Design Research Unit Wales (DRUw)

Our work spans design-based research and consultancy commissions, addressing low carbon design, landscape and placemaking.

DRUw was established at the turn of the millennium to implement architectural, urban design and landscape projects from the position of research in order to ensure the discipline of design was properly represented within the academy.

DRUw’s work spans design-based research and consultancy commissions, addressing low carbon design, landscape and placemaking. We provide a vehicle for cross-disciplinary working, potentially connecting all the research centres and exploring the potential of design-based research.

Since winning RIBA awards in 2002 for the Baglan Eco-Factory and 2010 for the Margam Environmental Study Centre including Welsh Passivhaus at Ebbw Vale, the development of a low cost housing system called Tŷ Unnos funded through Innovate UK and innovative care schemes at Aberafan and Cwm Aur, Llanydydder have been completed.

Recent focus has been on innovative housing projects and buildings for care. DRUw will be closely aligned to the Design, Practice, Materials and Making RSG in the future and will enhance its industry-focus (such as expanding collaborations with Welsh housing associations and their supply chains).

Its [DRUw’s] exploration of research through design practice has not taken the easy route observed by Kester Rattenbury in some academia-based architects where “extremely experimental historical work and recent marginal art-architecture … have been centre stage”. DRUw have worked hard in the wings, getting its hands dirty in the difficult and real world of tough budgetary constraints. Out of that darkness they sent out a shaft of light

Tim Graham A high level of ordinariness, Touchstone 2019, The Journal of Architecture in Wales