Architecture Project 001
News
New programme sees BSU Architecture students design an accessible home for a fellow student
Tuesday, 27 May, 2025This year, Bath Spa University was excited to launch the Project Office – a dynamic platform offering students on its BA (Hons) Architecture course the chance to work on live, client-led briefs alongside their academic studies.
The Project Office aims to demystify the transition from university to industry, embedding professional learning within the student experience and opening doors to meaningful, community-led design. Supported by Subject Leader for Architecture Ian Parkes, students gain hands-on experience in a structured, mentored environment.
The first live brief under the Project Office, Project 001, set a powerful precedent. Three final-year students – Alex Massie, Seb Masters, and Adam Elkilany – collaborated on the design of an affordable, low cost, wheelchair-accessible home for a fellow BSU student with complex physical needs.
Project 001 came to life in early 2025, when first-year BA (Hons) Film, Television and Digital Production student Poppy Garton reached out to the Architecture team with a deeply personal and urgent request: to design a sustainable, wheelchair-accessible home tailored to her individual mobility needs.
She wrote:
“I am a disabled young woman currently living in an accessible flat at university. However, I face significant challenges once I leave, as my family home cannot be adapted and statutory services cannot provide a suitable alternative. My mum hopes to self-build a home designed around my needs, but we need plans – and I believe this could become a blueprint for other disabled individuals too.”
Working closely with Poppy, the student team conducted research into inclusive design, accessibility standards, and low-carbon materials before delivering a comprehensive set of spatial plans to support the development process.
This powerful collaboration not only represents the values of the Project Office – collaborative, socially engaged, environmentally conscious – it also gave students the opportunity to apply their learning in ways that genuinely matter.
Talking about the project, Poppy said:
“This might sound exaggerated, but if you had my experience, you would understand what an incredibly important and amazing impact this project could make. I deserve to live in a home that meets my needs.”
The project wasn’t just educational – it was professional. The students were employed by the School of Design and funded through the University’s Higher Education Quality Research (HEQR) funding, marking an important step in recognising students as emerging practitioners in their own right.
Talking about the experience, Seb, Alex and Adam said:
“It was an incredible experience to work on something with real purpose. We learned more than we ever could from just a studio brief.”
Ian Parkes, Programme Leader for Architecture at BSU added:
“This first project was a test of readiness – and the students exceeded every expectation. Their professionalism, creativity, and drive proved the viability of the Project Office and showed the true potential of our graduates.”
Project 001 wasn’t just a pilot – it was proof of concept. The impact of this first live brief has sparked attention from potential collaborators and clients across the region, with new opportunities already taking shape for students to contribute to creative, cultural, and community-focused projects. The students also made a video about the project, which was posted on Instagram.
Ian continued:
“As we celebrate our first graduating class and the successful launch of the Project Office, the future for Architecture at Bath Spa looks bright and exciting. With new live briefs on the horizon and continued progress toward professional accreditation, we remain committed to cultivating a programme where students don’t just learn architecture – they live it.”
Do you have a passion for designing spaces for the future? Find out more about our Architecture course.