Our research

For us, architecture involves so much more than designing a building.

Our team is not only made up of architects but also programmers, environmentalists and researchers.

We solve complex design challenges through research, using the latest advances in technology and science to inform design.

We have skills in computational design, data analysis, augmented reality and artificial intelligence (AI) to predict, simulate and optimise building design and performance. And we use real-world data gathered through tech solutions to deliver outstanding results.

As technology develops, buildings are increasingly "smart" and AI plays a critical role in our approach. For example, our data scientists use AI to predict and simulate outcomes using environmental and occupier data from operational buildings.

Meanwhile, as we strive to minimise the resources required to reduce carbon in the construction and operation of buildings, data science plays an increasingly important role as we monitor and record building performance.

Discover the ways we utilise technology an enable smarter design...

Smart buildings and digital twins

A Digital Twin is a digital replica of a physical asset. Over the past two decades, SPACE has led the way in using Building Information Models (BIM) to reduce time and resources during design and construction. The same models are the foundation for a Digital Twin to optimise building performance in operation, through our Twinview platform.

DesHCA project

The UKRI Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund funds the DesHCA project under the Healthy Ageing Challenge Social, Behavioural and Design Research Programme. It is a multi-disciplinary project involving a team of researchers, older people and industry.

Embodied Carbon

As the sector looks for ways to reduce carbon production in the construction and operation of buildings, SPACE Architects are working with Northumbria University via an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership to research how we can make decisions regarding embodied carbon earlier in the design process.

Generative design in the retail sector

The project explores historical data for analysing and financial viability of urban sites in the food retail sector.

Referencing typical site constraints and standard store requirements, we develop generative design technology to calculate the optimum design considering design, construction and commercial parameters.

Cherish VR

This research tests the viability of using virtual reality for dementia patients to view and experience 3D models of UK housing designs and critique each layout based on a set of quality criteria.

Cherish-DE has funded this research, the Digital Economy Research Centre at Swansea University, collaborating with researchers based at the Dementia Services Development Centre at the University of Stirling.