Resilient Spatial Design Practice & Policy: in Portsmouth & the Solent Region as a regional, national & global paradigm.

This portfolio of applied design action research undertaken with international, national and regional collaborators addresses specific contextual problems and solutions in the architecture and spatial planning of sustainably resilient infrastructure in Portsmouth and the Solent region, as a paradigm. Outputs have impacted upon public benefit, social, environmental and economic values, capacity building, policy, public knowledge and design, including its strategy, planning and detail. Commenced in 2013 the aim has been to develop attitudinal change, knowledge dissemination and capacity to improve design, scoping and quality, and precipitate change through focus on resilient sustainable coastal water management along with transportation and urban infrastructure.

Portsmouth, the Solent Region and UK.
A portfolio collection of design action research in spatial planning addressing policy to practical design application, relating to climate, population and economic change, exploring the development of resilience, sustainability and design quality, aspirations and opportunities in response to future needs. The purpose of which is to progressively inform betterment of long term policy, its implementation and practice through opening discourse to wider intellectual interrogation, enhancement, co-creation and opportunities.

This is applied design action research addressing specific problems and their solutions, and informing and being informed by context, that investigates architecture and spatial planning of sustainably resilient infrastructure in Portsmouth and the Solent region, as a local, national and international paradigm. The hypotheses of this collected body of research commencing in 2013, is underpinned by the commercial practice experience in construction of Walter Menteth Architects and academic engagement.

 The underpinning research questions, methods, processes, dissemination and significance along with its’ aims and objectives, context, findings and outputs are described within the University of Portsmouth Project Portfolio ‘Resilient Spatial Design Practice & Policy: in Portsmouth & the Solent region as a regional, national & global paradigm (r2 Oct 2019)’ coordinated by the researcher.

 Study commenced in response to the extent of social, health and educational deprivation, low levels of investment and perceived inadequacies in the urban environment, to explore the strategies necessary for sustainable resilience in the context of climate change risks.  As described within this portfolio research has sought to shift attitudes, policy and practice, qualitative goals, sustainability and resilience to reinforce sustainability, social values and inward investment. Analysis, evaluation, appraising and unique polemical outputs relating to resilience and sustainability which allow consideration of spatial strategies, planning, designs and policies offering reform and betterment are developed and proposed to benefit future public needs.

The organisation of the Portsmouth Elephant Cage an international programme in two stages in 2016-2017 along with international field trips to Spain, the Netherlands and Germany, has augmented the research. The researcher and Co-I’s have engaged in the development of the outputs and on embedding impacts with, for example, The National Infrastructure Commission, Portsmouth City Council, The Eastern Solent Coastal Partnership, The Isle of Wight Council, Project Compass CIC (UK) along with commercial businesses, residents and their elected representatives in Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight and through international collaborations with Architectuur Lokaal (NL)

This is practically driven spatial planning research focused on causing attitudinal, policy, capacity and practical shifts around objectives aimed at improvements in water management and coastal defence, mixed modal transportation, housing and employment, environmental amenity, civic design and the opportunities offered for future employment and growth.