Rachel Harris

University Teacher

Environment & Technology Co-Lead

rachel.harris@sheffield.ac.uk

Rachel is a University Teacher at Sheffield School of Architecture. She is Joint Subject Leader for Environment and Technology, and Year 3 co-leader. She is an Architect with extensive experience in practice, both in London, UK and Sydney, Australia. Rachel is a Certified Passive House Designer and Retrofit Coordinator and uses these qualifications to inform her teaching and scholarly outreach. Rachel has a keen interest in Ecology, and through continued study for a Certificate in Higher Education in Ecology, is keen to explore how Architectural pedagogy and practice can positively incorporate ecological design principles in the evolution towards more resilient and regenerative design. Rachel is an active member of the Architect's Climate Action Network (ACAN).

Designing for the Climate Emergency - reflection on use as a studio teaching tool - ongoing

In support of the recent publication by Aidan Hoggard and others titled "Designing for the Climate Emergency", Sam Brown and Rachel Harris have organised sessions with design studio teaching staff at the Sheffield School of Architecture intended to introduce the book to key staff and support its use in studio.
The sessions included an overview of the book's structure and content and an invitation to feedback on the experience of using it directly with students, to be compiled into a reflective piece at the end of the academic year. The feedback will be provided to the authors and publishers to inform further editions of the book.
A concurrent strand of work aims to promote the use of the book with students so that design studio work explicitly addresses the challenges of the climate emergency in a manageable way aligned with students' progression through the undergraduate and post-graduate courses.
Journal Article, Climate Emergency, Pedagogy, Sam Brown, Rachel Harris

Guest speaker at a 'Damp & Mould' event hosted by the Fuel Poverty Research Network - 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

Press Article Contribution for Novara Media: 'This is How Britain Can Actually Prepare for Extreme Weather' - 26 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

Contribution to Guardian Article: 'Metropolis meltdown: the urgent steps we need to take to cool our sweltering cities. - 14 July, 2022

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

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

Collaborative Design and Practice: A New Future for Architecture Together - Contribution to Book Chapter - 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