MSc Architecture and Environmental Design Welcome to MORE 2024

Rosa Schiano-Phan (Course Leader), Carine Berger, Mehrdad Borna, Kartikeya Rajput, Filomena Russo, Rofayda Salem, Vera Sarioglu, Juan Vallejo

Rosa Schiano-Phan is Reader who has worked in environmental design consultancy and research for almost 25 years. Rosa is the co-director of the Centre for the Study of the Production of the Built Environment (ProBE) and has lectured and researched internationally. 

Juan Vallejo is an architect and environmental design consultant working and teaching internationally between Spain, Italy and the UK.  Juan’s expertise lies in the field of building performance simulation, natural ventilation and passive cooling.

Filomena Russo is a doctoral researcher with a MPhil degree in Environmental Design in Architecture from the University of Cambridge. She is a registered qualified architect in Brazil and the UK, and has practiced sustainable architecture in the UK and internationally.

IN 2023/24 THE ARCHITECTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN MSc, in collaboration with Westminster City Council, analysed the environmental performance of Living Environments, with an emphasis on Social Housing in Central London. The study investigated work-live environments within Lisson Green Housing Estate, located within the London borough of the City of Westminster, in the context of its climate, urban microclimate, architectural features and occupants’ behaviour. The analysis explored the mutual effects that such factors have on indoor/outdoor activities, environmental quality, human comfort and energy consumption in buildings. These evaluation projects led to the semester 2 design brief on ‘Designing for the Changing Environment’. Proposals for the retrofit and re-imagination of the studied site were offered by the students with attention to the compounding requirements of social housing, energy crisis, climate change and resources conservation.

The course successfully continues the Collaborative Thesis Programme with Industry partnering with a range of architectural firms and environmental consultancies. To date theses feature a variety of topics in different climatic and socio-political contexts. This initiative have led to joint publications with our alumni and employment opportunities for our students.

GUEST CRITICS: Agostino Anselmo (PRP), Dimitris Argyros (Haptic Architects), Alessandro Cirillo (Hilson Moran), Mari-Joe Daccache (Hilson Moran), Jacopo Gaspari (University of Bologna), Natalia Jackson (Westminster City Council), Mark Martines (Architype), Sally Matson (Westminster City Council)

SPECIAL THANKS: Herman Calleja (SOM), Alexandra Carausu (R H Partnership Architects), Yelda Gin (University of Cambridge), Kan-chane Gunawardena (BDP), Dean Hawkes (University of Cambridge), Patrik Hermon (LCD), Jess Hrivnak (RIBA), Rihab Khalid (University of Cambridge), Phil McIlwain (Quantum Acoustics), Andrew Moore (Hilson Moran), SEACC Sands End Arts & Community Centre, Mike Sefton (Expedition Engineering Ltd), Tatjana Walker (University of Cambridge), Frances Wright (Cambridge Cohousing Limited)

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