In Search of a Rural Architecture with Graham Bizley

A relationship to the rural landscape is deeply embedded in the British consciousness. Yet the debate on architecture and the built environment focuses almost entirely on the city. In this talk Graham Bizley will explore the contemporary identity of rural areas and how ideas about the countryside evolve in the face of social. As well as the economic and political changes, and how we might build in the countryside in a way that is sustainable and enhances a sense of place.

Graham Bizley is an architect and writer based in rural Somerset. He established Prewett Bizley Architects with Robert Prewett in 2005. He moved out of London in 2011 to set up a Somerset office.

The work of the practice focuses on low-energy construction and the need to reduce the impact of buildings on the environment. They were winners of the BD Sustainability Architect of the Year Award 2017.

Following his move to Somerset Graham began researching attitudes to the British landscape. And also how we can build in the countryside in a way that is sustainable and enhances a sense of place. He submitted a proposal on rural architecture for the British Pavilion at the 2014 Venice Biennale and was one of 4 shortlisted teams.

Graham is a part-time teaching fellow at the University of Bath and has previously taught at the University of Kingston and University of Greenwich. He has been a member of the Hackney Design Review Panel and the Islington Conservation and Design Panel.