Mark is an architect and a doctoral researcher due to complete his PhD at the University of Manchester in early 2026. Mark’s PhD uses ethnographic and creative methods to examine the disposal of imported anatomical specimens at the British waste incinerators. Bridging between waste and death studies, the project demonstrates the importance of waste labour and infrastructure for the global economies of human tissue and healthcare. Mark’s PhD format is by publication with some chapters being submitted in a graphic novel format. As a keen advocate of multi-modal ethnographic methods, Mark co-runs regular Manchester-based Draw Your Research workshops.
Between 2018 and 2024 Mark progressed from an assistant to a senior architect at TP Bennett, designing buildings in education, hospitality, and residential sectors, alongside doing his PhD. In 2017 Mark set up no.balsa as part of which he has run creative design workshops focused on intuitive model-making at nine architecture and art schools across three continents. This network continues to expand.
Mark completed his MPhil at the University of Cambridge between 2016 and 2018. His MPhil thesis, Another Hotel in Africa, received a commendation at the RIBA President’s Medals in 2018 and led to two publications.
Websites:
https://nobalsa.com/
https://drawyourresearch.wordpress.com/
