Dr. Laura Coucill
School of Science, Engineering and Environment
Current positions
Senior Lecturer in Architecture
Biography
Dr. Laura Coucill is a Senior Lecturer in Architecture at University of Salford with practice expertise in large industrial and complex heritage sites. She has over a decade of experience teaching accredited Architecture programmes at prominent HE Institutions, including Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), Manchester School of Architecture (MSA), Sheffield School of Architecture (SSoA) and Birmingham School of Architecture (BSA) which include unit leadership, year leadership and programme leadership duties. Dr. Coucill’s academic teaching is always engaged with the contemporary issues and questions of the practice, industry, and profession of architecture
Her research interest is in the spatial manifestation of culture, policy and technology. Laura’s work adopts cross-thematic spatial analysis techniques, which combine historical and theoretical methodologies with contemporary data mapping to capture spatial capacity, operation, performance and experience. Findings underpin the re-evaluation of existing urban conditions and propose resilient, future urban forms. This work has involved working closely with architectural practices, technology experts, local authorities, transnational and government organisations.
Dr Coucill has successfully secured funded Doctoral Training Partnerships which have brought together academic expertise with heritage organisations to explore routes to decarbonisation in protected and historic environments.
Areas of research
Architecture, Urban Futures, Infrastructure, Spatial Analysis, Heritage, Decarbonisation, Sustainability, Policy and Regulation
Areas of supervision
Architecture, Urban Futures, Infrastructure, Spatial Analysis, Heritage, Decarbonisation, Sustainability, Policy and Regulation
- Architecture and Design Studio Modules
- Dissertation
My expertise is in the relationship between architectural design and future cities. This encompasses knowledge of urban theory and historic and contemporary infrastructures. My research focuses on the interface between technology, culture and place, to address complex, multidisciplinary contemporary urban challenges, including climate, health and energy. I adopt cross-cutting data-mapping and analysis methodologies, to test system integration against social, economic and spatial conditions. Specific examples of my experience exploring the knowledge and themes above include:
- Paul Mellon Education Grant (2018) - fieldwork and site visits to Harlow New Town and Fredrick Gibberd’s house and archives, as well as the Landscape Institute archives at University of Reading.
- Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence (2019) - exploratory workshops, connecting students with industry partners from technology and policy experts including CISCO, BT and Connected Places Catapult.
- Transition Support Fund (£6k, 2022) - trans-disciplinary material testing workshops to explore material reuse and circularity as low and zero carbon building strategies.
- Satellite Applications Catapult (£35k, 2016 – 2018) - pilot studies into the delivery of community centred remote healthcare. Building on spatial analysis projects in the Scottish Highlands (2016/17) and Cornwall (2017/18) previously mentioned.
- Distributed Digital Farming (Centre for Wireless Innovation, EPSRC bid, 2020) - collaboration with telecommunications and computer science to recycle heat produced by digital farming to support aquaponic food production systems.
- British Council Going Global Partnership (2021 – 2023) – a transnational design studio involving co-teaching and collaboration between undergraduates at American University in Cairo, Queen’s University Belfast and University of Salford through an exploration of heritage, carbon and the climate emergency. The project involves representation at COP27 and an opportunity for students to participate in fieldwork at each institution.
Qualifications
- 2019 PGCert Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (Distinction)
- 2015 PhD: Tensions Between Theory and Practice in Sustainable Architectural Design
- 2012 PGCert Certificate in Research Methods, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
- 2009 BArch (Distinction), Manchester School of Architecture
- 2008 MA Architecture + Urbanism (Merit), Manchester School of Architecture
- 2006 BA (Hons) Architecture (2:1), Manchester School of Architecture