Biography

I joined the University of Portsmouth in 1997 and led the Emergent Studio in MArch 1 and 2 between 2011 and 2017. I also lead a first-year studio in the undergraduate school. In addition, I deliver a taught Unit in MArch , coordinate Unit 421 Thesis Dissertation in MArch 2 and contribute to units in Years 2 and 3 of the undergraduate programme.

My research and teaching are both focused on the study of architecture from a phenomenological and tectonic perspective, with particular reference to the philosophical, social and cultural dimensions of the subject. In the last five years my research activity has been focused upon interrogating the work and design methodology of Jørn Utzon from a paradigmatic perspective.

I am particularly interested in the relationship between architecture and contemporary culture and the Emergent Studio continues to interrogate architecture in the trans-cultural context, having developed projects in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Morocco in collaboration with colleagues from local Universities.

These interests have led to engagement with the architectural paradigm of Jørn Utzon, working with the Utzon Research Center in Aalborg, Denmark. In developing this research I instigated the Jørn Utzon Research Network (JURN) of which I am co-director. JURN is a collaborative academic network designed to interrogate the Utzon paradigm and experiment through application within contemporary contexts. The network has partner institutions in Australia, Morocco and Denmark.

This research activity led to the Fourth International Utzon Symposium in collaboration with the Faculty of Built Environment of the University of New South Wales (FBE-UNSW), Sydney, Australia and the conjoined Second International Utzon Workshop in collaboration with the University of Tasmania (UTas) held on Bruny Island, Tasmania in March 2014.

My research interests in Utzon led to an invitation from the publishers Routledge (New York) to submit a book proposal that illuminated the commonalities and distinctions of three seminal Nordic Architects: Alvar Aalto, Jorn Utzon and Sverre Fehn leading to te publication of 'Aalto Utzon Fehn: Three Paradigms of Phenomenological Architecture' in March 2018.

 

My concerns regarding the disconnection between academia and creative practice ledme in May 2017, to form the entity Plato's Chora Limited (Trading as CHORA). this consultancy seeks to export the intellectual asstes of academia in support of creative practice and scholarship. Evidence of the impact of CHORA is set out within the CHORA PORTFOLIO and furher material can be found at: http//:www.chora.uk.com

 

Research interests

  • Co-Director of the Jørn Utzon Research Network (JURN) focused upon the interrogation of Utzon’s work and design methodology and projecting discourse into contemporary architectural academic debate. Led 3rd Utzon International Symposium and Inaugural International Workshop (Morocco 2012) and the 4th International Utzon Symposium (Sydney, Australia) and 2nd International Utzon Workshop (Tasmania) in March 2014.
  • Academics outputs include a range of Edited Books, Books, Book Chapters, Academic Papers and Conference Papers focused upon the design methodology of Utzon and pedagogic theory.
  • Author of: 2018. Aalto Utzon Fehn: Three Paradigms of Phenomenological Architecture. Routledge New York. USA.
  • Director of Plato's Chora Limited (Trading as CHORA)