About our research

Architecture is essential to solving global social and environmental challenges. We need to collectively imagine different worlds and invent ways to realise them.

A(³)RO brings together the Complexity, Planning and Urbanism [CPU]lab and the Inclusive Cities [IC]lab.

Our research themes

Our processes involve:

  • Co-production and participation.
  • AI in computer simulation and data analysis for design studies and urban transformation.
  • Complex systems frameworks
  • Neighbourhood planning and smart participation.
  • Building reuse, degrowth and urban ecology.
  • Smart cities and technological shifts.

Our connections

We are an International Centre of Excellence with extensive stakeholder and research networks regionally, nationally and internationally. Through these connections, we’re advancing healthy ageing and the development of smart, sustainable future cities.

Featured projects

Our research team

Dr Mazin Al-Saffar
Dr Mazin Al-Saffar Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Urbanism View profile
Sandeep Balagangadharan Menon
Sandeep Balagangadharan Menon Lecturer in Landscape Architecture View profile
Dr Debapriya Chakrabarti
Dr Debapriya Chakrabarti Senior Lecturer in Architecture View profile
Emily Crompton
Emily Crompton Senior Lecturer View profile
Anna Gidman
Anna Gidman Senior Lecturer and BA Architecture Programme Leader View profile
Dr Mark Hammond
Dr Mark Hammond Reader, Deputy School Research Lead View profile
Dr Sam Holden
Dr Sam Holden Senior Lecturer View profile
Rob Hyde
Rob Hyde Senior Lecturer View profile
Dr Hamid Khalili
Dr Hamid Khalili Senior Lecturer in Architecture View profile
Dr Demetra Kourri
Dr Demetra Kourri Senior Lecturer in Architectural Humanities View profile
Stephen McCusker
Stephen McCusker Senior Lecturer, School Professional Skills Lead View profile
Dr Richard Morton
Dr Richard Morton Senior Lecturer View profile
Kasia Nawratek
Kasia Nawratek Senior Lecturer View profile
Dr Guillermo Sanchez Sotes
Dr Guillermo Sanchez Sotes Lecturer in Architecture View profile
Professor Ulysses Sengupta
Professor Ulysses Sengupta Professor of Architecture and Urbanism View profile
Dr Mahmud Tantoush
Dr Mahmud Tantoush Senior Lecturer View profile
Dr Glen Wash Ivanovic
Dr Glen Wash Ivanovic Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Urbanism View profile
Professor Stefan White
Professor Stefan White Professor of Architecture View profile

Affiliate members

Emily Speed, James Wrigley, Jea Na, Lois Blackwell, Kate Pahl, Lucy Burke, Susan Postlethwaite, Evie Lucas, Benjamin Bowman, Jon Bannister, Jo Briggs, Neil Bruce, Rob Potts



Key publications

White, S., Hammond, M., 2018. ‘From representation to active ageing in a Manchester neighbourhood: designing the age-friendly city’. In Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: A Global Perspective, Policy Press.

White, S., ‘The Greater Part: How intuition forms better worlds’, Chapter: In Spinoza and Ratio, Editors: Lord, B., Rawes, P., Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 2017

Hammond, M., White, S., Walsh, S., 2018. ‘Rightsizing: Reframing the housing offer for older people’. Report for Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

Tantoush, M., et al. (2025). ‘Exploring city dynamics through tweets: A framework for capturing urban activities as complex spatiotemporal patterns’. Cities 162: 105894.

Solomou, S., & Sengupta, U. (2025). Simulating Complex Urban Behaviours With AI: Incorporating Improved Intelligent Agents in Urban Simulation Models. Urban Planning, 10, Article 8561.

Tantoush, M., Solomou, S., Sengupta, U. and Zigure, S., 2024. Participatory backcasting towards desirable co-produced mobility futures: A case study of MaaS in Greater Manchester. Futures, 164, p.103463.