Two Department of Architecture alumni were selected as 2025/26 Design Researchers in Residence

Two Department of Architecture alumni, Alfred Yatlong Yeung and Elise Limon, have been selected as the prestigious 2025/26 Design Researchers in Residence. Hosted by Future Observatory at the Design Museum in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the residency supports emerging thinkers to develop innovative design research confronting the climate crisis. 

This year’s cohort responded to the theme of "Mineral," critically interrogating the UK's intersecting geological landscapes and evaluating how resource extraction impacts the global drive toward a green transition. The eight-month residency recently culminated in a highly successful public exhibition and research publication at the Design Museum. 

Exploring the UK's Extraction Landscapes

Both alumni utilised their architectural backgrounds to map, critique, and propose alternative futures for the finite resources that underpin modern infrastructure and technology:

• Alfred Yatlong Yeung (MPhil in Architecture and Urban Design) investigated the emerging landscape of Cornish lithium mining. His research specifically focused on South Crofty—the first Cornish mine scheduled to resume operations—examining how corporate sustainability goals reshape regional cultural identities and environments. Alfred currently works at Eric Parry Architects alongside his independent writing practice.
• Elise Limon (BA in Architecture) focused her research on the material and socioeconomic resonance of copper mining, sourcing field materials and core samples from Parys Mountain in northern Wales. Her practice bridges disciplinary boundaries to investigate the political history embedded in industrial landscapes. Elise holds an M.Arch from Yale University and is currently an architectural designer at design and research practice DK-CM.

The 'Mineral' Exhibition

The collective work of the cohort explored how community consultation, low-carbon materials, and circular design can reshape our relationship with resource management. The residency display featured exhibition spaces constructed out of quarry stone offcuts and bio-based materials, demonstrating sustainable reuse principles in real-time. 

The Department congratulates Alfred and Elise on this outstanding milestone in their research careers.

To find out more about the project, view the digital catalog via the Future Observatory Research Library or read about the program on the Design Museum Exhibition Page.