Resilient Urban Housing in the Post-Pandemic World (Advert Reference: RDF21/EE/ABE/SEOKyungWook)

This project aims to propose a new housing typology that can best adapt to the future scenario of high-density urban living in the context of the advancement of ICT (Information and Communication Technology), climate change and pandemics. Globally, the urbanisation has been accelerated with a growing pace through the twentieth century and the current world urban population of 56.2% is predicted to reach 68% by 2050 according to the UN.

For millennia, cities have survived many crises such as wars, pandemics and natural disasters but now they are facing new environmental challenges and lifestyle changes in the twenty first century. Due to the demographic change, new urban housing types such as cohousing and SDU (Sub-Divided Units) have arisen in many parts of the world and now they need to renegotiate their design strategies to cope with the climate change and possible pandemics. At the same time, the ICT has enabled a network-based urban dwelling which blurs the boundary between the house and the city.

The design solution to the future urban dwelling can be wide-ranging but this research focuses more on the configuration of housing and their connection to the urban network to facilitate and control the exchange of household goods and services in a fast, easy and safe way. For example, we learned lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic that a house needs a strategic approach in designing buffer zones such as vestibules, balconies and small outdoor spaces. At the urban level, decentralisation and distribution of resources will be more valued to provide a controlled way of connecting homes, neighbours, towns and cities.

Along with the practical and technical aspects, this research will delve into the socio-cultural aspect of housing in many global cities. It is not a global prototype we will be proposing but a locally sustainable solution for future users. Through the in-depth investigation of modern housing developments in regional contexts, we can generate more culturally attuned solutions to the future home.

A candidate researcher would require a general understanding of housing form and culture and a specific area of knowledge within the research framework. It is also recommended that the candidate has a basic experience of using methodologies for spatial analyses such as space syntax and GIS. It is expected that the research of Resilient Urban Housing will contribute to and have benefit from Digital Living, one of multidisciplinary research themes at Northumbria University.
The principal supervisor for this project is Dr. Kyung Wook Seo.

Eligibility and How to Apply:
Please note eligibility requirement:
• Academic excellence of the proposed student i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities [preference for 1st class honours]); or a Masters (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.

For further details of how to apply, entry requirements and the application form, see
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. RDF21/EE/ABE/SEOKyungWook) will not be considered.
Deadline for applications: 29 January 2021
Start Date: 1 October 2021
Northumbria University takes pride in, and values, the quality and diversity of our staff. We welcome applications from all members of the community.