School of Architecture, Design and Planning

Dr Silvia Micheli

Senior Lecturer
School of Architecture, Design and Planning
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Researcher biography

Dr Silvia Micheli (BArch Politecnico di Milano; PhD, IUAV, Venice) works in the field of contemporary design and history of architecture.

Dr Micheli's design research focuses on the productive city and how small-scale projects can enhance livability and resilience in our communities. In 2021, Silvia co-designed the Blue Bower Pavilion, receipient of the Crossroads Prize at the 2021 Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism as a manifesto of urban resilience during COVID19. In 2018, Silvia's co-designed the multi-awarded residential building One Room Tower, a demonstration project for the densification of the city.

Dr Silvia Micheli holds expertise in Italian architecture of the second hald of the 20th century and its global reach. She is currently co-writing a critical book on Italian postmodern architecture titled Paolo Portoghesi: Architecture between History, Politics and Media (Boomsbury, 2023). She co-authored the book Storia dell'architettura italiana 1985–2015 (Turin, 2013) and co-edited the volume Italia 60/70. Una stagione dell'architettura (Padua, 2010). Her co-edited book, Italy/Australia: Postmodern Architecture in Translation (Melbourne, 2018), reflects on the influence of Italian postmodern culture on Australian architecture.

Dr Micheli has also published widely on Finnish architecture: she has authored the book Erik Bryggman 1891–1955. Architettura Moderna in Finlandia (Rome, 2009) and contributed to the 2014 exhibition catalogue Alvar Aalto: Second Nature, Vitra, with an essay on the relationship between Aalto and Italy. Dr Micheli co-edited book, Aalto beyond Finland: Buildings, Projects and Network (Helsinki, 2018), which explores the global reach of the work of the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. Her recent study on the impact of Aalto in Australia and Japan was presented at the 2021 DOCOMOMO conference in Tokyo.

Dr Micheli has had a range of international collaborations with academic and cultural institutions, such as the Alvar Aalto Foundation, Vitra Design Museum, Centre Pompidou, MAXXI Museum (Rome), Seoul National University, the Politecnico di Milano and University of Manchester. In 2019, Dr Micheli was Visiting Professor at the School of Art and Design at the Guangdong University of Technology, China.

Dr Micheli pursues research-led teaching, liaising with international academic institutions and architectural firms in Singapore, Hong Kong and Seoul. Since 2016, Silvia has assisted UQ Architecture to secure DFAT funding for mobility grants.

Dr Silvia Micheli is a registered architect (Board of Architects, Lecco, Italy) and member of the European Architectural History Network (EAHN) and the Society of Architectural Historians Australian and New Zealand (SAHANZ).

Publications

Books (4)
Book Chapters (23)
Journal Articles (15)
Conference Papers (10)
Creative Works (2)

Books

Micheli, Silvia, Sabini, Maurizio, Heynen, Hilde, Søberg, Martin, Musgrave, Elizabeth, Colman, Scott, Johnsen, Espen and Szacka, Léa-Catherine (2023). Paolo Portoghesi : Architecture between History, Politics and Media. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. doi: 10.5040/9781350117167
Biraghi, Marco and Micheli, Silvia (2013). Storia dell'architettura italiana 1985-2015. Turin, Italy: Giulio Einaudi Editore.
Micheli, Silvia (2009). Erik Bryggman: 1891-1955: Architettura moderna in Finlandia. Roma, Italia: Gangemi Editore.
Lo Ricco, Gabriella and Micheli, Silvia (2003). Lo spettacolo dell'architettura. Profilo dell'archistar. Milano, Italy: Bruno Mondadori.

Book Chapters

Micheli, Silvia and Paine, Ashley (2022). Inside becomes outside: Queensland’s domestic landscape. The new Queensland house. (pp. 12-19) edited by Cameron Bruhn and Katelin Butler. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Thames & Hudson.
Micheli, Silvia and Ciccarelli, Lorenzo (2022). The International call: Italian design, culture, politics, and economics at the 1972 MoMA exhibition and beyond. Italian imprints on twentieth-century architecture. (pp. 207-220) edited by Denise Costanzo and Andrew Leach. London, United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Visual Arts. doi: 10.5040/9781350257757.ch-016
Kaji-O'Grady, Sandra and Micheli, Silvia (2019). Rivers and waterfronts. 2019 Seoul biennale of architecture and urbanism: Collective city. (pp. 263-265) Seoul, South Korea: Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Micheli, Silvia and Macarthur, John (2018). Thinking Italian in postmodern Australia. Italy/Australia: postmodern architecture in translation. (pp. 6-10) edited by Silvia Micheli and John Macarthur. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Uro.
McDougall, Ian, Macarthur, John and Micheli, Silvia (2018). Culture mining: Ian McDougall in conversation with John Macarthur and Silvia Micheli. Italy/Australia: postmodern architecture in translation. (pp. 164-171) edited by Silvia Micheli and John Macarthur. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Uro.
Micheli, Silvia (2018). “I am Brunelleschi”: Aalto’s Fever for the Mediterranean. Aalto beyond Finland: Projects, Buildings, Networks. (pp. 62-75) edited by Esa Laaksonen and Silvia Micheli. Helsinki, Finland: Rakennustieto Publishing.
Addison, Rex, Micheli, Silvia and Macarthur, John (2018). Thinking about Gino Valle and a few others in my small pool: Rex Addison in conversation with Silvia Micheli and John Macarthur. Italy/Australia: postmodern architecture in translation. (pp. 172-179) edited by Silvia Micheli and John Macarthur. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Uro Publications.
Micheli, Silvia (2018). Alessandro Mendini, Domus and the postmodern vision (1979–1985). Mediated messages: periodicals, exhibitions and the shaping of postmodern architecture. (pp. 115-133) edited by Véronique Patteeuw and Léa-Catherine Szacka. London, United Kingdom: Bloomsbury. doi: 10.5040/9781350046207.ch-007
Baracco, Mauro, Macarthur, John and Micheli, Silvia (2018). Between La Tendenza and neoliberty: Mauro Baracco goes to Australia. Italy/Australia: postmodernism in translation. (pp. 180-192) edited by Silvia Micheli and John Macarthur. Melbourne, VIC Australia: Uro Publications.
Micheli, Silvia (2018). Ciao Australia: Domus looks to the antipodes. Italy/Australia: Italian postmodern architecture in translation. (pp. 36-46) edited by Silvia Micheli and John Macarthur. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Uro Publications.
Micheli, Silvia and Szacka, Léa-Catherine (2017). Paolo Portoghesi and the postmodern project. Re-framing identities: architecture's turn to history, 1970-1990 . (pp. 179-189) edited by Ákos Moravánszky and Torsten Lange. Basil, Switzerland: Birkhäuser. doi: 10.1515/9783035608151-012
Micheli, Silvia and Szacka, Léa-Catherine (2017). Paolo Portoghesi and the postmodern project. Re-framing identities: architecture's turn to history, 1970–1990. (pp. 179-189) edited by Ákos Moravánszky and Torsten Lange. Basel, Switzerland: Birkäuser.
Micheli, Silvia (2015). Between history and design: the Baroque legacy in the work of Paolo Portoghesi. The Baroque in architectural culture, 1880-1980. (pp. 195-210) edited by Andrew Leach, John Macarthur and Maarten Delbeke. Farnsworth, United Kingdom: Ashgate.
Micheli, Silvia and Wilson, Andrew C. (2015). International influences in post-war Queensland: protagonists, destinations and models. Hot modernism: Queensland architecture 1945-1975. (pp. 117-133) edited by John P. Macarthur, Deborah van der Plaat, Janina Gosseye and Andrew Wilson. London, United Kingdom: Artifice.
Micheli, Silvia (2014). Alvar Aalto and Italy: A relationship of exchange. Alvar Aalto: Second Nature. (pp. 316-337) edited by Jochen Eisenbrand, Mateo Kries and Alvar Aalto. Weil am Rhein: Vitra Design Museum.
Micheli, Silvia (2012). Biennale di architettura di Venezia. Architettura del novecento - Teorie, scuole, eventi. (pp. 99-106) edited by Marco Biraghi and Alberto Ferlenga. Torino, Italy: Giulio Einaudi Editore.
Micheli, Silvia (2012). Architecture Italienne: Années 1960 et 1970. La tendenza: Architectures Italiennes 1965 -1985. (pp. 81-89) edited by Frédéric Migayrou. Paris, France: Centre Pompidou.
Micheli, Silvia (2012). Genius loci di Christian Norberg-Schulz. Architettura del novecento - teorie, scuole, eventi. (pp. 390-394) edited by Marco Biraghi and Alberto Ferlenga. Torino, Italy: Giulio Einaudi Editore.
Micheli, Silvia (2010). Le riviste Italiane di architettura: Il luogo logico del dibattito architettonico. Italia 60/70: Una stagione dell'architettura. (pp. 125-138) edited by Marco Biraghi, Gabriella Lo Ricco, Silvia Micheli and Mario Vigano. Padova: Il Poligrafo.
Micheli, Silvia (2010). La cultura architettonica Italiana: Una generazione "contro". Italia 60/70. Una stagione dell’architettura. (pp. 15-30) edited by Marco Biraghi, Gabriella Lo Ricco, Silvia Micheli and Mario Viganò. Padova, Italy: Il Poligrafo.
Micheli, Silvia (2010). L'Altra sede. Verso una nuova identita' milanese. MMX Architettura zona critica. (pp. 90-95) edited by Marco Biraghi, Gabriella Lo Ricco and Silvia Micheli. Rovereto, Italy: Zandonai.
Micheli, Silvia (2010). Baukuh. Una idea di architettura. MMX: Architettura zona critica. (pp. 185-193) edited by Marco Biraghi, Gabriella Lo Ricco, Silvia Micheli and GIZMO (Research group). Rovereto, Italy: Zandonai.
Micheli, Silvia (2009). Un pensiero in continua evoluzione. Editoriali di architettura. (pp. XIII-XVII) edited by Gabriella Lo Ricco and Mario Vigano. Rovereto, Italy: Zandonai.

Journal Articles

Micheli, Silvia and Brugman, Johanna (2023). The Changi-Marina Bay corridor: green strategies for Singapore’s soft power. Architectural Research Quarterly, 27 (1), 61-71. doi: 10.1017/s1359135522000598
Violett, Paul and Micheli, Silvia (2020). Shifting strategies: Australian architects and the future of Chinese cities. Architecture Australia (Jan-Feb), 56-59.
Laaksonen, Esa and Micheli, Silvia (2020). Come together: the evolving social role of libraries. Griffith Review (69), 246-252.
Micheli, Silvia (2020). “I Made a Choice”: Enrico Taglietti citizen of the world in Canberra. Fabrications, 30 (3), 346-370. doi: 10.1080/10331867.2020.1827788
Micheli, Silvia (2019). Designing the global city: design excellence, competitions and the remaking of central Sydney. Planning Perspectives, 34 (4), 750-751. doi: 10.1080/02665433.2019.1620047
Bischeri, Cecilia and Micheli, Silvia (2016). New directions for the dense city: Moshe Safdie in Singapore. Joelho, 7 (7), 116-131. doi: 10.14195/1647-8681_7_9
Micheli, Silvia (2016). Vale Romaldo Giurgola AO, 1920-2016. Architecture Australia, 105 (6), 107-109.
Micheli, Silvia and Moulis, Antony (2016). Incremental civic-ness: James Street Precinct. Architecture Australia, 105 (5), 64-70.
Micheli, Silvia and Szacka, Léa-Catherine (2016). Paolo’s triangolo. AA Files (72), 98-106.
Micheli, Silvia (2014). Reassessing 1960s and 1970s Italian architecture: oral history as a method of investigation. Fabrications: The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand, 24 (2), 199-213. doi: 10.1080/10331867.2014.963923
Micheli, Silvia (2014). Review: Fascism, Architecture, and the Claiming of Modern Milan, 1922–1943. Fabrications, 24 (2), 294-297. doi: 10.1080/10331867.2014.961227
Micheli, Silvia (2014). Kaksi erilaista polkua: two different journeys. Arkkitehti, 111 (2), 72-77.
Micheli, Silvia and Moulis, Antony (2013). Brisbane Supreme and District Courts. Architecture Australia, 102 (2), 30-36.
Moulis, Antony and Micheli, Silvia (2011). A unity of experience. Architectural Review Australia (124), 78-85.
Micheli, Silvia (2009). Erik Bryggman. The cemetery chapel in Turku (1938-41). Abitare la Terra (23), 35-39.

Conference Papers

Micheli, Silvia and Sarvimaki, Marja (2021). Process of a global triangulation of cultures: how Alvar Aalto's design methodology crossed the Asia pacific. 16th International Docomomo Conference, Tokyo, Japan, 29 August - 2 September 2021. Tokyo, Japan: Docomomo.
Micheli, Silvia (2020). The ecology of (sub)tropical residential architecture in urban Vietnam and Australia. Urban Tropicality: 7th International Network of Tropical Architecture Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 5-8 December 2019. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Micheli, Silvia and Moulis, Antony (2018). New inner-city living: testing the micro-context. Annual Design Research Conference, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 27-28 September 2018. Sydney, NSW, Australia:
Bischeri, Cecilia and Micheli, Silvia (2016). Queensland, golden chips and the temptation of the Asia-Pacific model. Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ) Annual Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 6-9 July 2016. Melbourne, Australia: SAHANZ.
Micheli, Silvia (2015). Brisbane, Australia’s new world city: the making of public and institutional spaces in South Bank from Expo ’88 to the G20. Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ) Annual Conference, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 7-10 July 2015. Sydney, NSW, Australia: SAHANZ.
Micheli, Silvia (2014). Building European taste in broader communities: The role of the David Jones stores in the promotion of design and architecture in Australia. EAHN Turin 2014: European Architectural History Network Third International Meeting, Turin, Italy, 19 - 21 June 2014. Torino, Italy: Politecnico di Torino.
Micheli, Silvia (2013). Architecture in a foreign language: how Italy has recognized foreign architecture in the last twenty years. Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ) Annual Conference, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 2-5 July, 2013. Gold Coast, QLD, Australia: SAHANZ: Society of Architectural Historians, Australia & New Zealand.
Micheli, Silvia (2012). At the origins of postmodernism: Paolo Portoghesi's studies on baroque architecture. Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ) Annual Conference, Launceston, TAS, Australia, 5-8 July 2012. Launceston, TAS, Australia: SAHANZ.
Micheli, Silvia (2012). Exploring the edge of orthodoxy: The Baroque as read by Paolo Portoghesi. 2nd International Meeting of the European Architectural History Network, Brussels, Belgium, 31 May - 3 June 2012. Brussels, Belgium: KVAB Press.
Micheli, Silvia (2011). Look at the architect! The effects of the star system on the communication of contemporary architecture. Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ) Annual Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 7-10 July 2011. Brisbane, Australia: Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ).

Creative Works

phorm architecture + design, Micheli, Silvia and Moulis, Antony (2018). One Room Tower. Brisbane, Australia: Phorm Architecture.
GIZMO, Biraghi, Marco, Lo Ricco, Gabriella and Micheli, Silvia (2011). L'architettura che ti piace / the architecture you like©. Rome, Italy: MAXXI: Museo nazionale delle Arti del XXI secolo.

Areas of research

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