John Sampson
BA(Hons) BArch(Dist) MA ARB
School of Architecture and Landscape
Senior University Teacher in Architecture
- Profile
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John Sampson is an experienced architectural educator and practitioner with a career-long commitment to ecological design, climate justice, and social equity. Following a successful term as Joint Director of MArch Programmes from 2019 to 2024, John now serves as the School’s Chair of New Course Development. In this capacity, he is leading the strategic development of the School’s new Integrated Masters Programmes, specifically designed to align with the new Architect’s Registration Board (ARB) Competency Outcomes.
During his tenure as Joint MArch Director, John led a nationally significant curriculum transformation that embedded climate literacy at the core of postgraduate architectural education. This work was recognised by the RIBA and formed the basis for him receiving a 2024 ELEVATE Education Award for Sustainable Development. He helped to initiate and continues to work closely with the student-led group Built Environment Students for Climate Action (BESCA), fostering a collaborative environment where students are central to the department's response to the climate emergency.
John’s teaching is deeply informed by his extensive professional background as a former Director at the influential practice URBED (2008–2023). His scholarship-informed pedagogy consistently delivers high-quality student outcomes; work from his studio, Just Transitions, is regularly nominated for prestigious national awards. Current and past projects from this studio can be viewed at.
In 2022, John was awarded Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) for his commitment to excellence in learning and teaching that focused on climate literacy and student agency. Beyond Sheffield, he serves as an External Examiner, a RIBA Validation Panel Member, and contributes to national dialogues on the future of architectural education and retrofit practices.
- Qualifications
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RIBA Part III RIBA 2014
M.A Architecture ±¬ÁÏTV 2004 - 2005
BArch, RIBA Part II (Dist.) ±¬ÁÏTV 2002 - 2004
B.A Architecture, RIBA Part I ±¬ÁÏTV 1998 - 2001
- Research interests
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As part of the Pedagogy, Practice and Scholarship Group, my research is in the form of pedagogical and scholarship activity focused on climate literacy and student student-centred pedagogies. My outputs can be viewed at:
- Research group
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Pedagogy, Practice and Scholarship Group.
- Teaching interests
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Climate Literacy: I place a strong focus on embedding climate and carbon literacy across the curriculum, a passion that drove the nationally recognised transformation of the MArch programmes during my tenure as Director.
Student-Led Learning: I have a strong interest that comes from my background within the cooperative movement of supporting and advocating for student agency within environmental education, in particular to centre student voices in the climate emergency.
Materials for Low Impact Building: I am interested in how we can transition away from high embodied carbon materials and practices towards biobased and low impact materials.
Retrofit Resources: Drawing upon my experience from practice with URBED and the Carbon Coop I maintain an interest in developing retrofit knowledge. I recently led on the creation on a tool to help disseminate knowledge and best practice.
Ecological Urbanism: My teaching is deeply rooted in fifteen years of practice-based experience as a Director at URBED, where I applied principles of ecological design and sustainable urbanism to award-winning, urban design and masterplanning projects.
- Teaching activities
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Studio
I currently lead the MArch Studio Just Transitions. The studio explores how the move from an extractive to a regenerative economy can be delivered in a way that ensures the benefits of climate action are shared widely, and the costs do not unfairly burden those least able to pay. The work of the studio can be viewed at .
Prior to this I led the MArch Studio Arrival City from 2016-2020. The studio was interested in the social, political and environmental impacts of migration on our cities, focusing on a different city each year; Offenbach, Mannheim, Milan and Lisbon. The work of the studio can be viewed at
Materials for Low Impact Building
I lead the module Materials for Low Impact Building. The module open to MArch and PGT students aims to provide students with an in-depth theoretical knowledge about the environmental performance, practical applications and historical use of materials for low impact buildings. Students are introduced to criteria and frameworks for critically evaluating material choices and supported to develop a coherent and evidenced argument about the appropriateness of materials for low impact buildings in relation to climatic contexts, the environment, societal expectations, and human wellbeing.
Ethical Practice
This MArch module explores the ethical responsibilities and professional values that underpin the role of the architect in society. Emphasis is placed on the architect’s role as both a creative professional and a responsible practitioner—balancing the needs of clients with the welfare of communities, ecological stewardship, and the promotion of inclusive and equitable environments. By the end of the module, students will have a robust understanding of the ethical landscape of the profession and the importance of acting with fairness, respect, and integrity in all aspects of architectural work.
Management and Practice
The module supports MArch students to reflect on Management and Practice issues relating to their final theis project. The module develops students’ understanding of the complexities associated with project delivery and creative and critical engagement with the delivery of their visions and ideas.
- Professional activities and memberships
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- Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy (2022-ongoing)
- ARB Registration No.084490J
- RIBA Validation Panel Member (2025-Ongoing)
- External Examiner: Loughborough University: MArch:Professional (2026-ongoing)
- External Examiner: University of West England: BA Architecture and Planning (2020-2025)
- Certified Passivhaus Designer (2025-ongoing)
- URBED (Urbanism Environment Design) Non-executive Director (2019 - 2023)
- Associate Principal & Director (2015 - 2019)
- Senior Consultant & Director (2008 - 2015)
- Consultant & Director (2006 - 2008)
- Atelier d’architecture Autogeree, Paris Member (2004 - 2005)
- mblc architects Architectural Assistant (2001 - 2004)
- Awards & Exhibitions
Awards
2024 Elevate Education Award: Education for Sustainable Development.
2022 Urban Design Group Practice Award: Winner - Love Wolverton, Milton Keynes.
2017 Urban Design Group Practice Award: Shortlisted - Vaux Brewery, Sunderland.
2015 Urban Design Group Practice Award: Winner – Trent Basin, Nottingham.
2012 Community Land Trust Awards: Winner – Homebaked, Liverpool.
2012 Urban Design Group Practice Award: Winner – Brentford Lock West, London.
2005 KPG Public Space Travel Scholarship.
2004 Building Design Class of 2004.
2004 RIBA Silver Medal Nomination.
2004 Stephen Welsh Prize in Architecture.
2001 White Rose Award: Nomination.
2001 Pinders Research Award.
Exhibitions
​​Trainings for the Not-Yet @Bakbasis: Installation relating to URBED’s Homebaked project as part of Jeanne Van Heesvijk exhibition in Utrecht. (2019)
ASRM Festival of Architecture: Exhibition of URBED’s research into the Offenbach Block as part of theASRM Festival of Architecture in Frankfurt. (2017)
Allotment of the future: Installation in partnership with Manchester University on the future of food production. Marketing Manchester as part of the 2016 City of Science. (2016)
Vertical Farming: Exhibition as part of Manchester International Festival (2011)
A Lucky Strike: Exhibition as part of Platform for Critic of Urban Development with the atelier d’architecture autogeree (aaa), Kunst Findet Stadt, Bremen, Germany (2005)
Fluids of mechanic: Exhibition as part of Urban Clearance series with the aaa, PS2, Belfast (2005)
Links