Staff Profiles

Currently undertaking MPhil/ PhD titled: Communal Child Rearing on the Israeli Kibbutz between the

years 1920-1960: a Case Study Approach to the Study of Relations between Built Environment and

Ideologies.

Research group membership

Place, Culture & Identity Group, Oxford Brookes University

Research grants and awards

ISA Travel award, 2017- Research visit to Israel

Oxford Brookes Teaching Excellence award 2018

Research projects

Designing the Experience / The Experience of Design (2017 onwards): 

Multidisciplinary Research Group involving members from four other universities (University of Surrey, UWE, Bournemouth University and UCL). The research includes distinctive analysis of the role of design beyond the physical presence of a building, and the evaluation of the flexible spatial boundaries that affect and determine people’s experience, the group includes academics and professional from Environmental psychology, Neuroscience, product design, Interior design and architecture. The group collaborate with the Maggie Centres as a platform for a case study.

 

Journal articles

• Sarfatti O, Placidi A, 'The Homeless Project: Social Agency and Interior Architecture'
  IE:STUDIO 3 (2018)
  Abstract

  This paper sets out the stages (theoretical and practical) by which Interior Architecture students proposed temporary homes for homeless people, culminating in a public exhibition. The paper introduces the term “furnitecture”, and considers how designing for such a vulnerable group involves more than simply providing shelter.
  

  Website 

Conference papers

• Placidi A, Sarfatti O, 'Interior Architecture: The Evolution of a Discipline'
  (2017)
  Abstract This paper chronicles the evolution of Interior Architecture through the lens of the Interior Architecture programme at Oxford Brookes University. Interior Architecture as a proper academic field originated from architecture but with a specific scope – to investigate and design the experiential/spatial conditions of buildings. This led it to be influenced significantly by other disciplines in regard to methodology, pedagogy, and even the subject matter of the programme. Whereas naturally it shares most of its critical framework with architecture and interior design, and draws upon similar theoretical contributions and practices, Interior Architecture incorporates findings and methodologies from other disciplines such as behavioural psychology, social studies, and research on perception. It has now consolidated into an independent academic field, able to offer significant insights on design strategies for people in the built environment, which can be applied meaningfully back into architecture studies. Specifically, Interior Architecture at Oxford Brookes has placed the experience of space as the subject matter in the built environment through innovative design briefs, and academic publication. The design work and research produced by its students and staff is turning into a compressive methodology of design. This incorporates the idea that programmes of occupation are a-priori design strategies, conducted with an appreciation of variable spatial conditions and perceptive atmospheric qualities.Website 

Other publications

• Sarfatti O, 'Communal Child Rearing on the Israeli Kibbutz between the years 1920-1960: a Case Study Approach to the study of Relations between Built Environment and Ideologies'
  (2021)
• Sarfatti O, Placidi A, Hart C, 'Street dwellings: Short term pods for homeless people in Oxford'
  A Live project (year 2 Interior Architecture) in collaboration with Crisis Skylight Oxford. The students worked on costumising Z-pods to individual homeless people who are members of Crisis. The project was concluded in public exhibition at Crisis Skylight Oxford.
  (2018) Website 
• Sarfatti O, Placidi A, 'Botley School Canteen: Case Study'
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• Sarfatti, O; Placidi, A; Hart, C, 'Live project; Redesigning Botley Primary School canteen'
  Year 2 Interior Architecture students provided a series of 20 differnet design outputs following a 13 weeks design project. The project setting allowed the students to meet and ineract with the various current (anf future) users to enable them to come up with a design programme for the very old canteen building which currntly isn't sufficient  host the amount of pupils it serves. ()
• Sarfatti, O; Placidi, A, 'Live Project: Louie Memorial Community Pavilion in Botely, Oxford'
  Interior Architecture students at Oxford Brookes University in their second year participate in a ‘live project’ that has social emphasis. It is part of their design curriculum. In the following case, students were asked to expand and redesign an existing dilapidated community pavilion in Botley (Oxford) in collaboration with the local community and trustees.

  The Louie Memorial Pavilion has become over the last five years a lively community hub hosting many activities. Regardless of its poor physical conditions it seems that there has been an increase in local initiatives for activities that take place under its roof. Strong community spirit rather than the building performance, is the driving force. The aim of the ‘live project’ was to propose a series of functioning yet inspiring designs to accommodate the current activities and future potential whilst conveying the community ethos; it was also to provide leverage for a renovation campaign for the pavilion. The students’ proposals were presented to the public at an exhibition on-site and was reported by the local press. The captivating images were instrumental for the trustees to approach the parish council. It now supports the campaign and has initiated a fundraising process.

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