Transforming Homes Forum
Wednesday 18th of March 2026
On Wednesday 11 March, I attended a forum at the Design Museum focused on the Transforming Homes for Future Generations project. The event brought together architects, housing practitioners, researchers and policymakers to explore how the UK can transform existing homes to meet future environmental, social and health needs.
The project focuses particularly on homes built between 1920 and 1940, a period that produced a large share of Britain’s suburban housing. Many of these homes remain structurally sound, but they were designed for a very different era. Poor insulation, outdated layouts and reliance on fossil fuel heating mean they often struggle to meet modern standards for comfort, accessibility and energy efficiency.
Rather than focusing only on new housing, the project explores how these homes can be reimagined and transformed for future generations.
Readers can explore the work of the project here
https://www.transforminghomes.org.uk
https://futureobservatory.org/research/strands/green-transition-ecosystems/transforming-housing-and-homes-for-future-generations
Demonstration homes and real world testing
A key part of the programme is the use of demonstration homes and modelling. These allow researchers and practitioners to test transformation ideas in real housing contexts.
The goal is to explore practical ways homes can be adapted to improve energy performance
support low carbon heating
improve indoor health and comfort
adapt to changing household needs
By developing real world examples, the project aims to demonstrate solutions that could eventually be scaled across the UK’s existing housing stock.
Co design and resident voice
One of the most interesting aspects of the forum was the emphasis on co design and resident engagement.
Transforming homes is not purely a technical challenge. It also requires understanding how people actually live in their homes and what changes they are willing to embrace. The project therefore works closely with residents to shape design approaches and ensure that transformation solutions reflect lived experience as well as technical performance.
This is particularly important when considering disruption, affordability and the practical realities of retrofit.
Learning through design
In the afternoon session participants took part in a hands on design charrette, working with physical models to explore how homes might be transformed.
A charrette is an intensive collaborative design workshop often used in architecture and planning. Participants work together over a short period to test ideas, sketch concepts and explore solutions to a design challenge. The approach encourages creativity and allows different perspectives, including those of residents and practitioners, to shape the design process.
During the session, groups used model making to explore layout changes, extensions and retrofit options. It demonstrated how design can become a shared problem solving exercise, bringing together architects, housing providers and communities.
Scaling up transformation
The final workshop explored how the UK can move from small scale innovation to large scale transformation.
Participants highlighted several key challenges including the cost of deep retrofit, supply chain capacity, planning barriers and the need for stronger policy alignment around net zero housing. At the same time there was a strong sense that design led research projects like Transforming Homes are helping to develop the models and ideas needed to make large scale transformation possible.
Seeing the ideas in action
The day also included a visit to the Tools for Transition exhibition, part of the Design Museum’s Future Observatory programme.
The exhibition highlights how design research can support the transition to a greener future, including work on housing, materials and sustainable infrastructure.
You can learn more about the exhibition here
https://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/future-observatory-tools-for-transition
Why this matters
Across the housing sector there is growing recognition that the future of housing will depend as much on transforming existing homes as building new ones.
Projects like Transforming Homes demonstrate how design, innovation and resident insight can work together to create homes that are healthier, more sustainable and better suited to the needs of future generations.