We aim to combine engineering expertise, mathematical modelling, and participatory social research methods to identify the factors required for a community to proactively empower people to make more informed decisions to cater for their own needs on the use of sustainable construction materials. Engineers constantly present novel construction materials which are not adopted by the community. We seek to work with communities themselves to identify their needs and to co-design strategies for using sustainable construction materials to meet those needs. If we can identify answers to the question of societal need, we can contribute to setting the current approach towards introducing novel materials onto its own sustainable co-creational path.
The Project aims to understand the needs of a home (a place where people feel safe, comfortable, where they can express themselves and their beliefs) vs. the needs of the engineering properties of a building (house – physical shelter).
The urgent need to grow the use of sustainable construction materials is clear. However, whilst huge progress has been made on the engineering aspect of this challenge, what is far less clear are the societal needs and attitudes that determine the adoption or rejection of these alternative materials. Engineers constantly present novel construction materials, which are not adopted by the community. By working with communities themselves, we seek to identify their needs and to co-design strategies for using sustainable construction materials to meet those needs. If we can identify answers to the question of societal need, we can contribute to setting the current approach toward introducing novel materials onto its own sustainable co-creational path.
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG: 11, 9, 8, 3, and 17
Academic Director
Taghried Abdel-Magid, Dept of Architecture and Civil Engineering
Who can Apply?
This VIP welcomes applications from all University of Bath students.
Applications for Semester 1 AY25/26 will open in June 2025.
Project Updates
TBC