Yan Cheng
About Me
Forever filled with enthusiasm and curiosity for what lies ahead.
Personal Interest
My research interests include historical heritage and memory, the adaptive reuse of underground spaces, architectural representation and narrative. My current work explores how London’s wartime bunkers have shaped and mirrored the city’s image within varied historical and contemporary contexts.
Project Title
Testing Urban Resilience: Reading, Dwelling, and Reusing Bunkers in London
Project Description
This research spans urban studies, architecture, and intersects with multiple fields, including urban resilience, adaptive reuse, heritage studies, and urban geography. The study examines the role of London’s historical bunkers in contemporary urban life, focusing on their potential for adaptive reuse to address environmental, social, and security challenges. It seeks to understand how these military structures contribute to urban sustainability, preserve cultural memory, and engage with local communities. The research aims to investigate how the architectural design and technological innovations of bunkers during WWII and the Cold War are relevant to current global challenges such as terrorism and climate change. It will explore the potential for re-appropriating bunkers for both peaceful and emergency uses. Additionally, the study will analyse how societal perceptions of security and survival are reflected in the urban reuse of these bunkers, assessing the architectural and spatial challenges involved.
Supervisors
Qualifications
BSc in Architecture of Tianjin Chengjian University, China
MArch in Architecture of Newcastle University, UK
Chinese Class 1 Registered Architect