A final year architecture student at Robert Gordon University (RGU) is currently spending three months researching low carbon affordable housing thanks to a summer studentship funded by the Chap Group.

Valentin Dolhan, 25, will use the studentship to investigate energy efficient housing under the supervision of RGU lecturer, Professor Gokay Deveci, an internationally renowned expert in the field of sustainable housing with a wide range of experience in both private practice and academia.

The studentship position is designed to focus on number of research themes which include investigating issues such as energy demand and low carbon use, material sourcing and use, social impact, and the challenges and opportunities of existing buildings; developing technical skills and tools for constructing new low carbon and low environmental impact buildings; and investigating potential legislative and planning restrictions and integrated solutions that focus on affordability and low carbon consumption.

Professor Deveci said: “We are extremely grateful to Chap for funding this summer studentship position over the past five years which has provided five individual students with a fantastic learning and research opportunity.

“Low energy housing is an area of increasing interest and importance in Scotland and it is key that we continue to carry out valuable research to ensure the issue of sustainability is pushed further up the construction agenda in this country.”

He added: “Valentin is extremely talented student who deserves this opportunity and I have no doubt that he will benefit greatly from the experience.”

Valentin, who will be based at RGU’s Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment, said: “I would like to voice my gratitude to the Chap Group for their generous funding in supporting such an opportunity which will benefit my understanding of the cutting edge technologies relating to sustainable low-energy housing under the careful guidance and expertise of Professor Gokay Deveci.”

Douglas Thomson, joint managing director of Chap Group, said: “Chap are constantly looking for ways in which we can improve the quality and sustainability of our housing, and research initiatives such as this one between Chap and RGU help us to gain a better understanding of the issues, how to address them, and incorporate the research findings in to our future homes.”

Professor Deveci is involved in ongoing research into low-carbon housing and designed the first certified ‘PassivHaus’ housing scheme in Scotland. The scheme, which comprises 10 semi-detached houses in Dunoon, was the first in Scotland to be officially accredited by the PassivHaus Institute in Germany. This voluntary construction standard is only awarded to buildings that meet rigorous energy efficiency criteria.