University News Last updated 15 October 2019
A group of students from Birmingham School of Architecture and Design took part in a Design Challenge to design the Home of 2030 at UK Construction Week, hosted by MOBIE and George Clarke.
This ‘Hackathon’ style challenge took place at MOBIE and the Construction Innovation Hub’s stand at the UKCW event at the NEC. Alongside students from three other universities, BCU students from BA (Hons) Design for Future Living, BA (Hons) Architecture and MA Architecture were tasked with developing creative ideas to address the design, technical, environmental and social requirements of housing and homes for our ageing population.
Over a three-hour period, students brainstormed the challenges faced by this growing demographic before proposing design ideas for future communities. Creating the strapline ‘Life Begins at 60’, the team explored the positive benefits of intergenerational living, the value of flexible living and sharing spaces such as dining rooms and laundries, and the possibilities of new technologies to change our approach to health and social life, before presenting their ideas to the MOBIE team and exhibition visitors.
Accompanying the team, Associate Professor Dr Matthew Jones said:
On reviewing the ideas generated by the Design Challenge teams, MOBIE Head of Education Gerry Ruffles commented: