REPAIR: Retrofitting for the Future: Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Adaptation
This project will accelerate nature recovery and climate adaptation by delivering evidence-based, replicable pathways to biophilic urban adaptation and retrofitting. This project examines how biophilic design addresses climate adaptation and its potential cultural, social, health, ecological, and economic benefits. It will also identify the human-centred challenges that hinder its widespread adoption.
This transdisciplinary investigation is driven by the arts, humanities, and co-creation. Our research team incorporates experts in: design, architecture, creative writing, literature history, law, anthropology, psychology, and ecology along with societal partner co-leads in social housing, construction, urban-nature restoration, and green infrastructure. Local and international partners in health, arts, government, economic development, and the biophilic global movement will help shape, disseminate, and implement our findings.
Biome Swansea
Taking Biome, a 13-storey deep retrofit in Swansea, as its case study, we will place the building in its local and national contexts, exploring the journey from a former Woolworths store to a thriving social housing and community hub.
This project aligns with Wales’s Well-being of Future Generations Act and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. It will pinpoint regulatory and policy issues that challenge biophilic delivery in the UK and internationally.
Using mixed, iterative, and collaborative methods, we will map and evaluate the experiences of people living and working in the building, as well as the ripple effects of the building in region.
The building's performance will be monitored by technicians and citizen scientists, with public responses to this data explored.
Artists, creatives, diverse communities, schools, policymakers, and other interest groups associated with the building will share their experiences and visions for future urban environments, generating new insights and research challenges, which will be integrated into the project’s exploration of biophilic urban living.
Team Convening
This project is piloting Team Convening approaches including collaborative leadership, development for all, reflexive practice, and inclusive governance. These principles, developed by Thrive at University of Liverpool will support the transdisciplinary aims of our research.
Research Co-Leads
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Luci Attala, University of Wales Trinity St David (Anthropology & deputy director of UNESCO-MOST Bridges, UK) Kirsti Bohata, Swansea University (English Literature) Blanche Cameron, UCL (Bartlett School of Architecture, Nature-based solutions) Becky Cole, Pobl Group (Social Housing) Carwyn Davies & Lucy Ralph, Hacer Developments Ltd (Construction) Nia Davies, Swansea University (Creative Writing) Mike Fowler, Swansea University (Biosciences) |
Penny Gruffydd, City and County of Swansea Council (Landscape and Green Infrastructure) Victoria Jenkins, Swansea University (Hilary Rodham School of Law) Andrew Kemp, Swansea University (Psychology) Gethin Matthews, Swansea University (History) Chris Pak, Swansea University (English Literature/Media) Geoff Proffitt, Swansea University, (Biosciences) Yolanda Rendón-Guerrero, UWTSD (Architecture/ATiC) Fran Rolfe, Natural Resources Wales (Green Infrastructure) |
Research Assistants and Academic Associate Researchers
Dr Martyna Surma, REPAIR Research Assistant, Swansea University
Dr Lowri Wilkie, WGSSS ESRC postdoctoral research fellow, School of Psychology, Swansea University
Dr Amy Isham, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, Swansea University
Dr Lymarie Rodriguez-Morales, Lecturer in Psychology, University of Wales Trinity St David
Non-Academic Partners
to follow
International Advisory Board
Dr Amy Brookes, Associate Professor, University of Reading School of Architecture
Jane Davidson, Pro Vice-Chancellor Emeritus, University of Wales Trinity Saint David and former Minister for Environment, Sustainability, and Housing in the Welsh Government.
Vera Enzi, NBS consultant and Vice President, EFB, European Federation of Green Roof and Living Wall Associations
Kenneth Freeman, Purposeful Places, interior landscaping and biophilic design
Dusty Gedge, Ambassador – EFB, European Federation of Green Roof and Living Wall Associations, The Green roof organisation (UK trade body)
Gary Grant, Technical Director, The Green Infrastructure Company
Professor Carolyn Hales, Cardiff Met & UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded Policy Research Fellow at Cadw (2023-25)
Kate Howell, Legal Director, Browne Jacobson
Dr Fredrik Lindencrona, Head of Research Co-Creation, Inner Development Goals
Steve Nygren, Board Chair, The Biophilic Institute and Founder, Serenbe
Professor Eric Otto, Chair, Department of Integrated Studies, Professor of Environmental Humanities, Florida Gulf Coast University
Professor Joanne Patterson, Professorial Research Fellow, Director of Research, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University
Professor Kam W. Tang, Professor of Biology and Department Chair of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Louise Wright, Portfolio Manager, Arts Council of Wales
Contact Us
Email: REPAIR (at) swansea.ac.uk
