Mark Parsons
BA (Hons), Dip.Arch, ARB, FHEA
School of Architecture and Landscape
University Teaching Practitioner
Full contact details
School of Architecture and Landscape
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.
I have a strong interest in the concept of waste, and how this relates to architecture. In M.Arch I have run two studios, Studio Waste (2021-22) exploring issues of waste and retrofit in construction on sites in the Beighton and Gleadless areas of Sheffield, and Studio Future Folktales (2023-2024) examined the legacy of coastal landfill and innovative use of waste in construction in Tilbury, Essex, collaborating with a range of engineers, artists and academics.
I am interested in making connections both within the university and with external partners, and am currently involved in developing connections between architecture and bio-engineering through making, and mapping networks of faith & community buildings (within the school and with Sheffield City Council).
- 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 run studios. I have also tutored MA Architectural Design (MAAD) Thesis projects, as well supervising undergraduate special studies and M.Arch dissertations.
I have supervised two SURE research projects, one around how the school might develop full-scale build programmes, and one on the development of student resources around embodied carbon and material reuse in demolition.
Through Studio Polpo and Sheffield Community Land Trust we have taken on paid internships from university programmes (from various departments) for many years, providing mentorship and experience working on current projects.
- Professional activities and memberships
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Studio Polpo, Co-founder and Director
Sheffield Community Land Trust, Company Secretary
Steering group member for Sheffield City Council’s Community Asset Transfer process.
AECB (Association for Environment Conscious Building)
ASBP (Alliance for Sustainable Building Products)
National Demolition Training Group – registered CCDO Demolition Labourer