also my teaching experience working with Disseration students looking at housing delivery models.I have subsequently updated the presentation over the past 4 years and most recently presented the work to students within the MArch programme.Presentation, Event, Climate Emergency, Placemaking, Building Performance, John Sampson

Student project catalogue

The Dreams of Sleeping Beauty, December 2018

Our current third year is the fifth cohort of students to be working on design projects for Scarborough. By December 2018 we will have a repository of over 500 different projects for the town. The projects are based on a variety of briefs which engage with different aspects of the rich history of town and located on many different sites that explore its unique topography. The proposal is to take the best of this work and develop an exhibition and/or catalogue, showing how these sites could be used and new facilities that could be proposed. The intention is to present an optimistic future for the town, developing themes of the urban design framework document ‘Kissing Sleeping Beauty’ produced by West 8 in 2003, which so far has largely remained unrealised.In addition to student work, we could also include staff projects in the town (Markets - Group Ginger, Woodend - P Testa, W McFadden). The aim would also be to provide a didactic commentary to the projects, with input from the Y3 team and our external examiners.Event, Booklet, EDI, History and Representation, Participation, Building Performance, Material Cultures, Placemaking, Russel Light

Urban leisure spaces

Urban subversion and mobile cinema: Leisure, architecture and the “kino-cine-bomber”, April 2018

This paper introduces our bicycle-based cinema device—the “kino-cine- bomber”—as a vehicle to reimagine disused buildings and obsolete urban infrastructure for re-activated public leisure spaces. It is also a vehicle to conceptualize theoretical relations between leisure, architecture, cinematic geographies and urban spaces. Through these lenses, we focus on a series of Situationist-inspired methods using the kino-cine-bomber to identify buildings that could be removed—as architecture by subtraction—in Coventry (UK). There, the River Sherbourne flows hidden beneath the city, culverted and capped, a relic of postwar urban planning no longer fit for purpose.We explore river “daylighting” plans by postgraduate architecture students using the kino-cine-bomber, first to trace the hidden river beneath the city streets, then to project architectural designs where buildings may be repurposed and the river revealed. We discuss the possibilities of these designs and, befitting a paper celebrating Situationism, we close with a manifesto for urban leisure spaces.Urban subversion and mobile cinema: Leisure, architecture and the “kino-cine-bomber”Journal Article, Climate Emergency, History and Representation, Placemaking, Building Performance, Simon Baker

Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods 2022 - Y2_reduced.pdf

Teaching resource

Climate Adaptive Neighbourhoods, 2018 - 2022

This is an evolving presentation that I have put together over the past 4 years that captures approaches to developing climate adaptive neighbourhoods. The presentation draws heavily from my own practice experience at URBED (Urbanism Environment Design) Ltd and references a number of award winning urban design projects. I have presented versions of this presentation across different programmes within the School of Architecture and the School of Landscape. Most recently I presented the work in 2022 to the Year 2 Undergraduates as part of their housing project.Presentation, Climate Emergency, Placemaking, Building Performance, John Sampson

20210316_People Powered Retrofit (1).pdf

Retrofit approaches

People Powered Retrofit, 2018 - 2022

This is a presentation that I have put together in order to share and disseminate the learning from a number of research design projects focusing on the delivery of domestic retrofit. The presentation draws heavily on my own practical experience working with URBED and reveals the key learning points from originally establishing the Carbon Coop through to delivering initial government funded R+D projects such as Green Deal Go Early. Presentation, Built Project, Climate Emergency, Building Performance, John Sampson

A cross-disciplinary, arts-based research project funded by the AHRC Connected Communities programmearoundthetoilet.wordpress.com/

Student resource

Around the Toilet: Design Toolkit, 2018

The Design toolkit was one strand of the Around The Toilet research project, that aimed to create an online resource to help students to understand the importance of toilet design and engage them in the challenges of creating better toilets. The work incorporated gender and disability studies with architectural design and research. The work and outputs from the project were presented at the Disordinary Architecture conference at UCL in March 2018.The project was AHRC funded.Journal Article, Toolkit, Website, EDI, History and Representation, Pedagogy, Participation, Building Performance, Leo Care

Architectural theory

Superstudio’s lost project for Sheffield, 2018

In my recent research, I have discovered a previously unknown project by the Italian architectural theorists Superstudio for Sheffield, which was part of their Continuous Monument project of 1969. In Superstudio’s presentation of the project one of the montages is entitled 'Coketown Revisited’, without any reference to a specific location. I have identified the background as a photograph of a street in Sheffield taken by Roger Mayne. I have also identified the location of the street (demolished in the 1970s). From this information it has been possible to reconstruct the full plan and extent of the project. At over 2 miles long and 67m high, it dwarfs all of the other major architectural projects for Sheffield that were being carried out in the 1960s, including Park Hill, Hyde Park, Kelvin and the Tinsley Viaduct. I have already produced plans and new photomontages showing the scale and impact of the structure on the city.So far, I have given two talks on this research, the first to accompany the S1 Love Among the Ruins exhibition and the second at the Sheffield Modern Architecture Weekender. I would now like to develop a journal article about the topic. Journal Article, Presentation, EDI, History and Representation, Building Performance, Material Cultures, Placemaking, Archival, Russel Light

Low-energy construction

Creek Cabin, 2017 - 2020

Creek Cabin is an innovative low-energy, flood-resilient replacement dwelling in a protected wetland location of internationally-recognised importance. Working with Jon Broome Architects and MAP Architecture, Sam led the delivery of the building in close collaboration with client, contractor and various specialists required to realise such an ambitious design.The house features a pair of 'floating' green roofs set above the main body of the building with clerestory glazing concealing a lightweight steel frame. A super-insulated envelope of engineered timber cassettes filled with woodfibre and clad in kebony encloses the upper floor, whilst the ground floor accommodation is housed within flood-resilient masonry construction on a raft foundation. The project has been designed to passivhaus principles with a mechanical ventilation and heat-recovery system and relies on wood-pellet fueled biomass boiler for heating energy and a bore hole for water supply.Built Project, Climate Emergency, Building Performance, Sam Brown

Grand Designs Magazine _ Walters Way_Selected Pages.pdf

Retrofit and refurbishment

Walters Way, September 2016 - March 2019

Walters Way is the sensitive refurbishment of an original "Segal House" originally built as part of an innovative housing scheme run by Lewisham council in the 1980s. The refurbishment works are extensive and include a single-storey wrap-around extension, improved insulation and glazing, a renewed rainscreen and a modern spatial reconfiguration to suit a growing family. The work was carried out by the clients themselves, working with other trades and contractors where necessary. The design work was carried out by Sam Brown, working initially with Jon Broome Architects and latterly with MAP Architecture.Press Article, Built Project, Climate Emergency, Material Cultures, Building Performance, Sam Brown

All together now_ how to build a social campus _ Higher Education Network _ The Guardian.pdf

Student wellbeing

All together now: how to build a social campus, December 2015

University campuses are intended as social spaces, yet their design often sends out the opposite message. Designers go for unusual shapes in an attempt to portray youth and vibrancy, but these can result in oddly proportioned spaces that are difficult to use. Bright colours, liberally splashed about to make areas seem lively, can feel jarring, and soon date.Outdoor spaces can be just as problematic: think of all those walkways and squares across which students and staff march on their way somewhere else. Many are devoid of communal activity, overshadowed by buildings and lacking greenery. When budgets are tight, this is an area that often suffers.For a social space to function well, the inside and the outside need to be considered together during the design and subsequent use. So how can we create truly social campuses?Journal Article, EDI, Pedagogy, Participation, Building Performance, Satwinder Samra

TESS slides LC and DJ 2015.pdf

Teaching excellence in social sciences conference

Liveness in the School of Architecture, 2015

The School of Architecture has pioneered a range of ‘Live’ learning experiences for UG and PG students. The richness and value of such approaches are recognised by staff and students alike, with Live projects firmly at the centre of the School’s identity and student offer. We see Liveness as a central approach to our future teaching, providing a supportive academic environment for students to interact with real people in the real world with real issues to address.One of the challenges that we face in Live project work is making the assessment process an integral part of the learning experience rather than a tick box exercise. But how can we equitably, accurately and sensitively assess Live work, when processes and outputs are heavily influenced by the vagaries of a real life context, client whims and a myriad of public viewpoints?Our presentation will be based around the following key themes, which will act as a framework around which various Live projects from UG and PG will be explored. We will aim to reflect on the successes of the projects in terms of Liveness and look at how our approach can be refined for future students, to ensure that a resilient and sustainable model is in place.Presentation, EDI, Pedagogy, Placemaking, Material Cultures, Building Performance, Participation, Dan Jary and Leo Care

Best practice

Building Schools: Key Issues for Contemporary Design, 2015

For some time now, school buildings have represented an important field in architecture, and there is an enduring interest in the challenges this design task presents. This publication explains in eleven chapters the central parameters for this architectural typology: The role of the school in the community or neighbourhood, questions of sustainability, flexible spaces for learning, the role of furniture, participation in the design process, learning outside the classroom, landscape design, opportunities and challenges of special schools, and the role of new pedagogical concepts. Each theme is thoroughly investigated and illustrated with numerous buildings presenting model solutions for specific problems or aspects.Journal Article, EDI, Pedagogy, Participation, Building Performance, Leo Care and Howard Evans

Healthy Design Creative Safety Agenda 25 March 2014.pdf

Approaches to health and safety teaching and learning in schools of architecture

Healthy Design Creative Safety Agenda, 25th March 2014

Healthy Design, Creative Safety - WorkshopEvent, EDI, Pedagogy, Participation, Material Cultures, Building Performance, Dan Jary and Leo Care

Healthy design creative safety report 2013.pdf

Approaches to health and safety teaching and learning in schools of architecture

Healthy Design, Creative Safety, 2013

Key findings of this report:

This research has found evidence of innovative and creative ways of teaching health and safety. It has also revealed that such good practice often addresses H&S in indirect ways and knowledge is rarely shared between institutions, resulting in variability of approach and delivery of the subject.
Health and safety is an appropriate subject to cover in undergraduate schools of architecture. There is an academic imperative to the subject and it is not just something that should be dealt with in practice. Many interviewees recognised the need for the subject to be creatively addressed.
‘Health and safety’ is sometimes perceived negatively by students and staff. This is largely due to a misconception that the subject is purely concerned with applying a set of rules in practice.
Live Projects offer an effective context to learn about risk management and issues of health and safety. Students benefit from working with real clients and scenarios, and from an active engagement with the process of making.

Report, Journal Article, EDI, Pedagogy, Participation, Material Cultures, Building Performance, Dan Jary and Leo Care

Urban regeneration

Trent Basin, 2012 - 2018

Within my role at URBED I was responsible for leading the development of the Trent Basin Masterplan located on the northern bank of the River Trent, 20 minutes’ walk from Nottingham city centre. The scheme developed by Blueprint aims to create a new type of neighbourhood that is neither entirely urban nor entirely suburban. To do this we drew heavily on Dutch precedents for the way that the scheme relates to the water. The design creates a strong 3 and 4 storey waterside terrace punctuated by narrow streets.In many senses the scheme is a reinvention of the suburb rather than a lively urban neighbourhood. The idea is that the blocks, set back from the waterfront, feel calm and relaxed and not dominated by cars. In collaboration with Nottingham-based architects, Marsh Grochowski, Sarah Wigglesworth Architects and landscape architects Landscape Projects, we have set out to create a neighbourhood based around cycling, dog walking, jogging, fishing, reading, chatting, exercising and working. Trent Basin won the Urban Design Group Practice Award 2015, see the video hereI was also involved in securing InnovateUK funding for the project to accelerate the adoption of a pioneering Community Energy Storage proposal for the development.I also worked with Nottingham City Council to develop a strategy for the wider Waterside area of the city.Trent Basin is currently being built out - creating a new and unique residential neighbourhood on the edge of Nottingham city centre.Book, Film, Built Project, Climate Emergency, Placemaking, Building Performance, John Sampson

UD132_magazine.pdf

URBAN DESIGN 132 Autumn 2014 | URBAN DESIGN Journal Issue | Urban Design Group

20111031_ALPHA FARM Report Web.pdf

Design research

Alpha Farm, 2011

Alpha Farm: A design-led research study commissioned by Manchester International Festival exploring the delivery of a Vertical Farm in Manchester. The project was a collaboration between URBED, Lancaster University, Cambridge University and Biomatrix Water. The team concluded that by taking a comprehensive approach to the integration of nutrient, water and energy flows within the building a vertical farm has the potential to be developed as a resource ‘sensible’ model. By this we mean that the farm has the potential to grow food using less energy than conventional farming based on the input of large numbers of pesticides and fertilisers and the transport of food over large distances.This resulted in a demonstrator growing project called the Biosphere being constructed at Manchester College that integrated fungiculture, aquaculture, hydroponics and vermiculture. The project won a National PACE Award for Environmental Sustainability.Exhibition, Press Article, Built Project, Climate Emergency, Placemaking, Building Performance, John Sampson

Cohousing development

Rural Urban Synthesis Society, 2009 - 2023

The Rural Urban Synthesis Society (RUSS) is a Community Land Trust (CLT) based in Lewisham, south-east London, with the aim of creating sustainable community-led neighbourhoods with affordable housing. Sam worked closely with the organisation to establish itself, raise funding, find a site for its first project, assemble a design team, run a co-design process, gain planning permission and start on site with its first, ambitious scheme of 36 homes at Church Grove in Ladywell, offering self-build opportunities for local people. The works are due to complete in May 2023.Case Study: The Rural Urban Synthesis SocietyBuilt Project, Participation, Material Cultures, Building Performance, Placemaking, Sam Brown

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