Professor Philip Crowther

Biography

• 2021 - present: Associate Professor (QUT, School of Architecture and Built Environment), Teaching Foundation units in the Architectural courses
• 2017 - 2020: Associate Professor (QUT, School of Design), Teaching Design Studios in the Honors year of the Architecture course
• 2012 - 2016: Head of Architecture, Associate Professor (QUT, School of Design), Teaching Design Studios in the Master of Architecture course
• 2010 - 2012: Associate Professor (QUT, School of Design), Course Coordinator for the master of Architecture. Teaching Design Studios in the Master of Architecture course
• 2005 - 2010: Senior Lecturer (QUT, School of Design), teaching Design Studios and Technology in the architecture course
• 2001 - 2005: Lecturer (QUT, School of Design), teaching Design Studios and Technology in the architecture course
• 1998 - 2001: PhD student
• 1993 - 1998: Architect: practiced architecture for several years in both public and private practice, working on both institutional buildings and domestic projects in Brisbane and Sydney. He has been involved in several award winning projects. Registered architect since 1997.
• 1987 - 1990: Video editing, computer graphics and theatrical production.

• 2016: Vice Chancellor’s Performance Award
• 2014: Vice Chancellor’s Performance Award
• 2012: Dean's Excellence Award for Leadership (Creative Industries Faculty)
• 2009: Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Citation of Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (National Award)
• 2008: Winner (one of three lead designers) international architecture competition: ‘Binjiang Urban Centre and Transport Interchange Design Competition’ (2008) Hangzhou, China
• 2008: Vice Chancellor’s Performance Award
• 2007: Vice Chancellor’s Performance Award
• 1995: Royal Australian Institute of Architects Medallion (student)
• 1992 and 1995: University medal (student)
• 1992: Royal Australian Planning Institute National Awards (student category)
• 1987: Queensland Young Film Makers Awards (Best film, Best director).

• 2014: Engagement Innovation Grant: 'Sustaining Charleville'
• 2011: BEE Small Teaching and Learning Grants, 'Blended Learning patterns for Architecture Students' - $8,000.00 (Member of team of 2 academics)
• 2007: QUT Teaching and Learning Development Small Grants Scheme, ‘Graphicacy for Students of Design: The assessment of needs and development of self-paced learning modules in visual literacy’ - $36,658.00 (Leading a team of 5 academics)
• 2001: QUT Scholarship in the Professions Grant, ‘A pilot study for a continuing education program: Providing a body of knowledge to secondary education educators’ - $17,400.00 (Member of team of 4 academics)

• Design for Disassembly: for sustainable reuse of construction materials and components The dominant life cycle model of building materials and components is a linear system, which ends in demolition and disposal. If however, the act of demolition is replaced with the act of disassembly, more materials and components can be reused and recycled. This suggests a different life cycle model, one that accommodates an increase in service life. To achieve extended service life, designers must design buildings for disassembly to facilitate the new steps in the life cycle and encourage the reuse and recycling of materials and components. This research has established principles of Design for Disassembly (DfD), and developed theoretical models of environmentally sustainable construction, time-related building layers, and a hierarchy of relocation, reuse and recycling.

• Design Education: developing innovative and integrated delivery modes This research seeks to develop a deeper understanding of the issues and contexts of ‘design studies’ in higher education. This research has developed theoretical models of visual communication and multiple-mode learning experiences. Research activities include: investigation and analysis of student cohorts (including analysis of student background and university performance: predicting academic success), experimentation and testing of asynchronous learning tools, development and testing of alternate modes of (visual) communication.

• Creative Works: architectural practice based research. This research is based in the practice of architecture; it uses the performative act of architectural design as a research activity to explore a range of architectural issues. Projects include: Binjiang Urban Centre and Transport Interchange, Hangzhou, China: This project is the result of a collaborative design process involving QUT School of Design, and AREN Consulting and ZIAD (Zheijiang Provincial Institute of Architectural Design and Research). Dr. Crowther was one of three lead designers on the project. This project was selected in 2008 as the winner of the ‘Binjiang Urban Centre and Transport Interchange Design Competition’; selected from seven international teams that were invited to participate in this high profile competition for this $2.1 billion urban project. The project was also subsequently selected for exhibition at the ‘HEAT Exhibition at Shanghai World Expo 2010’. The project researches/explores the capacity for complex urban projects to contribute to the city’s amenity through the integration of transit oriented developments with sustainability principles and aspects of net positive development. This research agenda is supported through related publications (refer to publications page). Genshanmen Urban Centre, Hangzhou, China: This project continues the line of research in the project above, and is also the result of a collaborative design process involving QUT School of Design, and AREN Consulting. This design was also the result of an invitation in 2009 to enter an international competition for a similar large scale complex urban project (approximately two billion dollars). This project is part of a sustained research agenda in subtropical sustainability through large scale international design projects/competitions.