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. Robert's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
About Robert
Robert Brown is Professor and Master of Architecture Design Studio Leader, and served as Head of Architecture from 2011 - 2016. He is recognised as an accomplished and innovative teacher. He is consistently nominated by his students in the University's STAR Awards for Teaching Excellence, with his students regularly winning prizes in design competitions. He has lectured and been a guest tutor and critic nationally and internationally at 20 different schools of architecture, including: the Arab Academy (Egypt), the Architectural Association, Cardiff, Carleton (Canada), East London, Innsbruck, Kobe (Japan), Putra (Malaysia), Suzhou (China), Tongji (China) and Westminster universities. He has also been a visiting professor at Pavia University (Italy), Jiangnan University (China) and the City University of Macau (China). He has served as an external examiner or educational advisor at 9 different schools of architecture, including currently at the Arab Academy (Egypt), the University of Kent and University College London. He is also a member of the RIBA Validation Panel, and was on the RIBA Education Committee from 2014 - 2021. He has also published on architectural education and consistently is invited to review journal publications on pedagogy, and has been a member of the University of Plymouth's Pedagogic Research Institute and Observatory Steering Group.
He is active as a researcher both through his own work and in serving on various research committees and organisations. His research focuses on issues of socio-cultural identity and urbanism (including community regeneration), as well as architectural pedagogy. He has published over 30 books chapters and articles, and co-authored one book and co-edited one journal. In addition, he has 40 conference presentations and invited lectures, as well as having co-organised two international conferences. His research work has been supported by 13 research awards, including from the: Daiwa Foundation, Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Japan 21 Foundation, and RIBA Research Trust. He has been active on research organisations, most notably as Chair of the RIBA Research Grants Committee, and served as a reviewer for 13 different publishers including: Architecture and Culture, ARQ, CEBE Transactions, Charette, the Journal of Architecture, Routledge and Sage. At the University of Plymouth he founded and co-leads the Urban Dialogues Research Network, which promotes transdisciplinary civic learning and co-joined community development. He also is a member of the Centre for Coastal Communities and the Centre for Sustainable Futures Sustainable Education Leaders Forum.
He has over 30 years of experience in practice, having worked for Levitt Bernstein in London and Stanley Tigerman in Chicago. He has extensive experience in community-based regeneration projects, as well as in the creative arts. He has written and lectured on participatory design practice in the UK and internationally. He has also worked in community development internationally, focusing in practice on social housing and informal settlements in India and community development research in Africa.
Supervised Research Degrees
PhD Students:
As DoS - completed (5):
‘Casting a Lie to the Land: Ritual, cultural landscape and connectivity to rivers’
‘Spatial Robustness'
'Research on the Waterfront of the Inner Harbor in Macau Based on Ecological and Environmental Sustainability (with City University of Macau)
‘Environmental Facilities System in the Historic District of Macao.’ (with City University of Macau)
‘Towards an Articulation of Architecture as a Verb - Learning from Participatory Development, Subaltern Identities and Textual Values’.
As DoS - current (2):
‘Interrogating local spatial syntax; Ope as dialogue between propinquity and spatial signification in a coded urban environment.’
‘Sustainable Development of Chinese Historic Districts’
As 2nd Supervisor - completed:
‘Petit Trianon and Marie Antoinette: Representation, Interpretation, Perception’.
As 2nd Supervisor - current:
Masters students - completed:
‘Institutionalization of the Global South’s Experience in Urban Planning Education.’ (as co-supervisor with Dr Nancy Abd El-Moneim, Arab Academy of Science, Technology and Marine Transport - Smart Village)
Teaching
I run a Master of Architecture Design Studio with studio work examining contested sites in the context of live urban regeneration projects. In these projects we work collaboratively with the local community (e.g., community based organisations, local authorities, social enterprises), private practices and developers, and other disciplines within the university (e.g., Fine Arts, Medicine). This work explores the potential of dialogic urban programs which enable synergies across difference. Over the past six years M Arch students have won 15 prizes in the international Creative Conscious Awards, including 5 Golds, 6 Silvers, 3 Bronzes and 1 Honourable Mention. Further recognition of student work includes: RIBA Silver Medal Commendation (2023), RIBA Silver Medal selected for exhibition at RIBA (2018) and RIBA Bronze Medal selected for exhibition at RIBA (2005); European Architectural Medals - Best Diploma Projects - Shortlisted (2017); 3D Reid Prize - Honourable Mention (2011); and Building Design Graduates of the Year (2009). Work in the studio has included collaboration with overseas schools, including the Arab Academy (Egypt), City University of Macau, Gdansk Technical University and Riga Technical University. Alongside Design Studio teaching I developed and run a module exploring ritualised behaviours and practices and their potential to inform design praxis.
In addition to Design Studio teaching I have taught History and Theory modules at both BA Arch Year 1 and Master of Architecture. Coursework in the former has pursued a critical examination of people, place and tectonics as generators of design thinking; in the latter coursework has investigated considerations of: cultural groundings of architectural language; critical thinking and pedagogy; and urbanism. Additionally I have taught History and Theory Dissertation at both BA Arch and M Arch levels.
Contact Robert
Room 401, Roland Levinsky Building, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
+44 1752 585164
R.Brown-4@plymouth.ac.uk
