The University's History, Conservation and Management Cluster welcomed Chaw Kalyar, Principal Architect at Statement Architecture, and Geoff Rich, Co-Founder and Director of Octopus Associates for an informal research meeting on 5 November 2026. The meeting brought together colleagues to exchange ideas, share experiences from previous projects and explore opportunities for future collaboration in heritage conservation, climate resilience and the sustainable management of historic buildings.

Sharing research interests and exploring future collaborations

The meeting provided an opportunity for Cluster members to learn more about Chaw Kalyar's research and professional experience, particularly her work on climate resilience and heritage architecture. Her research interests closely align with the Cluster's interdisciplinary approach to understanding, conserving and managing historic buildings and the wider built environment.

Discussions covered a range of shared research interests, previous project experiences and potential opportunities to develop collaborative activities. Participants also exchanged perspectives on how interdisciplinary research can help address current challenges facing historic buildings and heritage assets, particularly in the context of climate change and environmental sustainability.

The meeting brought together Cluster members Dr Alejandro Jiménez Ríos, Dr Ricardo Codinhoto and Tianyu Xiang, alongside Chaw Kalyar and Geoff Rich. It was a valuable opportunity to strengthen connections, identify common research priorities and consider potential directions for future collaboration.

The Cluster would like to thank Chaw and Geoff for taking the time to meet with us and for their engaging contributions. We look forward to continuing these conversations and developing opportunities for collaboration.