Research
Underground Urbanism
Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the streets of your city? As our cities grow up, out, and down, it is time we better understood how the different layers of these complex urban environments relate to one another. Our first book, Underground Urbanism seeks to provide a new perspective on cities, and consider how this might be used to create more sustainable and enjoyable places.
Pavilion Places
Working with FutureGov, we are researching ways to make better use of empty and under-utilised spaces, primarily as affordable work space for artists and small businesses. Initial research through the Greater London Authority Good Growth Fund focused on newly constructed but vacant ground floor spaces in the London Borough of Hackney. Aiming to reduce the displacement of creative communities in the gap between the demolition and replacement of buildings (with affordable workspace secured by planning condition), we hope that our initial research will eventually lead to a mechanism of repurposing vacant floor space as places to gather, make, exhibit, work and learn - seeking to protect property, support creatives and connect communities.
Growing High Value Food in Small Spaces
In an article published in the 11th journal of the International Society of City and Regional Planners, we researched the relationship between cities and food production. Even if it is not possible for a city to feed itself entirely from within it’s physical limits, we asked what might happen if cities at least aimed to be as productive, resourceful and self-reliant as their geography allowed. Considering urban microclimates, building typologies, blue - green infrastructure and the potential for coordinated economies of scale, the research concluded that urban agriculture has an important role to play in improving the sustainability of cities, and needs to be supported through strategic spatial planning and policy.
Geoscience, Landscape & Planning
Urben has undertaken two research projects for the British Geological Survey to understand the interface between urban planning and geoscience. Both projects were focused on Manchester, and considered how regeneration projects on brownfield land could better understand risks and opportunities associated with the subsurface. As part of our research we have produced a large format guide on how property developers can utilise data on ground conditions to inform masterplans that use land more efficiently, whilst creating attractive landscapes with Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).
Loneliness Lab
As part of efforts to tackle loneliness in cities, Lendlease and Collectively led an 18 month research project, called the Loneliness Lab. Urben supported this initiative by lending their time and skills to an applied research project called Know Your Neighbourhood, looking at how residents in high density buildings could be better connected. The multi-consultant team explored how to use small design interventions to nudge neighbours into connecting and meeting. A prototype was initiated whereby neighbours were asked to share how they feel using colour codes displayed in a communal lobby - subject to user testing, the approach could be incorporated into new developments across London.