Architecture alumna Aimée Daniels, who has completed the Master of Architecture (MArch) (RIBA Pt II) and Architecture Postgraduate Diploma Professional Practice (RIBA Part III) courses at Westminster, has been awarded funding from the UK’s national innovation agency Innovate UK for her climate adaptation solution business.
Aimée’s business Shaded aims to adapt homes and buildings against the social, health and environmental risks of overheating through a new design of the external awning that is affordable, accessible and installation free. Due to increased frequency and intensity of heat waves, there is a growing call to action around addressing overheating risk in the built environment. Innovative climate adaptation solutions like Shaded can help improve the UK’s climate change preparedness and resilience. Shaded is currently in the early stages of development, with plans to trial the solution with users this summer.
Aimée has won funding from Innovate UK as part of their new wave of grants aimed at tackling some of our biggest societal challenges. All winners receive tailored business support, mentoring and training alongside funding, to help them establish a sustainable, viable business. Innovate UK is working to strengthen and diversify the innovation talent pipeline and support entrepreneurial success and life-changing innovation through their grants.
Aimée’s business Shaded has also been accepted to take part in the Spark by Better Futures programme. This programme is run by the Mayor of London to support early-stage cleantech companies, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Speaking about her success, Aimée said: “I am beyond excited to have been awarded support from Innovate UK and UKSPF, which enables me to bring my innovation to life and explore entrepreneurship within the realm of my industry: architecture and the built environment.
"The simple concept of shading is an extremely effective method of passive cooling which we see in practice in warmer climates around the world. In the UK, there is a perfect storm of lack of preparedness for extreme heat: a relatively recent 40-degree reality, a disconnected perception of how we are impacted, a primarily old building stock ill-equipped to adapt, and context based barriers like rules around planning permission and a high proportion of social and private renters in cities.
“With Shaded, I’m working to create an accessible and actionable climate adaptation solution for homes and buildings across the UK to ultimately protect vulnerable and everyday people against the growing risks of overheating.”
Shaded contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and 13: Climate Action. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about Architecture courses at the University of Westminster.
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