Urban Living Labs: Investigating the impact of professional boundaries and expertise on the development of Living Labs

The precise definition of an Urban living Lab has yet to be pinned down but we do know they are places, both literal and virtual in which the public, industry stakeholders, policy and academia come together to explore and develop research on some aspect of the city. Architects and urban designers are oddly absent from discussions of urban living labs although the development of co-designed solutions to spatial problems is part of their skillset. This PhD is open to those who are keen to develop their skillset in participatory architecture, to reflect critically on the impact of professional boundaries and expertise on the development of Living Labs and who are interested in the mapping of social value and impact. It offers an opportunity to professionals in the field of architecture, urban design and community art to develop expertise in new territories and new funding. It is also open to those who wish to observe, document and reflect upon the nature of communities and communication between their members. It would provide a foundation for those who want to engage with the growing urban agenda including such key issues such as housing and wellbeing. The PhD would also offer the opportunity to work on the development of a Living Lab for Reading with staff and students in the School of Architecture and the wider research community including the Urban Living Research group at the School of Built Environment and Real Estate and Planning. A Living Lab PhD at Reading is a distinctive opportunity to combine socially engaged activism with business acumen and design. RURBAN in Paris, combining issues of urban food production, resilience, sustainability and community provides important inspiration for the team.