Dr Constance Lau

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Senior Lecturer

Architecture and Cities

(United Kingdom) +44 20 7911 5000 ext 66832
35 Marylebone Road
London
GB
NW1 5LS
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About me

I am an architect, lead and teach architecture from undergraduate to doctorate levels in London and at the National University of Singapore (NUS), for three decades. I am Director of Studies for the Techne Collaborative Doctoral Award (CDA) Studentship between the Zaha Hadid Foundation and UoW, examine and supervise PhDs and dissertations in both institutions, run an undergraduate design studio at UoW and a Masters level studio at NUS. I am a regular guest critic at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London.  I am a member of the FHEA (Fellow of the Higher Education Academy) and the ARB (Architects Registration Board). I have been a practising architect for over a decade in both London and Singapore.

I completed my PhD by Design at the Bartlett School of Architecture, and studied at the Architecture Association School of Architecture and National University of Singapore. My research interests concern architectural design in relation to narrative, multiple interpretations and archival research. These are explored through the techniques of montage and different kinds of, especially dialectical allegory to create multiple readings and interpretations in design work. Central to my teaching methodology is the role of dialogue with an emphasis on individual learning that encourages the student to assume authorship to shape the reading and outcome of the design brief, and challenge assumptions. Design practice through the combination of industry and academia reinforces the search for ideas through readings and the translation of these ideas into architectural proposals. This is most evident in my studio’s design work, in the book Dialogical Designs (2016)

https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/9zw6z/dialogical-...

Studio updates and ongoing work can be seen on instagram: @uow_ds3.3 

More importantly, I apply and continue my research through teaching, presenting at conferences, peer reviews, REF standard publishing, as well as and international conferences and workshops.

Teaching

I have taught at the Bartlett School of Architecture, Nottingham University and Canterbury School of Architecture. I have been teaching at the University of Westminster since 2005. I am a Senior Lecturer and Design Studio Leader on the B.A. course, and my main responsibilities include brief writing, design tutorials, presentation juries and the organization of European and International fieldtrips for the design studio. I also teach the undergraduate Cultural Context and History and Theory extended essay modules. In NUS, I am Design Leader for the Masters Design Options Studio, and Coordinator and Design Tutor for the London-NUS Special Elective module. I examine and supervise PhDs in both institutions, and am a member of the Thesis Advisory Committee in NUS..

Studio achievements include: The MAKE Architects Sustainability Prize, (part I) Commendation Award in 2009; Undergraduate Drawing Prize in 2012; John Walkden Memorial Award for Best Final Year Design in 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022;Detail Magazine Architecture Student Awards and Technical Detail Prize in 2012, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024; Hubert Sands Memorial Prize for Best Best Detailed Design Resolution in 2013, 2018, 2021 and 2024; Katherine Shonfield Prize, 2018, 2020 and 2024, Architects’ Journal (AJ) Student Prize nomination, 2021; Dezeen Student nomination, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; Burrell Foley Fischer Illustrations Prize, 2024; Worshipful Company of Architects Peter Luscombe Drawing Prize nomination, 2024; and the end-of-year architectural exhibition Best in Show OPEN 2014, Silver Gilt.

In addition, the studio has received twelve RIBA President’s Bronze Medal nominations <>: 2008 (David Charlton), 2009 (Selina Kar Wai Cheung), 2012 (Larisa Bulibasa), 2014 (Andreea-Laura Nica and Sear Nee Ng), 2016 (Andrius Ribikaukaus), 2017 (Na-Pat Tengtrirat), 2018 (Diana Sacco), 2019 (Irgel Enkhsaikhan), 2020 (Silvia Galofaro), 2021 (Momchil Petrinski), 2024 (Nathan Cheung).

Research

As part of the Architectural Humanities Research Group in the Architecture School, my work is regularly presented and exhibited at conferences and symposiums. Research practice is also applied through examining and supervising PhDs, conducting MPhil to PhD transfer interviews, interviewing potential research candidates, REF standard publishing, peer reviews, and international conferences and workshops.

I also organize and run international exchange programs which include design related projects like the London Festival of Architecture; World Architecture Festival <https://www.worldarchitecturefestival.com/waf-student-charrette>;

and the RIBA project Polyark <http://www.architecture.com/RIBA/Becomeanarchitect/Oureducationalactivities/Polyark.aspx>

<http://www.bdonline.co.uk/introducing-polyport-%28polyark-iii%29/5045016.article>

<http://www.westminster.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/architecture/2013/westminsters-architecture-students-take-part-in-polyport-in-rome>

<http://london.eventful.com/events/polyark-supermegacrit-2018-/E0-001-114498676-3>

Talks and presentations by international award-winning architects and architectural practices are organized to coincide with these events.

Publications

For details of all my research outputs, visit my WestminsterResearch profile.