Ms Najwa Awwadh J Almalki

Teams and roles for Najwa Awwadh J Almalki

Research student
Welsh School of Architecture
Research student
Archi PGR students

I am currently a PhD student at the Welsh School of Architecture (WSA), Cardiff University. My research interests centre on people-centred design and architecture for health and well-being.

I completed a Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design with distinction in 2023 at De Montfort University, Leicester. My dissertation examined how interior design elements in transitional spaces within psychiatric hospitals can enhance patient well-being, demonstrating that such elements can promote a sense of independence and awe. I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design with first-class honours from Taif University (KSA) in 2014.

Before commencing my postgraduate studies in the UK, I worked as a teaching assistant at Taif University (KSA), where I taught a broad range of subjects within the BA Interior Design programme.

My doctoral research investigates the interior design of almshouses in the UK and examines the extent to which their physical environments support age-friendly living and foster independence among older residents. Focusing on the distinctive characteristics of this housing typology, the study aims to translate general design guidelines into specific, actionable recommendations tailored to almshouse contexts.

The research involves ethnographic fieldwork in two case studies, London and Bristol, undertaken in collaboration with housing providers and charitable organisations. These empirical investigations are complemented by a comprehensive review of international literature on age-inclusive design, environmental gerontology, and interior design for ageing populations.

Contributing Tutor for Architecture in Context (Year 2 History and Theory of Architecture module), Welsh School of Architecture, 2024.
Teaching Assistant in Interior Design, Taif University, Saudi Arabia, 2015–2021.

Speaking engagements

Presented initial observations from my fieldwork at Appleby Blue Almshouse at the research seminar Architecture, Ageing and Social Care, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff.
Presented at The SPARK Research Showcase on Disability, Cardiff University, Cardiff.
Presentation title: Exploring How Interior Environments Can Disable Residents' Independence: A Study of Interior Design in Almshouses for Ageing Residents.
Presented at the British Society of Gerontology 54th Annual Conference 2025, University of Surrey, Guildford.
Presentation title: Home-making in a New-build Almshouse: Interior Design Observations of Domestic Furnishings and Moving in Later Life.
Presented at the Design Research & Professional Practice (DRPP) Research & Scholarship Group, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff.
Presentation title: Home-making in a New-build Almshouse: Interior Design Observations of Domestic Furnishings and Moving in Later Life.
Presented and submitted a paper to the AMPS Conference (Lisbon: Livable Cities), Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Lisbon.
Paper title: Dwelling within Almshousing: Reflections on Ethnographic Design Methods to Explore How Older People Live Independently within a New Almshouse in London.