Sophia Psarra | University College London (original) (raw)

I am an architect-scholar (Professor), Director of MPhil/PhD History and Theory Programme at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London. I hold an MSc in Architecture and Urbanism (1986) and a PhD in Architecture from the Bartlett, UCL (1997). Before my appointment at UCL (2011), I was Associate Professor at the University of Michigan (2005-2011) and Lecturer/Senior Lecturer at Cardiff University (1997-2004).

My research is transdisciplinary, spanning architecture and urbanism, spatial morphology, history/theory, cultural studies, and addressing four key subjects:
- The relationship between design conceptualisation and embodied space
- Computational models of spatial morphology and embodied vision
- Space, community and istitutional structures
- Design research and creative architectural practice

I have produced funded research (Leverhulme Trust/NSF-USA/Onassis Foundation - in total of £840,000) of international significance and made outstanding contributions to education. My work is disseminated through two monographs (The Venice Variations: Tracing the Architectural Imagination, UCLPress 2018; Architecture and Narrative: The Formation of Space and Cultural Meaning, Routledge 2009/translated in Korean); two edited volumes (Parliament Buildings: The Architecture of Politics in Europe, UCL Press 2023; Production Sites, Routledge 2019); over 70 research papers; three co-edited volumes of research/educational work, and over 40 invited international lectures in UK, USA, Australia, Chile, Cina, Japan, South Africa and Sweden.

I am editorial board member of Thésis (Brazil 2016-). I was Editor of The Journal of Space Syntax (from 2011 to 2015), and associate editor of Architecture Research Quarterly (ARQ, 2004). I have taken leadership positions in education and developed innovations in teaching through new modules, operating across disciplines (Creative Process interdisciplinary course funded by the Provost of the University of Michigan) and between theory, analytic knowledge and design.

I have supervised 9 doctoral dissertations to completion. I have been external examiner of 16 PhD thesis, both nationally and internationally; external examiner of undergraduate/post graduate programmes and external evaluator of schools of Architecture in the UK and Europe.

I engage with creative practice and have won first prizes/mentions in international architectural competitions. My design work has been recognised through journal articles (16 publications), exhibition catalogues and 13 international exhibitions (Venice Biennale, George Pompidou Centre, The RIBA, NAI Rotterdam).

Through enterprise and public engagement activities, I have collaborated with leading international institutions, practices and local government (The Natural History Museum, London; Museums of Scotland; The Museum of Modern Art, MoMA, New York; Camden Council among others).

PhD COMPLETIONS

2017. Athina Lazaridou. Architectural Space and Computation PhD track. 'Three-dimensional Spatial Navigation in Real and Virtual Museums' (second supervisor: Sean Hanna), UCL

2016. Caue Capille. Architectural Space and Computation PhD track. 'Spatial Culture of Public Libraries' (second supervisor: Prof. A. Penn), UCL

2017. Pinar Aycac, (first supervisor: Prof. Murray Fraser), History and Theory PhD track. 'Musealisation in the Urban Context: Multiple Narratives of Sultanahmet Archaeological Park in Istanbul's Historic Peninsula', UCL

2016. Olimpia Cermasi (first supervisor: Valentina Orioli). 'Landscape Urbanism and the Peri-urban Condition: The case of Bologna and Modena in Italy'. University of Bologna, PhD affiliate student, UCL

2009. Ipek Kaynar. 'Architecture Reshaping the Cultural Experience: Visual-Spatial Relations Influencing Visitors' Explorations in Art Museums' (co-supervisor with J. Wineman), University of Michigan

2007. Felix Kabo. 'An Integrative Framework for the Design and Implementation of Large Low-cost Housing Projects', Committee Member, University of Michigan

2007. Linda Nubanni, 'The Relationship Between Spatial and Visibility Characteristics of Residential Neighborhoods and Crime', Committee Member
2007, University of Michigan

2007. Tae Jung Kwon, 'The Perception of Walking Distance in the Configuration of Urban Networks', Committee Member, University of Michigan
Address: The Bartlett School of Architecture
22 Gordon Street
London, WC1H 0QB
United Kingdom

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