UK; PhD Scholarship in Art & Design

PhD Scholarship – Cardiff School of Art & Design

A study to evaluate best practice for dwelling sustainability and to develop and test design and construction templates for dwellings to meet level 4 and 5 of the code for sustainable homes for social housing providers in Wales.

By 2011, the Welsh Assembly Government has stated that all new dwellings must be zero carbon (anticipated as level 5 of the code for sustainable homes (CfSH)). Housing association (HA) development funding is currently tied to meeting CfSH level 3, but will quickly increase to levels 4 and then 5.

It is thought that level 3 and beyond demands significantly higher targets for sustainability than previous standards for construction techniques and renewable energy. So the main issues for HAs are how to use best practice from existing projects and to meet the new targets cost effectively.

This project will evaluate the sustainability achievements of existing and also proposed schemes across the UK to assess their effectiveness for carbon and cost reductions and occupant satisfaction; create new dwelling design and specification templates using the existing and new practice knowledge to meet CfSH levels 4 and 5; test the templates through the procurement process and potentially monitor one pilot project for thermal performance and tenant satisfaction.

The aim of the research project will be to test best practice dwelling sustainability and develop and test design and construction templates for CfSH level 4 and 5 for social housing providers in Wales.

The research will utilise a range of analytical techniques, including dynamic thermal modelling to test the validity of level 4 and 5 tempates in the design and specification process, procurement process and construction process and may include post occupancy evaluation.

The successful candidate will ideally come from an architectural technology background (candidates from architecture will also be considered) and possess for example, an MSc in Environmental Architecture, Environmental Design and Engineering, or Architectural Engineering. A suitably experienced graduate may also be considered.

This scholarship is part funded from the ESF (European Social Fund) Convergence Programme (West Wales and the Valleys). To be eligible to apply for this award you must be resident, upon application, in the convergence area of Wales and you must be able to take paid employment in the convergence area on completion of the scholarship.

For more information including an application form, please visit the UWIC website at:

http://www3.uwic.ac.uk/English/uwicresearch/researchdegrees/Pages/KESSScholarships.aspx

Closing date for applications is 31st October 2009.