Rate My Professor Nigel Westbrook

Dr. Nigel Westbrook is Associate Professor in Architecture at the University of Western Australia School of Design, where he currently serves as Associate Dean (Research) and previously acted as Discipline Chair of Architecture for five years. He joined the UWA staff in July 1993, following a Lecturer position at the Department of Architecture (1991-1992). Earlier, he held part-time studio coordinator roles at RMIT and Melbourne University (1984-1990, 1992-1993). Westbrook holds a Bachelor of Architecture from RMIT (1982), a Diploma from the Architectural Association (1980-1982), a Master of Architecture by Research from RMIT (1996), and a PhD from the University of Western Australia (2013). His doctoral thesis, 'An Architectural Reconstruction of the Great Palace of the Byzantine Emperors, from Constantine I to Heraclius', has received preliminary acceptance for publication by Brepols. As a practising architect since 1989, he contributed as Design Architect to projects at firms including Perrott Lyon Mathieson (1986-1991), Lyon Lyon Hilbert Architects (1992-1993), and others from 1982 onwards. He has led international design studios in Athens, Greece (1995, 1997, 2013-2015) and Chicago, USA (2001), and supervises postgraduate students in architectural history, urban studies, and design.

Westbrook's research focuses on historic urban topography, including the urban layout of Constantinople/Istanbul via Renaissance prospects like Melchior Lorichs' 1559 view; Late Antique and Early Byzantine high-status palatine architecture; digital methodologies in architectural history; architectural exchanges between Iran and the West; and modern architecture in Iran (1970-1990). Key publications include 'Exchange of palatine architectural motifs between Byzantium, Persia and the Caliphate' (Byzantina Australiensia, 2014), 'Syncretic symbolism and ritual movement in the Chrysotriklinos of the Byzantine Emperors' (Architectura, 2015), 'The translation of Constantinople from Byzantine to Ottoman, as revealed by the Lorck Prospect' (Byzantina Australiensis, 2015), 'Reconstructing sixteenth-century Istanbul: the use of digital modeling as an heuristic tool' (Architectural Theory Review, 2013, with Rene van Meeuwen), and 'Spoliation and Imitation: Continuity and Radical Disjunction in Byzantine Palatine Architecture' (Byzantina Australiensis, 2006). Forthcoming works encompass collaborations with Ali Mozaffari on Iranian architecture and heritage, and a digital archive of Ernest Mamboury's Istanbul field notes with the German Archaeological Institute. His professional awards include RAIA (WA) Group Housing Awards (1998-2002), WA Timber Industry Award for interior architecture (2003), RAIA (Victoria) Group Housing Award (1992), and competition prizes such as East Perth Housing 2nd prize (1990) and Vietnam Veterans Memorial 2nd prize (1990). Westbrook teaches architectural design, history, theory, practice, and urban design, contributing to urban workshops like the UWA Arts Precinct (2008).