EcoHouse Research

This conference brought together academics and practitioners confronting the challenge of housing the rapidly growing urban populations worldwide. It was organised by the Research Cluster of the EcoHouse Initiative, a consortium of senior academics based in the departments of Architecture, Engineering and Land Economy at the University of Cambridge.

Steve Jones from the Humanitarian Centre chaired the event which was opened by Dr Gemma Burgess from the Department of Land Economy in Cambridge introducing the theme and the work EcoHouse Initiative has been doing in this area as a technology and knowledge transfer agent. The EcoHouse Initiative is a multidisciplinary program that aims to facilitate sustainable growth in the context of poverty and climate change in the developing world. For further information about the initiative, please visit www.ecohouseresearch.co.uk

During the event, a series of presentations and chaired discussions addressed a variety of aspects of doing research and developing projects in the context of informal settlements. The conference was divided into three sessions: Presentations by academics and practitioners, chaired discussions, and the keynote speech by Sir David King.

Here we summarise the findings of the individual sessions in the interest of the public and to enable follow-up discussions with the presenters and attendees.