Professor Robert Brown

Biography

Robert Brown is Professor and Master of Architecture Design Studio Leader, and served as Head of Architecture from 2011 - 2016. He is recognised as an accomplished and innovative teacher. He is consistently nominated by his students in the University's STAR Awards for Teaching Excellence, with his students regularly winning prizes in design competitions. He has lectured and been a guest tutor and critic nationally and internationally at 20 different schools of architecture, including: the Arab Academy (Egypt), the Architectural Association, Cardiff, Carleton (Canada), East London, Innsbruck, Kobe (Japan), Putra (Malaysia), Suzhou (China), Tongji (China) and Westminster universities. He has also been a visiting professor at Pavia University (Italy), Jiangnan University (China) and the City University of Macau (China). He has served as an external examiner or educational advisor at 9 different schools of architecture, including currently at the Arab Academy (Egypt), the University of Kent and University College London. He is also a member of the RIBA Validation Panel, and was on the RIBA Education Committee from 2014 - 2021. He has also published on architectural education and consistently is invited to review journal publications on pedagogy, and has been a member of the University of Plymouth's Pedagogic Research Institute and Observatory Steering Group.

He is active as a researcher both through his own work and in serving on various research committees and organisations. His research focuses on issues of socio-cultural identity and urbanism (including community regeneration), as well as architectural pedagogy. He has published over 30 books chapters and articles, and co-authored one book and co-edited one journal. In addition, he has 40 conference presentations and invited lectures, as well as having co-organised two international conferences. His research work has been supported by 13 research awards, including from the: Daiwa Foundation, Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Japan 21 Foundation, and RIBA Research Trust. He has been active on research organisations, most notably as Chair of the RIBA Research Grants Committee, and served as a reviewer for 13 different publishers including: Architecture and Culture, ARQ, CEBE Transactions, Charette, the Journal of Architecture, Routledge and Sage. At the University of Plymouth he founded and co-leads the Urban Dialogues Research Network, which promotes transdisciplinary civic learning and co-joined community development. He also is a member of the Centre for Coastal Communities and the Centre for Sustainable Futures Sustainable Education Leaders Forum.

He has over 30 years of experience in practice, having worked for Levitt Bernstein in London and Stanley Tigerman in Chicago. He has extensive experience in community-based regeneration projects, as well as in the creative arts. He has written and lectured on participatory design practice in the UK and internationally. He has also worked in community development internationally, focusing in practice on social housing and informal settlements in India and community development research in Africa.

Qualifications

Qualifications
Chartered Architect, Architects Registration Board, UK
Registered Architect, State of Illinois, USA
Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy

Work Experience
2005- BT Studio - Private practice and consultant work
2001 - 2005 Max Lock Centre, University of Westminster, London: Research Assistant for urban design / planning consultancy group
1996 Housing International, Pune, India: Secondment to Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority; Collaboration with Shelter Associates on social housing projects
1989 - 2001 Levitt Bernstein Associates, London: Position: Associate, Specialising in social housing / urban regeneration / community consultation
1986 - 1989 Tigerman McCurry Architects, Chicago, Illinois: Project architect / designer on housing, commercial and institutional projects
1984 - 1985 Bradley & Bradley Architects, Rockford, Illinois

Teaching Experience
2002 - University of Plymouth Chartered Architect, Architects Registration Board, UK
1997 - 2002 University of East London
1997 - 2002 University of Westminster

Visiting Professor, City University of Macau (2017-)

Visiting Professor, Jiangnan University (2016)

Visiting Professor, Pavia University (2014)

Visiting critic / lecturer at: Aoyama Gakuin University (Japan), Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Marine Transport (Alexandria), Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Marine Transport (Heliopolis), Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Marine Transport (Smart Village), Architectural Association Summer School (Khartoum), Cardiff University, Carleton University (Canada), Gdansk Technical University, Jiangnan University (China), Kobe University, Riga Technical University, Saveetha College of Art and Design (India), Suzhou University, Tama University of the Arts (Japan), Tongji University (China), University of Central England, University College for the Creative Arts (Canterbury), University of East London, University of Innsbruck, University of Putra (Malaysia), University of Westminster

Education
Master of Architecture, University of Illinois
Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies, University of Illinois
National Certificate in Tenant Participation, Institute of Housing

Professional membership

Royal Institute of British Architects

Roles on external bodies

Architectural Humanities Research Association Steering Committee (2013-2020)

Architectural Research European Network Association Steering Group (2015-2020)

Association of Architectural Educators (2010-2012)

Charette Editorial Board (2012-2021)

Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation, external referee (2019-)

European Architectural History Network Review Panel

Open House International Referee Panel

Plymouth Architectural Trust (2011-2017)

Plymouth City Council Housing Strategy Advisory Group (2011)

Plymouth Future Cities Panel (2013)

Plymouth Heritage Centre Design Panel (2014)

Plymouth Plan Panel (2012)

Plymouth Waterfront Partnership Panel (2014)

RIBA Education Committee (2014-2021)

RIBA Fellows Committee (2016-2021)

RIBA National Council (2014-2017)

RIBA Research Grants Committee (Chair, 2018-2022; 2014-2022)

RIBA Validation Panel (2010-)

RIBA-ARB Professional Validation Criteria Review Group (2017-2019)

Standing Conference of Heads of Schools of Architecture (2011-2016

Strutton Housing Association Board Member (1998-2001)

Reviewer for architectural journals and publications, including: Architectural Histories, Architectural Science Review, Architecture and Culture, ARQ, CEBE Transactions, Charette, Journal of Architecture, Lawrence King, Local Environment, Open House International, Polish Political Science Yearbook, Routledge, Sage

Teaching

Teaching interests

I run a Master of Architecture Design Studio with studio work examining contested sites in the context of live urban regeneration projects. In these projects we work collaboratively with the local community (e.g., community based organisations, local authorities, social enterprises), private practices and developers, and other disciplines within the university (e.g., Fine Arts, Medicine). This work explores the potential of dialogic urban programs which enable synergies across difference. Over the past four years M Arch students have won 13 prizes in the international Creative Conscious Awards, including 4 Golds, 5 silvers, 3 bronzes and 1 Honourable Mention. Further recognition of student work includes: RIBA Silver Medal shortlist (2018) and Bronze Medal shortlist (2005); European Architectural Medals - Best Diploma Projects - Shortlisted (2017); 3D Reid Prize - Honourable Mention (2011); and Building Design Graduates of the Year (2009). Work in the studio has included collaboration with overseas schools, including the Arab Academy (Egypt), City University of Macau, Gdansk Technical University and Riga Technical University. Alongside Design Studio teaching I developed and run a module exploring ritualised behaviours and practices and their potential to inform design praxis.

In addition to Design Studio teaching I have taught History and Theory modules at both BA Arch Year 1 and Master of Architecture. Coursework in the former has pursued a critical examination of people, place and tectonics as generators of design thinking; in the latter coursework has investigated considerations of: cultural groundings of architectural language; critical thinking and pedagogy; and urbanism. Additionally I have taught History and Theory Dissertation at both BA Arch and M Arch levels.

Staff serving as external examiners

Current:

Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Marine Transport (Alexandria, Heliopolis and Smart Village Campuses)

University of Kent (M Arch)

University College London (BSc Architecture)

Anglia Ruskin University (BSc Architecture)

University of Lincoln School of Architecture (Master of Architecture)

Central St. Martins (External Advisor to candidate Master of Architecture)

University of Hertfordshire (External Advisor to candidate BA Architecture)

Research

Research interests

I am interested in a dialogical understanding of, and the potential of dialogue in the context of:
Socio-Cultural Identity in relation to Place; interests include the resilience of cultural identity in the context of change, and the role of ritualized behaviour in our relation to place.
Urbanism; interests include community participation, community resilience, dialogical urbanism and urban regeneration.
Architectural Pedagogy

Other research

2001- 2005 University of Westminster, London: Researcher, Department for International Development (UK) funded research on community development in Eastern / Southern Africa

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

PhD Students:

As DoS - completed (3):

‘Spatial Robustness'

‘Environmental Facilities System in the Historic District of Macao.’ (with City University of Macau)

‘Towards an Articulation of Architecture as a Verb - Learning from Participatory Development, Subaltern Identities and Textual Values’.

As DoS - current (2):

‘Casting a Lie to the Land: Ritual, cultural landscape and connectivity to rivers’

‘Sustainable Development of Chinese Historic Districts’

As 2nd Supervisor - completed:

‘Petit Trianon and Marie Antoinette: Representation, Interpretation, Perception’.

As 2nd Supervisor - current:

‘Interrogating local spatial syntax; Ope as dialogue between propinquity and spatial signification in a coded urban environment.’

Masters students - completed:

‘Institutionalization of the Global South’s Experience in Urban Planning Education.’ (as co-supervisor with Dr Nancy Abd El-Moneim, Arab Academy of Science, Technology and Marine Transport - Smart Village)

Grants & contracts

Devon Net Zero Initiative Fund Award (2022)

Creative Associates Award (2021)

HEIF Funding for International Collaboration in KE (2021)

Daiwa Foundation, with T. Terazono (2014)

Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, with T. Terazono (2014)

University of Plymouth Research Award (2010)

TQEF Research-Informed Teaching Award, Higher Education Funding Council of England, with A. Evans (2008)

Centre for Education in the Built Environment (2006)

Daiwa Foundation (2005)

Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation (2005)

Japan 21 Foundation (2004)

Teaching Fellowship Award, University of Plymouth (2003)

Quality in Learning and Teaching Award, University of East London (2002)

RIBA Trust Research Award, with D. Moreau (1999)

Creative practice & artistic projects

2010 'The Purposes of Drawing', invited group exhibition, May, Cube3 Gallery
Private practice

Publications

Journals

Brown, R., 2022. ‘Bachelard, Besson and Bakhtin: A dialogical discourse on the potential of intimate space’, Space & Culture.

Brown, R., et. al., 2022. ‘Community Campus as Threshold: a space of dialogue for academia and the community’, Journal of Dialogue Studies, 9, pp. 70 – 96.

Brown, R. and Warwick, P., ‘2019. Civic Learning in Conversation: The common ground of difference’, “Dialogical Pedagogies”, special issue of Thinking Skills and Creativity (31); doi: org/10.1016/j.tsc2019.01.003.

Latham, Z., and Brown, R., 2018. ‘Shenzen’s Urban Villages: Dialogical cultural landscapes and resilient rituals’, Socio.Hu, 6; doi: 10.18030/socio.hu.2018en.51.

Long, Z., Guogiang, S, Yao. W, Brown R., Tian C., and Chenyu W., 2018. 'Urban Form, Growth and accessibility in Space and Time: Anatomy of Land Use at the Parcel-Level in a Small to Medium-Sized American City, Sustainability, 10 (12), 4572; doi: 10.3390/su10124572.

Brown, R. and Clark, P., 2013. ‘From Boudieu to Friere - By way of Boal, Field, Vol. 5 No. 1, November [Online] Available at http:www.fieldjournal.org/index.php?page+issue 5.

Brown, R., 2011. ‘The City as Palimpsest: Towards the Sustainable City’, in Towards a Sustainable City: Piecemeal vs. Grand Planning, special issue of Open House International, Vol. 36 No. 2, pp. 24 – 35.

Brown, R., 2011. ‘You Can't Go Home Again: The place of tradition in "Firefly's" dystopian-utopia and utopian-dystopia', in Traditional Dwellings and Settlements Review, Spring, pp. 7 – 18. Cooke Prize (Honourable Mention) for outstanding research by the International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments (University of California, Berkeley).

Brown, R., 2008. 'Redefining the Edge', in N. AlSayyad, ed., Reinventing Traditions for the Modern World – Traditional Dwellings and Settlements Working Paper Series, Vol. 21, pp. 1 – 24.

Brown, R., 2007. ‘Learning through Ritual’, in Transactions, Vol. 4, No. 1, April, [Online], Available at www.cebe.heacademy.ac.uk/transactions, pp. 55 – 75.

Brown, R. and Theis, M., eds., 2005. Community Asset Management, special issue of Open House International, Vol. 30 No. 2.

Brown, R., 1998. ‘Design Games: Community Participation in Urban Design’, Urban Design Quarterly No. 65, January, pp. 39 – 41.

Brown, R., 1997. ‘Personalisation Made Easy: Use of the Computer to Facilitate Personalisation by the Individual User in User-participatory Design’, in Open House International, Vol 22 No 1, March, pp. 24 – 33.

Books

Brown, R., Kalra, R., and Theis, M. 2005. The Rough Guide to Community Asset Management, London: MLC Press.

Brown, R., Laird, R., and Sumner, M., 2001. Involving Tenants in the Design Process. London: The Housing Corporation.

Chapters

Brown, R. and Tempelman, H., (forthcoming). ‘“Never Let a Good Crisis Go to Waste” – Lessons on dialogical transformations of public agency and space,’ in A. Can, D. Odeleye and L. Rajendran, eds., Learning Resilience from the Global South: Re-conceptualising informalities as an urban planning and design paradigm. Routledge.

Brown, R., (forthcoming). ‘Authenticity / Dwelling / Everyday / Film / People / Place / Settlement / Space / Tectonics’, in D. Maudlin and M. Vellinga, eds., The Encyclopaedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World. London: Bloomsbury.

Brown, R. 2015. ‘The Schmitt Problem – Some perspectives for a praxis of inclusive disjunction’, in K. Nawratek, et. al., eds., Radical Inclusivity. Barcelona: dpr barcelona.

Brown, R., 2014. ‘Transgressing Origins - Dialogical narratives in contemporary Japanese architecture’, in D. Littlefield and L. Rice, eds., Transgression - AHRA Critiques: Critical Studies in Architectural Humanities. London: Routledge, pp. 137 – 154.

Brown, R., 2013. ‘Emplacement, Embodiment and Ritual: Some considerations from shikii wo matagu for our understanding of place and identity’, in S. Bandyopadhyay and G. Garma-Montiel, eds., The Territories of Identity: Architecture in the Age of Evolving Globalisation. London: Routledge, pp. 31 – 41.

Brown, R., 2012. 'A Critique of Origins, or, the Case of Palimpsest', in M. Miles and J. Savage, eds., Nu-topia – a critical view of future cities. Plymouth: University of Plymouth Press, pp. 10 – 25.

Brown, R. and Maudlin, D., 2012. 'Concepts of Vernacular Architecture', in G. Crsyler, H. Heynen and S. Cairns, eds., The SAGE Handbook of Architectural Theory. London: Sage, pp. 340 – 355.

Brown, R., 2011. 'The Elusiveness of Culture', in P. Beacock, et. al., eds., Engaging in Architectural Education. London: London Metropolitan University, pp. 49 – 53.

Brown, R., 2011. ‘Mapping the Unmappable, Knowing the Unknowable’, in C. Ulrik Anderson and G. Cox, eds., Public Interfaces. Aarhus: Aarhus University, pp. 8 – 9.

Brown, R., 2010. 'Andrejsala is not an Island - Joined-up approaches to the layered city', in U. Bratuskins, et. al., eds., Architecture and Planning - The Scientific Journal of Riga Technical University. Riga: Riga Technical University.

Brown, R., 2008. 'My Kind of Town - A study in representing the city', in R. Lucas and G. Muir, eds., Sensory Urbanism Proceedings 2008, Edinburgh: The Flaneur Press, pp. 20 – 27.

Brown, R., 2006. ‘The Need to Be Critical’, in J. Odgers, F. Samuel and A. Sharr, eds., Primitive – Original Matters in Architecture, Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 121 – 124.

Brown, R., 2004. ‘The Social Environment of Learning’, in Enhancing Curricula, A. Davies, ed., London: University of the Arts, pp. 217 – 236.

Brown, R., 2002. ‘Communicating Desire’, in C. Gandelsonas, ed., Communicating for Development, London: ITDG Publishing, pp. 98 – 111.

Brown, R. and Moreau, D., 2001. ‘Between Myth and Reality: The self-image of the architect’, in N. Caglar, ed., Re-Integrating Theory and Design, Leuven, Belgium: EAAE, pp. 117 – 125.

Brown, R. and Moreau, D., 2000. ‘Through the Looking Glass’, in Research By Design, Delft, the Netherlands: DUP Satellite, pp. 145 – 148.

Brown, R. and Moreau, D., 2000. ‘The Search for a New Paradigm for Practice and Education’, in S. Scrivener, L. Ball, A. Woodcock, eds., Collaborative Design, London: Springer-Verlag, pp. 477 – 484. (Awarded Best Paper Presentation at Collaborative Design Conference, Coventry University, 2019).

Brown, R. and Moreau, D., 2000. ‘Seeing the World through another Person’s Eyes’, in D. Nicol and S. Piling, eds., Changing Architectural Education, London: E & FN Spon, pp. 49 – 57.

Scholarly Editions

Brown, R. and Theis, M., eds., 2005. Community Asset Management, special issue of Open House International, Vol. 30 No. 2.

Conference Papers

Brown, R. and Dinning, L., 2023. ‘When Time is Not of the Essence: Slowness and certainty beyond the 15 minute city,’ Livable Cities Conference.

Brown, R., Hassan, S., and Popovici, I., 2022. ‘Cities within Cities: Towards a dialogical agency of entanglement,’ Radical Entanglements: Architectures, Societies, Environments, Politics. Eindhoven University of Technology.

Brown, R. and Warwick, P. 2022. ‘Urban Dialogues’, invited speaker, Improv Design Lecture Series, University of Putra.

Brown, R., 2021. ‘Finding Self in the Other - Cultural identity, dialogism and Japanese-ness in Western Architecture’, invited lecture, Oxford Brookes University.

Brown, R., 2021. ‘Community Campus as Threshold: a new point of dialogue for academia and the community’, Dialogue with and among the Existing, Transforming and Emerging Communities Workshop, Journal of Dialogue Studies.

Brown, R., Dong, A., and Latham, Z., 2021. ‘The Dialogics of Tulous: a simultaneous presence and embrace of difference across cultural landscape, heritage and space’, Just Environments, Environmental Design Research Association Annual Conference.

Brown, R., 2021. ‘From Campus to Community: A new mode and space of operation for academia,’ Available at: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/pr-opinion/from-campus-to-community.

Brown, R., 2019. ‘Macau is not an Island – dialogical space in Macau’, Culture in Urban Space – Urban Form, Cultural Landscapes, Life in the City Conference, Macau.

Brown, R., 2019. Invited lecture: ‘Going with the flow – sustainable cities and dialogical responses to climate change’, Students for Global Health, University of Plymouth.

Brown, R. 2018. ‘Beyond Bladerunner – A dialogic of the everyday in Macau’s Fictional Landscape’, European Association of Urban History Conference ‘Urban Renewal and Resilience’, Roma Tre University.

Brown, R., 2018. Invited paper: ‘Battling the Waves – The need for some camouflage’, Macau International Conference on Marine Administration, Utilization and Development, Special Regional Administrative Government of Macau.

Brown, R., 2018. Invited lecture: ‘Making Home’, Feasts for the Future, AHRC and Regen workshop on future communities, University of Plymouth.

Brown, R., 2018. ‘From the Mobile Studio to the Edgeless University: A manifesto for a dialogic, sustainable pedagogy’, Sustainability in Higher Education Conference, University of Plymouth.

Brown, R., 2017. ‘Bakhtin, Coin Street, Firefly and Neighbourliness’, Festival, Architecture & the City – the AHRA 14th Annual Conference, Birmingham City University.

Brown, R., 2017. ‘Working with Difference – Possibilities for a dialogical architecture’, Bakhtin in the Post-Revolutionary Era – the XVI International Bakhtin Conference, Fudan University, Shanghai.

Brown, R., 2017. ‘Bachelard, Besson and Bakhtin: A dialogical discourse on the potential of intimate space’, Future Imperfect Conference, Plymouth University.

Brown, R., 2016. ‘Éxploring the Potential of a Dialogical Architecture – Urban Landscape and the Coin Street Example’, Re-Invigorating the Vernacular Symposium, City University of Macau.

Brown, R., 2016. Invited lecture: ‘Body, Space and Memory’, Arts Institute Public Lecture Series, University of Plymouth.

Brown, R., 2015. ‘Finding Self in the Other – Japanese-ness in Western Architecture’, Architecture of Alterity Conference, Edinburgh University.

Brown, R., 2013. Invited lecture: ‘Multipli-city: working with the potential of convergence and divergence’, School of Architecture, Pavia University.

Brown, R., 2013. Invited panel member: Architectural Theory in an Expanded Field Symposium, University College London.

Brown, R., 2013. Invited lecture: ‘Escape from New York - The abuses of disorder and the need for (some) order’, Interface Lecture Series, University of Plymouth.

Brown, R., 2012. Keynote lecture: ‘It’s Not What You Think – A dialectic of affordance and sensibilities’, Spatial Thinking 2 Conference, Innsbruck University.

Brown, R., 2012. Invited lecture: ‘All My Screen Heroes Have Been Architects’, RIBA Festival of Architecture (Southwest), Picture House Cinema, Exeter.

Brown, R., 2011. Invited lecture: ‘Secret Labour – Legitimacy and Creativity’, Presenting Le Corbusier – Aspects of the Life, Work and Influence Symposium, University of Plymouth.

Brown, R., 2011. ‘(Re)Inventing Tradition – sensibility and habitus in the architecture of Japan’s new generation’, Fixed Conference, Plymouth University.

Brown, R., 2010. Invited paper: ‘'The Elusiveness of Culture – some questions on intercultural interaction’, SCHOSA Annual Conference.

Brown, R., 2010. Invited lecture: ‘A Dialectic of Inside and Outside’, After the Post-Socialist City Symposium, Gdansk Technical University.

Brown, R. and Clark, P., 2010. 'Performance and Palimpsest: Reconstructing National Identity in the Landscape of Riga, Latvia', Architecture, Design and Nation Conference, Nottingham Trent University.

Brown, R., 2010. 'Palimpsest - A challenge to authenticity and authority in architecture', The Cultural Role of Architecture Conference, Lincoln University.

Brown, R., 2009. Invited lecture: ‘3 Cities, 3 Ports, 1 Paradigm’, Contesting the City Symposium, University of Latvia.

Brown, R., 2009. 'Simultaneous Situational Ambiguity', Architectural and Phenomenology Conference, Kyoto Seika University.

Brown, R., 2007. ‘Fighting it out over Utopia’, Utopian Studies Conference, University of Plymouth.

Brown, R., 2005. ‘Ritual Practices’, Territorial Practices Conference (ASCA Regional Conference), Clemson University.

Brown, R., 2005. ‘The Dancer, the Architect, the Designer and the Shrine’, UIA 2005, Istanbul.

Brown, R., 2005. ‘Be Careful What Lessons You’re Learning’, Design History and Studies Conference, Istanbul Technical University.

Brown, R. and Moreau, D. 2002. ‘Finding Your Way in the Dark’, Shared Visions Conference, Brighton University; ‘Finding Your Way in the Dark’ [Online] Available at www.palatine.ac.uk/files/846.pdf.

Brown, R. and Moreau, D., 2001. Environment-behaviour studies and its absent place in architectural education', Architectural Education Exchange 2001, Cardiff University.

Brown, R. and Moreau, D. 2000. 'Teaching, Perceiving, Communicating', Architectural Education Exchange 2000, Sheffield University.

Internet Publications

Brown, R. with A. Gillick, 2021. ‘Vernacular Architecture, Marginal Voices and Identity’, A is for Architecture, Available online at: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/bob-brown-vernacular-architecture-marginal-voices-and/id1588790585?i=1000538190980.

Brown, R., 2021. ‘From Campus to Community: A new mode and space of operation for academia,’ Available at: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/pr-opinion/from-campus-to-community.

Other Publications

Brown, R., 2021. ‘Competing Visions of Modernity’ (moderator), Japan Foundation, moderator.

Brown, R., Laird, R., and Sumner, M., 2001. Involving Tenants in the Design Process. London: The Housing Corporation.

Personal

Reports & invited lectures

2023 'Cultural Identity, Economic Livelihoods, and Transformative Resilience, Re-Imaging Britain's 'left-behind' coastal communities: to what extent can creative place-making advance the levelling up agenda?, Centre for Coastal Communities, University of Plymouth

2022 'Kyoto Machiya - Preserving Cultural Legacy for the Future', (moderator), Japan Foundation

2022 ‘Urban Dialogues’, (with Dr Paul Warwick), Improv Design Lecture Series, University of Putra Malaysia.

2021 'Finding Self in the Other - Cultural identity, dialogism and Japanese-ness in Western Architecture', Oxford Brookes University.

2021 'Competing Visions of Modernity', (moderator), Japan Foundation.

2021 'Creativity in Architectural Education', (with T. Terazono), Creativity Symposium Series, University of Innsbruck

2019 'Going with the flow - sustainable cities and dialogical responses to climate change', Students for Global Health, University of Plymouth.

2018 'Battling the Waves - The need for some camouflage', invited lecture at Macau International Conference on Marine Administration, Utilization and Development, Special Regional Administrative Government of Macau'

2013 'Multipli-city: working with the potential of convergence and divergence', invited lecture at Pavia University
2013 Invited panel member, Architectural Theory in an Expanded Field Symposium, University College London 'Simultaneous Situational Ambiguity', Architectural and Phenomenology Conference, Kyoto Seika University.

2013 'Escape from New York - The abuses of disorder and the need for (some) order', Interface Lecture Series, Plymouth University

2012 'It's Not What You Think - a dialectic of affordance and sensibilities', keynote talk, Spatial Thinking 2 Conference, Innsbruck University

2011 'Secret Labour - Legitimacy and Creativity', Presenting Le Corbusier - Aspects of the Life, Work and Influence Symposium, Plymouth University

2010 'A Dialectic of Inside and Outside', The Post-Socialist City Does Not Exist Symposium, University of Gdansk.
2010 'The City as Palimpsest - A tactical manifesto', invited lecture at Carleton University.
2009 '3 Cities, 3 Ports, 1 Paradigm', Contesting the City Symposium, University of Latvia.
2005 'The Life of Buildings', invited lecture at Cardiff University.
2004 'Be Careful What Lessons You Think You Are Learning', invited lecture at Cardiff University.

Conferences organised

2013 'AAE 2013', Association of Architectural Educators Conference (Referee panel)

2011 'Fixed? Architecture, Incompleteness and Change', University of Plymouth

Other academic activities

BA Arch and Master of Architecture, RIBA Validation (unconditional validation), as M Arch Program Leader (and lead on revalidation process), with commendations for: impact of live project work on student learning and wider community; a vibrant and supportive studio culture grounded in mutual respect and trust between students and staff; and a critically-engaged, well-rounded, empathetic student body, supported by an exemplary approach to collaborative working enabling students to become mature future professionals (2022)

BA Arch and Master of Architecture, ARB Prescription, as M Arch Program Leader (2018)

BA Arch and Master of Architecture, RIBA Validation (unconditional validation), as M Arch Program Leader, with commendations for: inter-subject teaching; live project agenda in the design studio and non-studio teaching; and pro-active leadership in a context of change within the University (2017)

Architecture Technology and Environment, Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, (unconditional validation), as Head of Architecture, with commendation for: cross-disciplinary teaching and innovative design-led approach to technology teaching: with documentation produced under my guidance identified by CIAT as an example of best practice (2015)

BA Arch and Master of Architecture, ARB Prescription, as Head of Architecture (2013)

BA Arch and Master of Architecture, RIBA Validation (unconditional validation), as Head of Architecture, with commendations for civic engagement and research-informed teaching (2012)

BA Arch and Master of Architecture, RIBA Validation (documentation revised in accordance with revised ARB-RIBA criteria), as Head of Architecture, with documentation identified by the RIBA as an example of best practice (2012)

BA Arch and Master of Architecture, University of Plymouth Periodic Review, as Head of Architecture (2011); documentation identified by the University as an example of best practice

Master of Architecture, ARB Prescription, as M Arch Program Leader (2009)

Master of Architecture, RIBA Validation (unconditional validation), as M Arch Program Leader, with commendation for: contribution as new M Arch program leader (2008)

Links

Urban Dialogues Network at https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/urban-dialogues

Centre for Coastal Communities at https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/coastal-communities

Centre of Sustainable Futures Sustainable Education Leaders Forum at https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/students-and-family/sustainability/sustainability-education/meet-the-team

Profiles

Professor of Architecture

School of Art, Design and Architecture (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business)