Future Folklore

This year the studio is located in Luton, the chalk-bed source of the River Lea amongst ancient woodlands, home to an airport set to expand and increase flights by 70% a year, and a destination for numerous asylum seekers moved out of London.

A painting of people walking around a large structure of walls — George Hadley

Off

Luton is also home to the largest carnival outside of Notting Hill, and the birthplace of the Exodus Soundsystem, a legendary rave-turned community organisation.

We have explored how place-based, DIY approaches might create architectures that can address a changing climate with resilience and joy, through imaginative reuse, collective endeavour, material exploration and sensitivity to place.

A painting of the view up the open inside of a block of flats with clothes lines hung between levels and a shirtless man leaning over one edge — Ed Kamal

Future Folklore - Studio 2025-26

View images

A blue vinyl record in a sleeve with an image of a face appearing from dirt between two shoes — Angus Govier

A painting of people walking on the balconies of the different floors of a block of flats in the rain with a heron in the foreground — Yuka Ho

Studio lead

Mark Parsons

University Teaching Practitioner in Architecture
School of Architecture and Landscape

I am a founder and director of Studio Polpo. My teaching is strongly informed by my practice work and I am interested in how student work and research can be disseminated to the public.

Email: mark.parsons@sheffield.ac.uk

Guests and collaborators

Loretta Bosence (Localworks)
Ashley Holmes (artist)
Wilf Middleton (The Kings Foundation/TUM)
Rob Nield (Webb Yates)
Maya Pindar (Revolution Arts)
Lindsey Pugh (Revolution Arts)
Janet Skepple (Carnival Arts Luton)
Mary Seacole Housing Association

School of Architecture and Landscape