- Architectural Humanities
About me
I am an architect and have been teaching architecture in London for three decades. I also teach at the National University of Singapore (NUS). I am Director of Studies for the Techne Collaborative Doctoral Award (CDA) Studentship between the Zaha Hadid Foundation and UoW, examine and supervise PhDs and dissertations in both institutions, run an undergraduate design studio at UoW and a Masters level studio at NUS. I am a regular guest critic at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London. I am a member of the FHEA (Fellow of the Higher Education Academy) and the ARB (Architects Registration Board). I have been a practising architect for over a decade in both London and Singapore.
I completed my PhD by Design at the Bartlett School of Architecture, and studied at the Architecture Association School of Architecture and National University of Singapore. My research interests concern architectural design in relation to narrative and archival research. These are explored through the techniques of montage and different kinds of allegory to create multiple readings and interpretations in design work. Central to my teaching methodology is the role of dialogue with an emphasis on individual learning that encourages the student to assume authorship to shape the reading and outcome of the design brief, and challenge assumptions. The combination of practice and academia reinforces the search for ideas through readings and the translation of these ideas into architectural proposals. This is most evident in my studio’s design work, in the book Dialogical Designs (2016).
https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/9zw6z/dialogical-...
Studio updates and ongoing work can be seen on instagram: @uow_ds3.3
More importantly, I apply and continue my research through teaching, presenting at conferences, peer reviews, as well as publishing.
Teaching
I have taught at the Bartlett School of Architecture, Nottingham University and Canterbury School of Architecture. I have been teaching at the University of Westminster since 2005. I am a Senior Lecturer and Design Studio Leader on the B.A. course, and my main responsibilities include brief writing, design tutorials, presentation juries and the organization of European and International fieldtrips for the design studio. I also teach the undergraduate Cultural Context and History and Theory extended essay modules. In NUS, I am Design Leader for the Masters Design Options Studio, and Coordinator and Design Tutor for the London-NUS Special Elective module. I examine and supervise PhDs in both institutions, and am a member of the Thesis Advisory Committee in NUS..
Studio achievements include: The MAKE Architects Sustainability Prize, (part I) Commendation Award in 2009; Undergraduate Drawing Prize in 2012; John Walkden Memorial Award for Best Final Year Design in 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022;Detail Magazine Architecture Student Awards Technical Detail Prize in 2012, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021; Hubert Sands Memorial Prize for Best Best Detailed Design Resolution in 2013, 2018 and 2021; Katherine Shonfield Prize, 2018 and 2020, Architects’ Journal (AJ) Student Prize nomination, 2021; Dezeen Student nomination, 2020, 2021 and 2022; and the end-of-year architectural exhibition Best in Show OPEN 2014, Silver Gilt.
In addition, the studio has received ten RIBA President’s Bronze Medal nominations <>: 2008 (David Charlton), 2009 (Selina Kar Wai Cheung), 2012 (Larisa Bulibasa), 2014 (Andreea-Laura Nica and Sear Nee Ng), 2016 (Andrius Ribikaukaus), 2017 (Na-Pat Tengtrirat), 2018 (Diana Sacco), 2019 (Irgel Enkhsaikhan), 2020 (Silvia Galofaro), 2021 (Momchil Petrinski).
Research
As part of the Architectural Humanities Research Group in the Architecture School, my work is regularly presented and exhibited at conferences and symposiums. Research practice is also applied through examining and supervising PhDs, conducting MPhil to PhD transfer interviews, interviewing potential research candidates, REF standard publishing, peer reviews, and international conferences and workshops.
I also organize and run international exchange programs which include design related projects like the London Festival of Architecture; World Architecture Festival <https://www.worldarchitecturefestival.com/waf-student-charrette>;
and the RIBA project Polyark <http://www.architecture.com/RIBA/Becomeanarchitect/Oureducationalactivities/Polyark.aspx>
<http://www.bdonline.co.uk/introducing-polyport-%28polyark-iii%29/5045016.article>
<http://london.eventful.com/events/polyark-supermegacrit-2018-/E0-001-114498676-3>
Talks and presentations by international award-winning architects and architectural practices are organized to coincide with these events.
Publications
For details of all my research outputs, visit my WestminsterResearch profile.