Mr Ian Owen

School of Science, Engineering & Environment

Photo of Mr Ian Owen

Contact Details

SEE Building, Floor 3, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT.

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Current positions

Lecturer

Biography

Ian W. Owen is an Architect and lecturer at the University of Salford, where he is the Programme Director of the Master of Architecture (M.Arch). He is an active member of the Architectural Humanities Research Association (AHRA) and the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA), contributing to the forefront of architectural discourse and technology. Additionally, Ian serves as an Architectural Archives Advisory Panellist for Wales, playing a crucial role in preserving and curating the architectural heritage of the region. His research delves into the preservation and interpretation of post-war architectural heritage, combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies to provide a comprehensive understanding of this pivotal era.

Areas of Research

Architecture, Architectural Pedagogy, Computational Design & Methods, Postwar Architecture

Areas of Supervision

Current Research Supervision:
• Ajibola Animasun (MPhil) – Integrating Sustainable Design Principles into Urban Development: A Framework for Environmentally Responsible Cities in Developing Countries.

Completed PhD Supervision:
• Joseph Makdissy (PhD) – The Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Traditional Craftsmanship. Case Study: Damascene Wood-Mosaic.

Topics of Supervision:
Architectural Education & Pedagogy – Architectural Education; Design Studio Pedagogy; Studio Culture; Curriculum and Assessment; Professional Formation; Widening Participation; Research-led Teaching; AI in Architectural Education.

Representation, Visual Culture & Meaning – Architectural Representation; Semiotics; Barthesian Myth; Visual Culture; Architectural Image-making; Architectural Communication; Ideology and Representation; Digital Visualisation.

Heritage, Craft & Cultural Memory – Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage; Traditional Craftsmanship; Heritage Interpretation; Conservation; Cultural Transmission; Architectural Heritage; Cultural Memory; Digital Heritage.

Architectural History & Housing – Architectural History; Post-war Architecture; Post-war Housing; Social Housing; Welsh Architecture; Modernism; Housing Policy; Regeneration.

Digital & Immersive Heritage – Photogrammetry; Digital Capture; 3D Representation; Immersive Environments; Virtual and Remote Access; Digital Heritage Interpretation; Inclusive Access to Architectural Heritage.

Design Research & Public Engagement – Research by Design; Practice-based Research; Speculative Architecture; Participatory Design; Community Engagement; Architecture and Public Value; Inclusive Design; Design as a Method of Inquiry.

Teaching Qualifications and Recognitions

Teaching

Ian W. Owen is Programme Leader for the Master of Architecture (MArch) at the University of Salford. He leads MArch Year 1 and is Module Leader for Design Studio 1, Design Studio 2 and Histories, Theories & Methodologies. He supervises PhD, MPhil and M.Arch thesis projects across the School of Science, Engineering and Environment. Prior to this, he was Year Lead for Level 6 in the BSc (Hons) Architecture programme, contributing to undergraduate studio pedagogy and design research.

Before joining Salford, Ian was Programme Leader of the Master of Architecture & Urbanism (2019-2023) at the University of Hertfordshire. His earlier academic career includes his role as lecturer and studio lead at the University of Newcastle, Australia (2010-2017), where he taught across Architecture, Construction Management and Teaching programmes. There, he led a range of interdisciplinary modules including: Architectural Design Studio, Construction Ecology, Construction Technology and Services, Digital Communication in the Built Environment and Furniture, Form and Function.

Ian’s teaching and supervision span design studio, architectural theory, and professional practice, with particular interest in urban design, computational methods, design ecologies, material culture and critical methods in architectural education.

Qualifications and Recognitions

Qualifications

  • Architecture (PhD)

    2016 - 2019

  • Advanced Diploma in Professional Practice in Architecture (Part III)

    2008 - 2010

  • Master of Architecture (Part II)

    2006 - 2008

  • Architecture (Part I)

    2000 - 2003