img(height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=2939831959404383&ev=PageView&noscript=1")

Rising star: Jordan Whitewood-Neal

Words:
Pamela Buxton

Architectural researcher and educator who is leading research, conversation and action for disability justice

Architectural researcher, educator, and co-founder of disability research collective Dis/ – Part 1: 2017 Part 2: 2020

‘The architectural discipline has in the last few years finally begun to address race and gender inequities, but disability always trails behind,’ says Jordan Whitewood-Neal, who is doing his best do change this through an impressive array of activities.

He describes himself as an architectural researcher and soft activist who wants to effect change through research. He is also an educator and co-founder of nascent disability research collective Dis/, drawing on his own experiences as a wheelchair user. 

By leading research, conversation and action for disability justice in education and practice, he hopes to raise the profile of disabled people within the profession.

‘A fundamental issue in architectural practice is a scarcity of disabled architects and designers,’ he says. ‘There are very few in practice.’

Having recently completed his second master’s degree – an MRes at the University of Brighton – he is co-leading a design think tank at the London School of Architecture, exploring the retrofit of cultural infrastructure for disabled and ageing communities. This will tackle the often integral tension between retrofit and ensuring accessibility for both individuals and communities. He combines this and other academic roles with part-time work in practice, and is also an Architecture Foundation Young Trustee.

Dis/ is being formulated with co-founders James Zatka-Haas and Anna Curzon Price. It was shaped by the Invisible Tales event at the London Festival of Architecture, where physically disabled and neuro-diverse creatives shared their experiences of navigating cities – stories that Whitewood-Neal says are usually ‘completely untold’. 

Dis/ is hoping to pair disabled architectural researchers with disabled people from outside the profession to help them develop their agency to talk critically about the city and their needs. In doing so, it hopes to encourage consideration of disability as a critical part of the design process as well as challenging the perceived homogeneity of disability.

‘He has profile,’ said judge Eleanor Young. ‘We can already see him making a difference to the way disability is talked about in projects and within the profession.’

  • New Architecture Writers’ Language Barriers event, co-organised by Jordan Whitewood-Neal, tackled the barriers and future of architectural discourse.
    1 of 3
    New Architecture Writers’ Language Barriers event, co-organised by Jordan Whitewood-Neal, tackled the barriers and future of architectural discourse. Credit: Nana Ama
  • New Architecture Writers’ Language Barriers event, co-organised by Jordan Whitewood-Neal, tackled the barriers and future of architectural discourse.
    1 of 3
    New Architecture Writers’ Language Barriers event, co-organised by Jordan Whitewood-Neal, tackled the barriers and future of architectural discourse. Credit: Nana Ama
  • Jordan Whitewood-Neal’s research includes the place disability holds at the Architectural Association. Pictured: AA Diploma School technical studies tutor Andrew Walker shown giving a tutorial to students in 1988
    1 of 3
    Jordan Whitewood-Neal’s research includes the place disability holds at the Architectural Association. Pictured: AA Diploma School technical studies tutor Andrew Walker shown giving a tutorial to students in 1988 Credit: AA archives
123

What existing building, place and problem would you most like to tackle?
With my research addressing both the social and spatial barriers to architectural education for disabled students, I would most like to tackle the spaces and pedagogies within architecture schools. My dream project would be addressing the complex spaces that make up the Architectural Association’s Bedford Square. As a series of ever-changing spaces that have grown into adjacent buildings over the last century, the building presents a challenge for both designers and the AA’s governance, which I believe can only be overcome by collaboration between the school and disabled people.

See more RIBA Journal Rising Stars

 

Latest

25 February 2025

Colour in Design webinar

The 14-storey Capella is one of the last residential schemes in London’s King’s Cross masterplan, with 120 market sale homes and 56 social rented flats. Allies and Morrison partner Angie Jim Osman and associate Arpad Toth discuss the choices made for its doors and windows

The door and window choices for the 14-storey Capella housing scheme in King’s Cross

Since retaking office, Donald Trump has been wielding his favoured weapon of disruption – tariffs. Whether they are imposed or not, the potential impacts for UK architects and construction firms are wide-ranging and unpredictable

Donald Trump's threatened tariffs could have wide-ranging and unpredictable impacts on the UK's architects and construction firms, whether they are imposed or not

Rising demand for energy-efficient building materials will see a strong pipeline for door and window products, says Nicola Sharkey, UK insights and research lead at Gleeds

Nicola Sharkey, UK insights and research lead at Gleeds, advises on costs

Win a place on the £37 billion new hospitals framework, create a biodiverse campus, propose a Square Mile wayfinding trail of architectural interventions - some of the latest architecture contracts and competitions from across the industry

Latest: New Hospitals Programme

123