The Global Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Nikolina's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
About Nikolina
PositionUG History, Theory and Critical Context Stream Leader
UG Architecture Marketing and Admissions Strategic Leader Chair of the School of Art, Design and Architecture Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Committee
Biography
Nikolina Bobic is an academic and an architect. After completing her PhD in Architecture at the University of Sydney (Australia), she moved to the UK and is now based at the University of Plymouth. Apart from her extensive experience in teaching in Australia, Hong Kong, and the UK, Bobic has also given lectures in the Netherlands and New Zealand. Engaging with the two disciplines in which she is trained, architecture and sociology, her research addresses the intersections of power, politics, and space in their oppressive and liberatory mechanisms. Within this domain, she investigates the ways in which urban space and architecture are oppressed by, struggle against, operate within, or are constructed by politics. Likewise, the ways through which urban space and architecture can be transformed, as well as the kinds of transformations they can enact. At a more specific level she has written on balkanization (geopolitical and urban fragmentation/decentralization), (semi)colonialism, identity construction and urban destruction/reconstruction spurred by violence/war; how these notions manifest at the complex intersection of urbanism, architecture, military, media, economics, technology, literature, and film.
At present, she is working on a research project that addresses the nexus of contemporary defense, post-industrial heritage and (dis)orderly processes of waterfront re-developments to better understand the contemporary operational nature of spatial politics across the so-called Global North and Global South. Nikolina is the co-editor of the multidisciplinary The Routledge Handbook of Architecture, Urban Space and Politics, Vol I: Violence, Spectacle and Data (2022); and, The Routledge Handbook of Architecture, Urban Space and Politics, Vol II: Ecology, Social Participation and Marginalities (forthcoming 2024). She was invited to co-organize the 2023 international and multidisciplinary Deleuze and Guattari Studies conference and camp in Belgrade (Serbia) which was focused on Space I Control I Resistance . Bobic is the co-editor of the peer-reviewed Interstices: A Journal of Architecture and Related Artsthematic issue 20 ‘Political Matters’ (December 2020). Her authored Balkanization and Global Politics: Remaking Cities and Architecture was published in 2019 by Routledge. In the same year, she co-convened the international and multidisciplinary conference Political Matters: Spatial Thinking of the Alternative in Auckland, NZ.
Nikolina has been invited to give talks nationally and internationally. She has taught at undergraduate and postgraduate level across history and theory, design, communications, and sociology, and has supervised over 100 UG dissertations, 15 PGT dissertations as well as engaged in PhD supervision. Her industry experience is in residential architecture. The predominant concentration while working as an architect in Australia was on exploring and exploiting the interface between internal and external spaces, the means by which were addressed through materiality and a close consideration of the context.
Other academic roles
: Chair of the School of Art, Design and Architecture Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Committee: 2022 - current
: Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Academic Offence Panel Member: 2020 - current.
: UG History, Theory and Critical Context Stream Leader: 2019 - current
: Subject (Architecture) Champion of the Equality, Diversity + Inclusivity Committee: 2019 - current.
: UG Architecture Marketing and Admissions Strategic Lead: 2018 - current.
: Member of/Reviewer for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Ethics Sub-committee: 2017 - current.
: UG/PG History, Theory and Critical Context Stream Leader: 2021-2022.
: UG/PG Architecture Marketing / Admissions Strategic Lead: 2020-2022.
: Athena Swan Bronze Award - Member of School of Art, Design and Architecture Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team: 2018.
: Editor-in-chief of the School's History, Theory and Critical Context Journal: 2015 - 2020.
Additional
Panel member interviewing prospective new staff; internal reviewer for internal / external research grants; preparation for RIBA / Malaysia accreditation; preparation, delivery and presentation for annual External Examiner visits; PhD supervision; PhD RDC examination; contribution to the organization of Discourses Public Lecture Series.
Education + Qualifications
: Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice / Fellow of Advance Higher Education Academy, UK (FHEA)
The University of Plymouth, UK, 2015.
: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy (Architecture)
The University of Sydney, Australia, 2014
: Bachelor of Architecture – Honours Class 1 (Part II Master of Architecture equivalent)
Bachelor of Arts – Major in Sociology
The University of New South Wales, Australia, 2006.
: Registered Architect, New South Wales, Australia - since 2008 (NSWARB 8077).
Primary Research
: Politics, power, and space. : Balkanism, balkanization and (semi)colonialism. : Urbicide, violence, war, humanitarianism and (post)conflict. : Urban and architectural re-construction / transformation. : Alternatives practices and systems (spatial justice). : Waterfronts and defense.
Invited Talks / Lectures / Interviews
: ‘Violent Siege of Urban Space,’ School of Society and Culture (Department of Criminology), University of Plymouth_lecture, 2023.
: (Trans)forming Belgrade’s Waterfront: Normalization of Rhetoric, The City in Transition: Transformation Processes in Southeastern Europe since the 1980s, The Institute for Danube Swabian History and Regional Studies Tübingen, Germany, 2022
: Moving borders: [Un]settling Knowledge, Decolonising research – Research Festival, University of Plymouth, UK, 2021
: Balkanization and Global Politics: Remaking cities and Architecture, School of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, Lancaster University, UK, 2021
: Ruins, Identity and Nation Building, Positions in Practice: Towards Inclusive Built Environments, Faculty of Architecture and Built Environment, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, 2020.
: Power, Violence and the Urban, School of Architecture and Planning, The University of Auckland, NZ, 2019.
: Gentrification and Marginalities: The Romani in Belgrade, School of Law, Criminology and Government (Department of Sociology), University of Plymouth, UK, 2018.
Roles on External Bodies: Reviewer
: Conferences / Symposiums
Society of Architectural Historians Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ).
Architectural Humanities Research Association (AHRA).
Deleuze and Guattari Conference.
Temporal Formal as part of the ‘Expanded Architecture’ in Sydney, Australia.
Architecture and Film Symposium, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada.
: Journals
Architecture and Culture.
Architecture Philosophy.
Cubic Journal.
Cultural Dynamics Journal.
Fabrications.
Journal of Material Culture.
Open House International.
: Books
Architecture on the Borderline: Boundary Politics and Built Space (Routlegde).
Architecture in a time of Borders and Division (Anthem Press).
Perception in Architecture. Here and Now (ANCB, the Metropolitan Laboratory).
: Research Grants / Fellowships
Research Grant, The Czech Science Foundation, Prague, Czech Republic.
Research Fellowship, Christ’s College, University of Cambridge, UK.
Research Grant, National Science Center,Krakow, Poland.
PhD Applications - Doctoral Fellowship Programme, The Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
ADA Teaching and Learning Grants, University of Plymouth, UK.
Awards & Funding
: Conferences and Field Trip Research, School of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Plymouth, 2015-current.
: ‘(Trans)forming Belgrade’s Waterfront: Normalization of Rhetoric’, The City in Transition: Transformation Processes in Southeastern Europe since the 1980s, The Institute for Danube Swabian History and Regional Studies, October 2022, Tübingen (Germany)
: : AHRC IAA Impact Initiation Fund - The Divisive Urban and Ecologies legacies along Belgrade’s Waterfront, 2022
: Partial Teaching relief for completion of The Routledge Handbook of Architecture, Urban Space and Politics, Vol II: Ecology, Social Participation and Marginalities, 2022.
: UKRI ESRC Festival of Social Science, 2022 - From Field to Plate – Where does my Dinner come From?, 2022.
: Remembering Differently: The Youth Opening Up History through Architecture and Film - Arts & Humanities Research Council “Changing the Story ECR Project Development Workshop Equal Opportunities,” 2019.
: Political MattersInternational Conference Co-convenor, School of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Plymouth, 2019.
: Political Matters: Spatial Thinking of the AlternativeInternational Conference Co-convenor - School of Architecture and Planning, The University of Auckland, NZ, 2019.
: Women in Education + Employment: Westminster Forum Project, London - ADA Teaching and Learning Research Grant - School of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Plymouth, 2018.
: Partial Teaching Relief for completion of Balkanization and Global Politics, School of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Plymouth, 2017.
: Conferences and Field Trip Research - Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning. The University of Sydney, Australia, 2009-2013.
: The University of Sydney Top-up Grant - Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning. The University of Sydney, Australia, 2009-2013.
: Green Desires: Rethinking Sustainability Research Project - Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning. The University of Sydney, led by Dr Glen Hill, 2010.
: Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) - Australian Federal Government - Support for PhD studies at the University of Sydney, 2009-2013.
: The University of New South Wales U/G Entry Scholarship - Faculty of the Built Environment, The University of New South Wales, 1999.
Professional Experience
: Pioneer Lab, Wollongong, 2009
Architectural Design, Internal Fitouts.
: Virginia Kerridge Architect (VKA), Sydney: 2004-2008
Project Architect:
New 3 storey House in Bondi (2004 – 08); Alteration/Addition to a Heritage Terrace in Elizabeth Bay (2006 – 08); Alteration/Addition to a House in Bronte Beach (06 – 08).
Assistant Architect:
Alteration/ Addition to a House in Bronte (2005 – 08); New House in Kingscliff (2006 – 08); New Cottage and Farmhouse in Hunter Valley (2007 – 08); Alteration / Addition to a House in Coogee (2006 – 07); New House in Bronte (2005 – 06); Alteration /Addition to Kerridge House + Apartment (2004).
Community Activities
Children’s University_2020 – current
Participation in organization / judging of various children’s drawing / making competitions around space and architecture. These workshops, conducted in Devon, not only help with introducing children to architecture but also contribute towards establishing university as a possible learning environment / destination.
The Divisive Urban and Ecological Legacies along Belgrade’s Waterfront_October 2022 – March 2023
Working with several civic organisations, activists, and NGOs in Belgrade (Serbia) to understand the divisive urban and ecological legacies to do with the remaking of Belgrade’s Waterfront, including a broad picture of the ‘voices’ that have been silenced/eliminated from the re-development process. The project was heralded with a 5-part short film campaign, and some traditional research outputs.
From Field to Plate: Where does my Dinner come from _November 2022
Aimed at teaching primary school children (ages 7-9) about the links between healthy food, eating, and place. The event included conceptualizing an animated film, which contextualized awareness around eating healthy and locally-produced food while also setting up a task for the workshop. The actual on-the day workshop was ended with a community kitchen ‘Jollof Kitchen’ providing a healthy and sustainable meal for the visiting primary school children, while also introducing the children to cuisine from the African Diaspora. This project is connected to EDI.
Food for Thought_October 2022
A week-long exhibition of student work across the School of Art, Design and Architecture that addressed issues of access to food / diversity. The event was co-organized with Plymouth Food Bank as an endeavour to collect food donations and distribute to those most affected. This project was connected to EDI.
Membership
: European Architectural History Network (EAHN).
: Architectural Humanities Research Association (AHRA).
: Society of Architectural Historians Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ).
: New South Wales Architects Registration Board (NSWARB).
: Architecture and Film Symposium_Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada_editorial board member.
PhD Supervision
Marjan Saberi - Behind Closed Doors: A Practice-led Inquiry into Women's Domesticity in Mashad.
Livia Daza-Paris - Developing the practice of poetic forensics as an investigation of political disappearance reframed by Skinner Releasing and Indigenous knowledge. (practice-based dissertation).
PhD RDC Examinations
Justin Chung - Learning from Counter-Hegemonic Urban Practise: constructing a ‘socio-cultural and spatial framework’ inspired by the ephemeral night markets in Taiwan.
Ruth Potts - Activism as prefigurative politics: implications for cultivating experiences of political agency in everyday life.
Contact Nikolina
Room 401, Roland Levinsky Building, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
+44 1752 585160
nikolina.bobic@plymouth.ac.uk
