homefolk
Frustrated as a student about how terrible housing provision in our city can be? Feeling fed up with extortionate, unaffordable rent? Angry about the climate crisis, loneliness and mental health epidemic but without a clear direction for how to solve everything in an intersectional way? Do you want to be part of the change in London's housing crisis?
Idea for research
Idea for research
A research project exploring the environmental impact and sustainability potential of tiny-home villages. Student researchers will support lifecycle assessment (LCA) research, materials comparison, biodiversity considerations, and modelling of shared resource systems (energy, water, waste). The project will create evidence-based design guidelines for an affordable, scalable, low-carbon, nature-positive village model.

Existing data:
- Preliminary notes on sustainable materials & tentative supply chains.
- Research from previous architectural working groups.
- Early design sketches referencing green-infrastructure concepts.

Suggestions for data collection:
- Carbon lifecycle comparisons of different materials (timber vs. recycled vs. modular SIP panel construction).
- Energy and water modelling for shared systems.
- Biodiversity and green-space mapping for potential designs.
- Interviews with ecologists, architects & landscape architects, urban planners and sustainability practitioners.
Impact of idea
- Build a sustainability evidence base to support planning and funding applications.
- Identify and cost low-carbon materials and construction supply chains suitable for tiny-home villages.
- Develop ecological design approaches that enhance biodiversity and green space access in paved urban areas.
- Produce design principles and sustainability guidelines for future village tendering.
- Equip design & build partners with knowledge in climate, carbon literacy, and ecological design.

If you have any existing data or information you would like included in a project, please tell us what kind of data these are

What new data or information would you like to be collected in this project?

Data generated through this idea

Application process
Application criteria
Our research proposal has been developed alongside UCL SU by and for our community rather than just ‘about it’ - our community being ‘Generation Rent’... aged between 18-35 & without prospect of buying a home in areas we live and work.

Youth who identify themselves as affected by the housing crisis will be principal investigators in shaping homefolk’s research analysis and methods, through experiential qualification alongside more formal/academic research. We’d also like to advertise & select volunteers to this program to ensure those with intersecting unaddressed needs (accessibility, protected characteristics or vulnerable groups) are prioritised as our investigators.

Engaging “Generation Rent” directly ensures our model reflects lived priorities — from affordability and security, to wellbeing and community life. This approach also empowers young people, builds networks, and strengthens the legitimacy of our proposals with policymakers and funders.

homefolk & No Burnout Culture
homefolk CIC are committed to a supportive, no-burnout research culture. Student researchers will ideally work in pairs or small groups, sharing tasks, reflecting together, and collaborating rather than individualised pressure.

We warmly welcome applications from friends or course-mates who wish to pair up, and we will also organise research groupings for those applying individually, aiming that everyone has a buddy and feels included.

Our aim is to create a research environment that is social, caring, and mutually encouraging — a space where learning is shared and wellbeing comes first.
Is this project fully accessible to students with the disabilities?
Yes
Disabilities information
Yes – digital participation options will be offered; workshops should be will be in accessible spaces; materials will be in easy-read formats where needed.

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