AD[A]PT: Open Call for Student-Led Project Proposals
The open call invites students to respond directly to: The AD[A]PT Research Vision and Shared Research Brief which consists of a defined ‘research problem’, ‘research aims and objectives’ and ‘research themes’.
Lead image by Brendan Arnold.
THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
Designed, altered and shaped by architects, planners and other built environment professionals, our 'lived-in' environment underpins our existence and affects the health and wellbeing of all living entities, for good or ill.
Our research agenda will focus on the amplified impacts that the decisions made by built environment professionals can have on our collective efforts to reverse the trajectory towards climate breakdown and catastrophic biodiversity loss. In the face of these complex, parallel existential crises we need new ways to confront barriers that built environment professionals experience when attempting to deliver healthier places supporting a healthier planet and healthier lives.
We contend that creating healthy places through improved design will lead to a healthier people and planet. Despite decades of research giving us clear guidance on what kinds of designs better support health, a theory-practice gap persists, meaning delivering healthy places through design and adaptation is the exception rather than the norm. What is less well known is why, given this knowledge-base, the delivery of buildings and spaces that nurture and support health and wellbeing is not standard practice. We believe that architectural design and humanities research holds the key to addressing this theory-practice gap.
Our research agenda will focus on the amplified impacts that the decisions made by built environment professionals can have on our collective efforts to reverse the trajectory towards climate breakdown and catastrophic biodiversity loss. In the face of these complex, parallel existential crises we need new ways to confront barriers that built environment professionals experience when attempting to deliver healthier places supporting a healthier planet and healthier lives.
RESEARCH AIMS
Our research agenda will support doctoral architectural, design and humanities projects that:
- identify barriers to built environment professionals creating healthy places
- devise strategies and tactics to overcome the above identified barriers
- problem-solve through design-led arts and humanities methodologies.
AD[A]PT will deliver a new generation of interdisciplinary doctoral scholars whose research specifically addresses barriers faced by built environment professionals to:
- meet targets for the UN’s sustainable development goals, fulfilling the UK government’s pledge towards net zero, and biodiversity net gain towards a healthier planet
- exceed life, health and fire safety standards in buildings to ensure healthier people
- create healthy places that nurture, are accessible, inclusive and supportive of a rich diversity of life.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
AD[A]PT will address the above research problem through studentships that uncover how to better, and more consistently, achieve known best practices towards a healthier people and planet through delivering healthier places. Our consortium is uniquely placed to achieve this through:
- humanities research that explores different ways of understanding the problem
- arts research that conceptualises these theorisations and tests their reception, and
- design-based methodologies that translate those ideas into real-word practice.
Studentship projects will have the full benefit of being embedded in the inherently interdisciplinary schools of architecture and planning, with strong links to their allied professional bodies. We are looking for candidates that can demonstrate being adept at problem-solving and working collaboratively beyond disciplinary silos.
RESEARCH THEMES
We are soliciting student-generated proposals that create more narrowly focused research projects in response to the broader research vision. Potential thematics your proposal could focus on within the open call are: (Falmouth University encourages proposals to thematics highlighted in bold and underlined).
- Generational differences (e.g. healthy ageing / healthy youth)
- Inclusion, representation and justice
- Healthy (urban) places (placemaking and community)
- Green spaces
- Cultural heritage
- Regenerative practice
- The role of the built environment professions
- Homes and housing
- Policy and design governance
- Life and fire safety
- Healthy buildings
- Healthcare environments
Proposals for investigating the above topics need to be grounded in arts and humanities research methods. While we are particularly interested in interdisciplinary proposals that utilise visualisation tools, use of AI in design, and/or arts-based research practice, we are open to a wide range of arts and humanities modes of inquiry.
How to apply
Project brief & project proposal enquiries
To discuss this project brief, ideas or project proposal responding to this brief, please contact us:
Application enquiries
If you have any queries about applying to this project brief, please contact us:
For applicants responding to the AD[A]PT brief A Room or One's Own or for the Open Call, please send your application paperwork (which can be found on the AD[A]PT website) to pgr@falmouth.ac.uk.
The deadline for completed application paperwork is Wednesday 13 January 2027 at 5pm.