Approaches to the representation of urban areas and spaces often concentrate on infrastructure, massing, and planned mobility routes. However, the focus of many aspects of academic and professional consideration within architecture, urban management, urban planning and associated disciplines is often on people, and the complex interactions between people and their environment. Those complexities might relate to behaviours, changes in their physical and sensory surroundings over time, the people and diverse groups who may inhabit or use a space, the ways in which the uses of a space may evolve, and the human experience of being in the city. Although there may be consideration of such issues at the inception of a project, capturing and representing actual behaviours and experiences once a project has been completed is a challenge. The study will combine the use of digital data capture techniques with those from ethnography, to develop a rich representation of urban space, to reflect existing environments and to explore how this approach might inform future designs.
The successful candidate will be supervised by Professor Richard Laing and will be based at the Department of Architecture and Built Environment within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment. The Department engages with the full spectrum of disciplines that shape the future of our built environment including Architecture, Interior Architecture, Construction Project Management, Quantity Surveying. Building Surveying and Real Estate. Achieving excellence in research is our drive as evident in our latest REF2021 power rankings where the Department is ranked 11th in the UK.
This project aims to develop a research path whereby experiential aspects of the built environment can be captured and represented, to explore ways in which the influence of often overlooked yet critical aspects of the experience can be brought to the fore.
The project work and novelty can be summarised as:
1. Undertaking a definitive review of multi- and cross- discipline research concerning visualisation of the urban experience;
2. Undertaking detailed digital and visual data capture of selected urban areas, to support the production of both literal and abstracted visualisations of space;
3. Application of co-design and ethnographic methodologies to explore the urban experience, and to explore approaches to visualisation which represent and support deeper collaboration between stakeholders (the community, designers, managers);
4. Development of an innovative protocol for incorporation of the resulting methodology in community led urban design.
Eligibility and How to Apply:
Please note the eligibility requirements:
· Academic excellence of the proposed student i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities [preference for 1st class honours]); and a Master’s degree (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.
· Appropriate IELTS score, if required.
· Applicants cannot apply for this funding if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Northumbria or elsewhere or if they have previously been awarded a PhD.
For further details of how to apply, entry requirements and to apply, visit
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/
Please note: Applications that do not include a research proposal of approximately 1,000 words (not a copy of the advert), or that do not include the advert reference (e.g. FAC22...) will not be considered.
Deadline for applications: 1st December, 2022
Start Date: March 1st, 2023
Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our doctoral students. We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community. The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Employer, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers.
Informal enquiries should be directed to Professor Richard Laing: [Email Address Removed]