Tri-Vessel Co Housing Verified listing

Faaris Parker is an enthusiastic graduate from the University of Nottingham, currently undertaking a Part I Architectural Assistant role with Church Lukas.

His final third-year design thesis titled 'Tri-Vessel Co Housing: flood-resilient communities for a post-growth future' investigates how principles of degrowth—a socio-political and economic movement focused on downscaling industrial production and prioritising equality and environmental stewardship—can reshape the built environment, particularly in post-industrial contexts.

Middlesbrough, a scarred post-industrial landscape in the UK, serves as the case study for this exploration. The town's history of rapid industrial expansion and resource extraction has left behind socioeconomic and environmental challenges that remain pressing today. Projecting into the year 2050, this speculative design envisions the adaptive reuse of biogas digester structures to create flood-resistant, intentional co-housing communities. These sustainable settlements address both the local impacts of climate change—rising sea levels, frequent storms, and flooding—and the global imperative to embrace a post-growth framework.

Middlesbrough’s proximity to the river makes it especially vulnerable to severe flooding, with current models predicting critical risks by 2030 and beyond. This thesis reimagines the relationship between the river and the built environment, proposing radical, creative solutions that reflect the values of degrowth. By addressing these urgent challenges, "Degrowth Futures: Middlesbrough 2050" presents a bold vision for a more sustainable and equitable future.

Structural Reuse
The project centers on the repurposing of three 30m-wide, 9m-tall concrete biogas digester tanks as foundations for new residential towers. By retaining and adapting these existing structures, the design minimises construction waste and capitalises on the embodied carbon of the original materials. Additionally, the elevated tanks provide resilience against predicted flooding, aligning with the town’s future climate adaptation needs.

Social Integration
To promote community and social cohesion, the design incorporates features such as a central atrium, wintergardens, and interconnected communal spaces. These areas encourage interaction among residents while balancing private and shared living spaces. The minimalistic nature of individual living modules fosters a sense of interdependence and strengthens social bonds within the co-housing community.

Systems and Units
The project employs Studio Bark’s modular 'U-Build' framework to create prefabricated CLT living units within the glulam-framed towers. This system is designed for ease of assembly and supports self-build principles, ensuring adaptability and resident participation in construction—key elements of degrowth ideology. With four unit types, the towers offer flexible floor plates to accommodate diverse co-living dynamics. Social bridge modules connect the towers, housing shared spaces such as workshops, co-working areas, and communal kitchens, further enhancing community life.

Structure and Envelope
The residential towers feature a glue-laminated timber frame, CLT floor plates, and U-Build housing units. These are encased in a glazed double-skin façade that optimises passive heating and cooling while providing essential waterproofing. The use of sustainable materials and passive design strategies reflects the project’s commitment to environmental stewardship and long-term resilience.