Simon Guy (Professor of Architecture and Director of the Manchester Architecture Research Centre (MARC))
This talk will presents findings from an EPSRC/ECLEER research project, Conditioning Demand: Older People, Diversity and Thermal Experience, that addresses the confluence of two key future trends: Europe’s ageing population, and the challenge of energy, carbon and climate change. Adopting a sociotechnical approach, the research findings aim to better understand the complex web of factors that condition energy demand in relation to domestic heating, made complicated by the diversity of living experiences within the older population, reflecting differences in older occupants’ physical ability, health, financial resources, aspirations and domestic situations.
Simon was appointed as Professor of Architecture and Director of the Manchester Architecture Research Centre (MARC) in November 2005, joining from the University of Newcastle where he held the positions of Chair of Urban Development and Dean of Research in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Drawing upon graduate and post-graduate studies in urban sociology, and previous professional experience as an engineer, Simon's research aims to explore the co-evolution of design and development strategies and socio-economic-ecological processes shaping cities. This approach involves analysis and integration of often disconnected research fields - architecture and urban planning, the property sector and utilities industry, and the stimulation of a collaborative, inter-disciplinary methodological approach with academic colleagues with specialism's in architecture, planning, humanities, social sciences and engineering and with partners from the professions and industry.