Mark Parsons
BA (Hons), Dip.Arch, ARB
School of Architecture
University Teaching Practitioner
Full contact details
School of Architecture
Arts Tower
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
- Profile
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Since qualifying from the University of Sheffield I worked in a number of London practices before returning to Sheffield in 2005.
I am one of the founders and directors of Studio Polpo, the UK's first architectural practice to be set up as a social enterprise in 2008, producing research, initiating projects and working with the third sector. Studio Polpo was a founding partner of Chopshop, a CNC design and fabrication facility, and is currently supporting the incorporation of the Sheffield Community Land Trust. I have also worked for, and with, Architype for a number of years, an award winning practice with a strong reputation for sustainable architecture and particular expertise in the design of educational environments. Projects with them have included a Passivhaus school near Leeds, a Passivhaus church building in Sheffield, and a Sheffield co-housing development in partnership with Studio Polpo.
- Teaching interests
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My teaching is strongly informed by my practice work, and the dialogue and engagement with students and teaching also informs my practice. I am interested in how student work and research can be disseminated to the public, in student engagement with building and full scale projects (having previously set up the Make.Design.Work site as a resource and produced the 2nd Year Housing newspaper) and am also a member of the Architects Climate Action Network, and keen to ensure how we can address the climate emergency as practitioners and educators. My M.Arch studio in 2021-22 explored issues of waste and retrofit in construction on sites in the Beighton and Gleadless areas of Sheffield.
- Teaching activities
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I enjoy working across all parts of the School of Architecture (where I have been a design tutor since 2005), and have taught in the first and second years of the Undergraduate course; the Masters in Sustainable Architectural Studies (SAS) and Masters in Urban Design (MAUD) courses; and the M.Arch, where I have mentored M.Arch Live Projects and, in the last academic year, run Studio Waste. I also tutor MA Architectural Design (MAAD) Thesis projects, as well supervising undergraduate special studies and M.Arch dissertations.
- Professional activities and memberships
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- AECB (Association for Environment Conscious Building)
- Sheffield Community Land Trust, Company Secretary