About ATCH

ATCH is a Research Centre in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning at The University of Queensland, Australia offering a rigorous and collegial environment for academics and Higher Degree by Research candidates engaged with architectural history, theory, and culture.

Under the direction of co-directors Dr Kelly Greenop, Professor John Macarthur and Dr Ashley Paine, the Centre has one of the largest concentrations of researchers in architectural history and theory in Australasia. ATCH boasts a range of members consisting of postdoctoral research fellows, senior research fellows, teaching and research staff, research affiliates and Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates. ATCH engages critically with the history of buildings and architectural concepts, and with the past and present culture of architecture in relation to the visual arts, design, philosophy, cultural studies and urbanisation.

Priority areas of current research in the Centre include:

History and Theory of Architecture and Planning

A significant aspect of our research concerns recovering and documenting the history of the built environment, both in our region and around the globe. This includes understanding the physical fabric of buildings and places, as well as their social and intellectual histories. Recent research in this area has been dedicated to histories of architectural ideas and concepts, studies of architecture and art, heritage conservation, and the architecture of Queensland.

Indigenous Places and Cultures

Indigenous cultures are strongly linked to place and our researchers in this area are leaders in understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultural landscapes. This includes Aboriginal geography and place types, settlement histories, and the cultural impacts of government policy. Global vernacular building cultures, informal settlements, and Indigenous co-design methods are also important research subjects.

Cities, Urban History and Culture

This research area examines urban histories and cultures. It is international in scope, with a particular focus on cities in Australia and Asia. With topics spanning suburban development, Indigenous housing, and diverse urban and regional communities, researchers in this field also investigate histories of Australian housing and its future challenges.

Digital Cultural Heritage

The protection of cultural heritage, from physical fabric to intangible cultural practices, is an aspect of professional practice where historical understanding meets rapidly developing digital tools. 3D scanning and heritage BIM (building information management) are useful in the conservation of physical buildings but also allows for intangible heritage to be associated with virtual places. Research in this field addresses the management and standards of digital building data, archives and models, as well as the conceptual/technical challenges they pose for research and heritage administration.

For additional information and enquiries, please contact:

ATCH Co-Director, Dr Ashley Paine: a.paine@uq.edu.au

Past ATCH Directors

• Professor John Macarthur (Founding Director) (2009-2018)
• Associate Professor Antony Moulis (2018-2021)
• Dr Ashley Paine (2022-2024)