P+ Recently started a research project with the University of Cambridge on the novel interdisciplinary design methodologies between architecture and aerospace engineering. The project aims to join our VDS Approach with Value Assessment (VA) methodology supported by Visual Analytics in aerospace engineering design cycles in an effort to test out new technologies and construction methodologies in buildings. Our initial work will be presented at the upcoming SBE19 Conference on Resilient Built Environment for Sustainable Mediterranean Countries in Milan.
P+ to join scientific conference committee for the SBE19 Conference in Milan
P+ was recently invited to join SBE19 Scientific Conference Committee for the 2019 Conference for Resilient Built Environment for Sustainable Mediterranean Countries at the Politecnico di Milano in September.
The conference will serve as a platform for sharing research and innovation between researchers and practitioners of the construction sector. The focus relies on Resilient Built Environment for Sustainable Mediterranean Countries.
The international conference, belonging to the Sustainable Built Environment (SBE) series of conferences, is organized by Politecnico di Milano with four international organizations:
1) International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB, cibworld.nl)
2) International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment (iiSBE, iisbe.org)
3) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEnvironment, unenvironment.org)
4) International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC, fidic.org)
P+ Studio at the University of Cambridge
P+ Studio led a week-long studio at the University of Cambridge University Institute for Sustainability Leadership as part of the Masters Course in Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment (IDBE).
Student groups comprised of various mid-career built environment professionals were challenged to design an innovative masterplan for urban living on the water which focused on the integration of sustainable infrastructure and transport systems. The studio focused on addressing the challenges set out by the United Nationals Development Goals in five key C40 Cities: New York, Lagos, Tokyo, London, and Istanbul. Studio took place in March 2019.
Michael Pelken at Building Sense Now
Michael Pelken recently spoke at the Building Sense Now Round Table for the launch of the new organisation. When kicking-off Building Sense Now in London in October 2018 insights by experts were given:
“The global perspective and challenges” by Prashant Kapoor, IFC Climate Business Group, World Bank Group.
“Lost in Transformation” by Thomas Auer, Chair of Building Technology and Climate Responsive Design, TU Munich
“Climate sensitive design – are we asking the right questions?” by Michael Pelken, P+Studio+Consulting, London
Building Sense Now is a collective of like-minded collective of professionals and academics interested in working across disciplines towards designing for climate and cultural – sensible – buildings around the world. They aim to carry this message to all who have a role in shaping our cities and buildings, from governments, to manufacturers, from clients to young designers of the future.
Represented by eight international initiators, Building Sense Now focuses on current issues of our globalized world and wants to support the positive impact through buildings in its city and social context.
Michael Pelken at the University of Cambridge
Michael Pelken recently gave one of the opening lectures for the University of Cambridge Institute in Sustainability Leadership’s (CISL) Masters of Sustainability Leadership Programme.
The theme of the week was “The transition to the low carbon economy.” Michael spoke about the role of technology, innovation, and design in the built environment. Michael was recently named a Senior Associate at Cambridge.
Michael Pelken named Senior Associate at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Michael Pelken was recently invited to become a Senior Associate at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). CISL’s network of Senior Associates includes leading academics and expert practitioners who engage with CISL’s work though advisory or ambassadorial contributions. Senior Associates also advise on the strategic direction and contribute to the delivery of CISL’s executive programmes and business platforms.
This upcoming year, Michael will once again resume his post as tutor for the Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment (IDBE) Flagship Programme.
Michael Pelken at Birmingham Women and Children's Hospitals with the UK Green Building Council
P+ Consulting worked with the UK Green Building Council over the last year to develop a new style of immersive learning as part of their flagship program. Michael Pelken led the interdisciplinary professional workshop, Second Nature Live, an immersive learning experience aimed at teaching participants the process of resilient design by participating in a live sustainability project. Following training sessions in Birmingham, Michael chaired the final reviews at the Saint-Gobain Innovation Centre in London.
The workshop was designed as the final business case delivery to a team of professionals at the Birmingham Women and Children's hospitals which included NHS Trust members on the judging panel. Participants were asked to propose a variety of holistic measures spanning from business models to organization and architecture to real building and construction dilemmas at the combined facility project of the hospitals.
This integrated leaning experience, spearheaded by Michael Pelken received great reviews by participants and judges alike:
"The presentations of the teams in the second nature LIVE programme were varied and rich in content, I was surprised by the depth and breadth of what was covered, and for sure has inspired us in the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust as we look ahead to the joint facility development"
- Graham Seager NHS Trust Estates Director
"Being part of Second Nature LIVE has been a great experience bringing different disciplines together into the class room and out on site to apply learning instantly. Having the capstone event to look forward to is a superb way to keep focus on the project and bring the best out of people and encourage collaborative working. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking to gain a wider understanding of sustainability and importantly how to make a case for it."
- Matthew Westwood, Mitsubishi Electric.
"I most enjoyed the sessions with Michael as it really got everyone thinking on a deeper/ more challenging level. it made me consider the big/ bold/ innovative ideas rather than feeling bounded by the typical constraints of delivering projects to NHS clients."
- Participant
P+ at the Politecnico di Milano
Paul Michael Pelken was recently invited to give a talk in Giuliana Iannaccone's course, Fundamentals of Integrated Building Design on the topic of Responsive Urban Environments at the Milan Polytechnic. The lecture, to be given to the first year cohort in the Architecture Building and Architectural Engineering program, is part of the Global Classroom Initiative with Drexel University and will also be screened by Drexel University students in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
P+ at the Constructed Realities Lecture Series at UCL's Here East Campus
Paul Michael gave the opening lecture at the Constructed Realities lecture series for UCL's HERE EAST at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on January 25, 2018, sponsored by Populous. The cross-disciplinary lecture series included professionals and artists discussing architecture, engagement, situations, performance, making, manufacturing and engineering.
Michael introduced our work and spoke about interdisciplinary collaborations, research, and design.
keynote lecture the Finnish Building Physics Symposium in Tampere
P+ recently presented “Innovation Strategies for the Built Environment in Research, Practice, and Teaching” Available for download: Finnish Building Physics Conference 2017_P+ at the 2017 Finnish Building Physics Symposium in Tampere, Finland. Michael Pelken also gave a keynote lecture discussing his experiences in academia and the industry. We also visited the Architecture and Engineering faculty at the University of Tampere where we gave a lecture on our practice and research activities.
2017 P+ at VR World 2017
P+ will speak at VR World 2017: Europe’s leading conference on immersive VR and AR technologies
Panel: The Role of Simulated Environments in Education and Training, hosted by Nexus, London Olympia, UK
P+ at the 2017 Innovate UK May Conference
P+ at Science, Innovation and Translation – Innovate UK May Conference
We will be giving our presentation, ‘P+ Demonstration building design and operation as a Living Lab’ this May!
Vasilena Vassilev at Reading and De Montfort University
Vasilena Vassilev will reprise her role as a Visiting Lecturer at the Leicester School of Architecture, De Montfort University, where she will teach Year 2 Undergraduate Studio, as well as Teaching Practitioner at the Reading University School of Architecture, where she will teach Year 1 Undergraduate Studio.
Vasilena Vassilev at University of Reading
Vasilena Vassilev has been appointed Teaching Practitioner at the new Architecture Program at the University of Reading where she will teach Year 1 Undergraduate Studio.
Paul Michael Pelken Appointed Advisory Board Member at CNIE
Paul Michael Pelken has been appointed as an Industrial Advisory Board Member at the Centre for Nature Inspired Engineering, University College London
P+ at Annual Research Seminar Series, University of Cambridge
Paul Michael Pelken presented our work as part of “Prototyping Architecture” at the Engineer Department Structures Research Seminar series, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Paul Michael Pelken at CESB/BauSIM
Paul Michael Pelken gave a keynote lecture on Performative Design at the Central European Symposium on Building Physics in September 2016, where he also discussed our paper, “Turbine House: Patented Energy Plus Innovation.”
P+ Studio’s paper, “Turbine House: Patented Energy Plus Innovation” was accepted at the 2016 Central European Symposium on Building Physics BauSIM in Dresden. The paper presents a novel patented concept for the design of a small to medium sized energy plus building through the holistic integration of renewable energy systems, in particular wind and solar energy generation technologies.
Paul Michael Pelken at University of Cambridge
Paul Michael Pelken will join the industry careers panel at the 2016 Cambridge Transferable Skills Conference on 5 July 2016, hosted by Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Paul Michael Pelken at University of Stuttgart
Paul Michael Pelken gave a lecture, “perFORMance based design in interdisciplinary research, practice and teaching” at the Technical University Stuttgart – School of Architecture, Germany