Tag: Technical Studies Lecture Series

Technical Studies Lecture Series: Paul Purgas [Emptyset] “The Architecture of Sound” | Thursday, October 9 at 18:00 (BST), M416 Robin Evans Room + Livestream

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Thursday, 9th of October 2025 at 6pm (BST)

Where: M416 (Robin Evans Room), Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS + Online

“I was always interested in the Marshall McLuhan idea of looking at the future through a rearview mirror. This premise that we build the future out of the past has definitely instilled in me a value and appreciation for cultural and technological histories, excavation and repurposing, and processes of re-animating and extrapolating from the past into the present.”

Paul Purgas

Originally trained as an architect at the University of Westminster, Paul has presented exhibitions and performances with Tramway, Camden Art Centre, Southbank Centre and Kunstverein Gartenhaus. His written output includes essays for the Unsound:Undead collection published by Urbanomic/MIT Press and the documentaries Electronic India and Krishnamurti in England for BBC Radio 3. He is one half of the electronic music project Emptyset working with electroacoustic and computer music, broadcasting and spatialised sound. Emptyset has presented work at the Architecture Foundation, the Roberts Institute and Tate Britain’s Performing Architecture programme, and performed at Unsound, Sonic Acts and Berghain for Transmediale 2020. In 2024 Paul edited and co-authored the book Subcontinental Synthesis: Electronic Music at the National Institute of Design India 1969-1972. The book followed the BBC 3 Radio programme, Electronic India.

Technical Studies Website

For details contact Will McLean

w.f.mclean@westminster.ac.uk

Technical Studies Lecture Series: Chris Matthews [Atelier One] “Building with Bamboo” | Thursday, October 2 at 18:00 (BST), M416 Robin Evans Room + Livestream

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Thursday, 2nd of October 2025 at 6pm (BST)

Where: M416 (Robin Evans Room), Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS + Online

“Bamboo has a real part to play as a low-carbon material, and it needs to be part of the toolkit that we have moving forward”.

Chris Matthews talking to Dezeen

 
Chris Matthews is a chartered structural engineer and an Associate Director at Atelier One. Since joining Atelier One in 2011, Chris has been involved in a broad array of projects. Specialities include structural engineering for unusual structures; staging and stadium shows; film engineering; timber structures; bamboo structures; art installations; geometrical optimisation of form-active roof structures. Some key projects include the staging for the London 2012 Olympic Ceremonies, Spaceframe (a carbon fibre LED framing system used globally, previous winner of the Structural Awards innovation category), the First Light Pavilion at Jodrell Bank (the first concrete shell structure in the UK for 25 years) and SEE Monster (a repurposed North Sea oil platform brought to Weston Super-mare). Chris has also designed two world record-breaking Walls of Death! Chris will be talking about how we should be using bamboo as a low (no) carbon construction material in the UK.

Before and after the talk Jan Balbaligo (Natural Builder) has kindly arranged for the sale of Jörg Stamm and Munir Vahanvati’s book ‘Bamboo Architecture Unboxed’.

For details please contact Dr Will McLean – w.f.mclean@westminster.ac.uk

Technical Studies Lecture Series: Pete Silver [SA+C, University of Westminster] “Artificial Intelligence – What is it? And why now?” | Thursday, November 28 at 18:00 (GMT), M416 Robin Evans Room + Livestream

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Thursday, 28th of November 2024 at 6pm (GMT)

Where: M416 (Robin Evans Room), Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS + Online

In this presentation, Pete Silver, a senior lecturer at the School of Architecture + Cities, will explore the concept and philosophy of Artificial Intelligence, will postulate that current software may well be nothing of the sort (at the very best, a misnomer), and will question the reasons for its recent adoption by the media, by academia, and by the public at large.

Pete Silver was educated at the Architectural Association where he was tutored by and subsequently taught with John and Julia Frazer, and the polymath and cybernetician Gordon Pask. Silver went on to work as a unit design tutor at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, where he introduced and managed specialist courses on interactive and responsive systems. With his colleague, Dr Will McLean, he has been joint co-ordinator of Technical Studies at the University of Westminster, School of Architecture for 25 years, co-authored six books and has instigated a number of initiatives with respect to the organisation and delivery of technical courses.

Technical Studies Website

Lecture Archive

w.f.mclean@westminster.ac.uk – For details contact Will McLean

Technical Studies Lecture Series: Bruce Bell + Oliver Thomas [Facit Technologies] “Mobile Micro Factory” | Thursday, November 21 at 18:00 (GMT), M416 Robin Evans Room + Livestream

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Thursday, 21st of November 2024 at 6pm (GMT)

Where: M416 (Robin Evans Room), Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS + Online

Amidst a housing crisis and growing sustainability demands, developers have a significant opportunity to embrace new ways of working. Facit offers a viable alternative model to factory-built homes or the traditional construction methods by bringing digital technology to the construction site, which means less labour, more predictability, less design constraints and lower capital expenditure. [Facit Technologies]

Facit Homes were established in 2011 as the world’s first home manufacturer to use a purely digital design and production process. Since featuring on Grand Designs as “the world’s first computer-cut house” – Facit have gone on to become an established, industry-leading company, delivering award-winning low carbon homes across the UK.

In 2024 Facit Technologies was launched and Facit’s Mobile Micro Factory was unveiled in partnership with Tharsus. The Mobile Micro Factory semi-automates the CNC fabrication process, with each factory able to locally manufacture 100 homes a year whilst reducing associated transportation CO2 emissions by 90%. The Facit construction approach uses sustainably sourced sheet-ply to form the Facit Chassis, a hollow box wall and floor system that is structural, with voids filled for thermal and acoustic insulation.

Technical Studies Website

Lecture Archive

w.f.mclean@westminster.ac.uk – For details contact Will McLean

Technical Studies Lecture Series: Giles Smith [Assemble] “Sludge and Rocks” | Thursday, October 31 at 18:00 (GMT), M416 Robin Evans Room + Livestream

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Thursday, 31st of October 2024 at 6pm (GMT)

Where: M416 (Robin Evans Room), Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS + Online

“In our practice we have always seen a care towards the physical construction of a building as a way of caring about the people who use that building, and the people involved in its construction.”

Giles Smith

Assemble is a multi-disciplinary collective working across architecture, design and art. Founded in 2010 to undertake a single self-built project, Assemble has since delivered a diverse and award-winning body of work, while retaining a democratic and co-operative working method that enables built, social and research-based work at a variety of scales: both making things, and making things happen. Assemble won the Turner Prize in 2015.

Giles is a founding member of Assemble, a multi-disciplinary collective working across architecture, design, and art. He studied architecture at the University of Cambridge and the Royal College of Art and has taught architecture at the University of Westminster and the AA and has lectured widely internationally.

Technical Studies website

Lecture Archive

w.f.mclean@westminster.ac.uk – For details contact Will McLean

Technical Studies Lecture Series: Armor Guttiérez [UEL] “Sugarcrete” | Thursday, October 17 at 18:00 (BST), M416 Robin Evans Room + Livestream

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Thursday, 17th of October 2024 at 6pm (BST)

Where: M416 (Robin Evans Room), Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS + Online

“The main innovation with Sugarcrete™ is to challenge the common understanding of biomaterials having low structural performance and to develop a system that can be self-supporting.“

Armor Gutiérrez Rivas

The development of Sugarcrete™ is a wonderful example of a local collaborative initiative, albeit with a necessary international connection. The University of East London’s (UEL) Master of Architecture and Sustainability Research Institute (SRI), with the support of local manufacturer Tate & Lyle Sugars and architectural firm Grimshaw, has developed an innovative low-carbon construction material employing an arable waste product and the clever use of geometry.

Armor is an architect, researcher, and maker, interested in how innovation through sustainability can have a positive impact in our built environment. Prior to joining the University of East London as a Senior Lecturer, he gained extensive professional experience working for some of the world’s most distinguished architecture firms such as Bjarke Ingels Group in Copenhagen, MVRDV in Rotterdam, or KPF in London, where he attained the level of Associate Principal.

https://technicalstudies.tumblr.com

Lecture Archive

w.f.mclean@westminster.ac.uk – For details contact Will McLean

Technical Studies Lecture Series: Jonathan Smales + Cany Ash [Human Nature + Ash Sakula] “The Pheonix Project, Lewes” | Thursday, October 10 at 18:00 (BST), M416 Robin Evans Room + Livestream

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Thursday, 10th of October 2024 at 6pm (BST)

Where: M416 (Robin Evans Room), Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS

“This looks like the beginning of the future.”

The Phoenix is the redevelopment of a 7.9-hectare brownfield site within the South Downs National Park, brought forward by Human Nature a campaigning development company led by Jonathan Smales, working with some of the UK’s leading architects, designers, and engineers. The scheme seeks to turn the imperatives of the climate and natural emergencies into opportunities for better design, better placemaking and ultimately healthier and better living. 

Planned to prioritise people over cars, constructed primarily in sustainable timber, powered by renewable energy, and designed to encourage a culture of sharing, it represents a new and regenerative way to make a place, build a community and create a productive and circular local economy. The development will transform a neglected former industrial site into a beautiful green place, providing much-needed homes and jobs, community spaces, a river walk, flood defenses and health centre.

The masterplan for the Phoenix comprises 18 different housing blocks designed by 12 different architects, giving the neighbourhood diversity, character, and housing choice. Architects Ash Sakula are one of the design practices and Jonathan Smales will be joined by founder / partner Cany Ash. Ash Sakula is a thought-leading architectural studio, based in central London. They specialise in working with challenging sites and complex briefs, where fresh thinking and inventive design can most benefit clients and users.

https://technicalstudies.tumblr.com

Lecture Archive

w.f.mclean@westminster.ac.uk – For details contact Will McLean

Technical Studies Lecture Series: Sho Ito “Nature’s Treasures: Celebrating Earth’s Natural Resources” | Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 18:00 (GMT), M416 + Online

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Thursday, 30th of November at 6pm (GMT)

Where: M416, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS + Online

Sho Ito is a registered architect, educator in the UK and the founder of Studio ITO: Interdisciplinary Thought Operations (www.s-ito.co.uk / Instagram: @studio__ito) a design and research studio working with large-scale housing developments in Cambodia, café renovations in London to private homes in Tokyo. Ito graduated from the Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA). He has extensive experience and knowledge in both the academic and architectural industry, having previously worked at Stirling Prize-winning offices, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, dRMM (de Rijke Marsh and Morgan) and AHMM (Allford Hall Monaghan and Morris) in the UK across the commercial sector.

Nature’s Treasures: Celebrating Earth’s Natural Resources is Ito’s research agenda and personal interest where he attempts to analyse and understand ‘space’ that is inherently linked to the extraction of natural resources. Furthermore, exposing how the commodification process of the strategic systems and infrastructures developed in place allows corporations to manipulate and financially gain from resources that should be democratic. Ito explores the unknown and the hidden through critically analysing and articulating conditions that are spatial through multiple scales, from the territorial, urban, block, and building to the room.

By facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration, the lecture seeks to generate discussion and awareness that responds to balance the needs of current and future generations while safeguarding the planet’s ecological integrity.

For details contact Will McLean

w.f.mclean@westminster.ac.uk

Technical Studies Lecture Series: Mohammed Rahmany + Abderrahim Elmani from AWMA “Recent Projects”, Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 18:00 (GMT), M416 + Online

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Thursday, 23rd of November at 6pm (GMT)

Where: M416, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS + Online

Based in Brixton, AWMA is an experimental design collective that explores key themes prevalent within social, spiritual, economic and urban realms – from celebrations to challenges – across the cultural spectrum with work that connects people and places. 

Mohammed is an architectural thinker and maker. Having worked for acclaimed international architecture firms over the years, he has played an instrumental role in projects, ranging from airport terminals, residential developments, sports stadiums, and several mixed-use spaces across the globe. Abderrahim is an architectural designer and dreamer. He has worked on a variety of scale projects, ranging from one-off private houses to large mixed-use master plans. His experience has been gained through several award-winning architecture practices, all of which have given him a real insight into the field. Abderrahim’s appetite for a holistic and considered approach is fundamental in any undertaken programme.  

Both Mohammed and Abderrahim are graduates of the University of Westminster and we are delighted to welcome them back to talk about their experience as a young design practice. 

For details contact Will McLean 

w.f.mclean@westminster.ac.uk 

Technical Studies Lecture Series: Scott Batty + Urna Sodnomjamts “The Architecture of Retrofit”, Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 18:00 (GMT), M416 + Online

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Thursday, 16th of November at 6pm (GMT)

Where: M416, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS + Online

Scott Batty is an architect with 30 years of experience making, building, designing, and shaping the profession of architecture. As part of The Technical and Professional Studies team Scott has developed the curriculum including initiatives for students to monitor live building sites and he has devised the University of Westminster Sustainable Design Principles. Scott’s work with students has been presented to the Architect’s Climate Action Network (ACAN). Scott Batty has recently initiated and led student and staff visits to the Fire Service Training College, Moreton-in-Marsh for ‘Fire Experience Days’ funded by AXA insurance. These visits provide an invaluable and unforgettable insight into fire and the built environment and have recently featured in the RIBA bulletin.

Scott has first-hand experience with domestic retrofit, and he has developed an innovative design approach to the selective fabric and service domestic upgrade. Scott has stylishly retrofitted his own house and continues to monitor the house for thermal comfort and energy savings.

Urna Sodnomjamts is a recently qualified Architect with three years’ experience as a Part II architectural assistant working for firms such as dMFK, Hut Architecture and Matthew Lloyd Architects. In practice, Urna has worked on retrofit schemes using design & build and traditional procurement with particular sensitivity in understanding client quality requirements and construction viability. Urna is an active researcher in innovative, sustainable construction methods informed by low-tech, environmentally conscious communities. In 2018 Urna co-founded the Association of Mongol Architects a non-profit organisation for architects and architecture students. Urna published some of her research on the vernacular tradition of the Mongolian ‘Ger’ or ‘Yurt’ in Environmental Design Sourcebook by Will McLean and Pete Silver, RIBA Publications 2021.

Urna previously taught part-time as part of the technical studies team and she has recently joined us at the School of Architecture and Cities, University of Westminster as a lecturer in Regenerative Technical and Environmental Design.