'Home or alone?' MArch dissertation research published in RIBA Journal
Paul Wynn, a graduate from the Liverpool School of Architecture, has recently had a synopsis of his MArch dissertation research published in the RIBA Journal (May 2014). This research, supervised by Professor Mark Swenarton, interrogates the successes and failings of courtyard housing in light of a recent revival of interest. Wynn's qualitative survey of residents at Michael Neylan's Bishopsfield, Harlow, reveals a range of opinions on the design of the housing scheme, but shows that 90% of participants liked their homes. The research highlights a good sense of community amongst residents, and the courtyard gardens were identified as a particularly positive aspect of the Bishopsfield estate. Wynn reflects that the popularity of the design does depend on individual needs – with the elderly often finding courtyard housing to be isolating – but his primary research has made an original contribution to knowledge at a timely moment in the development of courtyard housing.
The article can be read online on the RIBA Journal website.