Research and Practise, 2023-24

Housing Design

Research and Practise, 2023-24

Student works from the Research and Practise course held in 2024. The course focused on two main concepts: adaptability and user-centric design through theory and case studies.

Hands assembling wooden blocks into a cross shape on a patterned surface. — Picture is from a course work by Nhung Pham.

The main themes of the Research and Practise course reflect current trends in research and housing design, such as housing design quality, minimum living standards, shared spaces, adaptable apartments, and housing preferences. The lectures and related articles form the backbone of the course. Each session includes time for questions and discussion.

The main goal is to learn what types of knowledge are available to apply in design tasks, as well as to help develop your own approach to housing design and/or housing studies. Coursework, based on a chosen theme, is loosely defined to support each student’s individual goals. It can take the form of a small design project, an analysis of dwellings, or an essay that assists in organizing a future diploma thesis or simply provides time to deepen one’s knowledge on a topic of interest.

Example: From a Course Project to Doctoral Research

In 2023, Nhung Pham created a game to study residents’ housing preferences. This game was further developed in her , which was awarded the Wuorio Prize for Young Architects in 2025. In autumn 2025, Nhung Pham began her doctoral research at Aalto University, continuing to explore the themes introduced in this course.

A person is arranging wooden blocks on a grid. Text is displayed on the right side of the image.

Picture: Nhung Pham

Three prototypes of the game are shown: a sketch, a grid plan, and a wooden block 3D model, and an original layout. Includes text.

Picture: Nhung Pham

Diagram of wooden blocks as furniture for a housing design game. Labels indicate dimensions and possible uses for each block.

Picture: Nhung Pham

A grid of fifteen wooden architectural floor plans labelled by players and numbers.

Picture: Nhung Pham

Five photos on left show people playing with wooden blocks, accompanied by detailed text on the right.

Picture: Nhung Pham

Thumbnail of A person is arranging wooden blocks on a grid. Text is displayed on the right side of the image.

Thumbnail of Three prototypes of the game are shown: a sketch, a grid plan, and a wooden block 3D model, and an original layout. Includes text.

Thumbnail of Diagram of wooden blocks as furniture for a housing design game. Labels indicate dimensions and possible uses for each block.

Thumbnail of A grid of fifteen wooden architectural floor plans labelled by players and numbers.

Thumbnail of Five photos on left show people playing with wooden blocks, accompanied by detailed text on the right.

Nhung Pham (2023)

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Time-based Design, City of Turku 2024

DESIGN STUDIO. The assignment was to design a residential block based on the principles of adaptability and design for disassembly. In collaboration with the city of Turku, the site was located in Linnanniemi, a future urban district that combines work and living in a culturally significant area.

Aerial view of Turku Castle surrounded by trees and a port area with ships and parking.

Housing Design

The Professorship in Housing Design conducts internationally recognized and impactful architectural design and research, applying this knowledge in its teaching. The research and design efforts concentrate on two main areas: housing design quality and circular construction, with a vision for the future of housing, particularly in the Nordic region. Since 2022, the team has been led by Assistant Professor Antti Lehto

Modern row house with wooden cladding, large terraces, and potted plants outside, under a partly cloudy sky.

Student works

Selected works from bachelor's and master's courses.

Updated: 31.8.2025
Published: 27.8.2025

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