Ms Vera Hale

I first joined The Open University in 2015 as a researcher and worked on several AHRC funded projects. In 2021, I became a Lecturer in Design at the Design Group, which is part of the School of Engineering & Innovation at the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics. I am a professional ARB registered architect and hold a MA in Architecture and Interior Design from London Metropolitan University and a MSc in Architecture from the University of Delft. At present, I am finishing her PhD on Design Enabling at the Sheffield School of Architecture. The thesis is focuses on the intersection of Empowerment, Transformation and Enabling within community participatory practices.

My academic research is rooted in the social sciences and focus on social aspects of sustainability within the built environment. My interests are concentrated around the critical pedagogies of enabling approaches for co-design. More specifically my present interests are in:

• Enabling design participation
• Transformative Participation
• Pedagogy of community design workshop