MArch Year 5 Leader: academic and pastoral coordination
Enterprise coordinator: academic and creative direction for enterprise and innovation activity in the Birmingham School of Architecture & Design
Steamhouse Academic: connecting academics, curriculum design, member’s design development, research collaborations and building design advisor.
Co.LAB: coordinator and co-founder of live design and research initiative within the School and wider ADM Faculty. Link here
Research theme co-leader: Collaborative and Creative Practices. Part of the School’s Research cluster.
Peer reviewer for abstracts and paper submissions for AHRA 15th conference: Festivals & the City. 2018.
Peer reviewer for journal Charrette for the Association of Architectural Educators (AAE). 2015 – present.
Teaching on BA (Hons) Architecture and MArch in Architecture:
Module Leader:
- ADM5001 Live Project
- ARC5013 Co.LAB I
- ARC5046 Co.LAB Knowledge Exchange
- ARC7463 Material Practices
- ARC7464 Co.LAB II
Module Tutor:
- ADM5001 Live Project
- ARC5013 Co.LAB I
- ARC7463 Material Practices
- ARC7464 Co.LAB II
- ARC7465 Negotiated Practice
- ARC7466 Architectural Thesis
Contribution to:
- ARC4029 History of Architecture and Design
- ARC5049 Architectural Theory
- ARC6010 Critical Study in Architecture
- ARC7462 Research Principles
- ARC7467 Special Study
My research is predominantly practice based and inherently linked with Enterprise + Innovation activity within the School of Architecture and Design. Evolving research interests can be categorised in five intertwined themes; contemporary vernacular language of digital-analogue craft processes, co-production of cultural events, the design for a community of production and making, exchanges in the Creative City, and finally, Agency/Entrepreneurialism in the design studio.
The architectural language of periodic styles is defined through a combination of culture and technology. The technological limits permit exploration of identity and tradition. Can digital technology be representative of culture in this same manner as craft-based heritage? Advanced digital modelling is overly concerned in defining a new language; the research generated through begins to explore digital forms and processes following historic precedents where heritage informs design references and a subsequent reaction to it.
Collaborative practices are tested against an ongoing model of trans-disciplinary work - drawing on theoretical understanding of local/national creative clusters and different models of creative production, for example the recent emergence of the maker movement. The outcomes are transferred to studio teaching and help inform University strategies in external engagement and designs for creative work places.
Studio Agency explores pedagogic approaches to integrate entrepreneurial skills and activities for students to present work in the public domain and demonstrate the capability of engagement with industry.
Grants, Funding and Awards
STEAMhouse Phase 1, ESIF ERDF, Jan 2017, (awarded) Oct 2017 – Sept 2020, £1.76m, (as part of the RIE team to complete the bid with Birmingham School of Architecture and Design).
National Urban Design Awards – Practice Award for Knowledge Hub, 2017.
Biffa Award, Small Grants Award for Gallery and events space refurbishment, Birmingham Open Media. 2015
Birmingham Open Media co-working space, UnLtd Social Entrepreneurship Grant, 2014
Birmingham Production Space, ACE g4a funding 2014. (awarded) April – Feb 2015, £10,000. Co-investigator. Investigation lead Ruth Claxton/Eastside Projects
Podcast, New Curiosities Box Radio Show.
(first broadcasted 5th August 2017) Podbean link
Brum Radio, Sleeve Note Sessions #47
(broadcast 22/12/2016)