Alan PERT

RSA (ELECT), FRIA, FRIAS

Professor Alan Pert became Director of Melbourne School of Design in October 2012 and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Architecture Building & Planning at the University of Melbourne in 2021. As Director and Deputy Dean his role has been to shape a distinctive Identity for the faculty and to inspire learning through interdisciplinary reflection, and its integration of research, teaching, and design practice.

Pert, carries out practice-based research (Design Research) in parallel with traditional academic research (Research projects), analysing and forging propositions across writing, discourse, exhibitions, education and building. He has worked extensively as an architect, exhibition designer, and curator while concurrently holding a role as Professor of Architecture. He is internationally known for his creative practice research, receiving a number of awards for his built projects as principal of NORD, while in the UK (2002-2012). He was featured in the ‘Faces of British Architecture’ exhibition in 2012, which celebrated the UK’s leading experts, innovators and visionaries in architecture and engineering, responsible for many iconic buildings and landmark developments.

In Australia Pert he is Chair of IBA Melbourne, a design research Lab dedicated to the advancement of design innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and an intensive dialogue with construction practices.

Committed to the synthesis of scholarship and practice, Professor Alan Pert joined Melbourne School of Design as Director in 2012, following 12-years as Director of NORD (Northern Office for Research + Design), which ran in parallel with an academic role as Professor and Director of Research at University of Strathclyde’s, Department of Architecture. Pert has also held roles at Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA) and Glasgow School of Art (GSA). Pert began his professional training in Berlin 1991-93, working with GMW and Partners on various competition projects and the phase-1 refurbishment of Heinrich Tessenow’s, Hellerau Theatre in Dresden. He completed his Masters in Glasgow in 1994, then won the Tramway Arts Centre competition as ZOO Architects, completing the project in 2001. His role on Tramway, resulted in Pert winning the title of Young Scottish Architect of the Year 2001.

Pert, established NORD in 2002 and a diverse portfolio of projects demonstrates a commitment to collaborative thinking and making. From geographers, sociologists and artists to mechanical engineers, civil engineers and curators, NORD used ‘live’ projects to test ideas and share knowledge leading to a diverse range of outputs, which focused on more than simply buildings and instead extended to the complex process of ‘constructing the built environment’. These collaborations have included Pert’s work being featured at the ‘Salone del Mobile’ in Milan (2006/2009), exhibition work which featured at the Venice Biennale (2006/2016), The Primary Substation and Infrastructure work at the London Olympic Park which won the RIBA’s Best Public Building (2010), The Victoria & Albert Museums permanent Furniture Galleries (2011), The restoration of the Brutalist Grade ‘A’ heritage listed, St Peter’s Seminary, Social affordable housing including, The Stone House as part of the Scottish Housing Expo (2010) and the Shingle House in Dungeness for ‘Living Architecture’ which won an RIBA award
in 2011 as well as best residential building at the SDA awards in 2012. Perts work as NORD, is featured in ‘The New Arcadians’ book by Morrell Publishing launched in 2012.

In 2006 NORD was awarded the title of Young British Architecture Practice of The Year, and in 2013 won a major European Design Prize (The Doolan Award) for the best building in Scotland. South Block Studios and gallery transformed a large derelict heritage listed warehouse and tenement into for 75 artists artist studios and 2 levels of creative work spaces, with a gallery and café space. Pert was also a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects ‘Future Practice’ Review Group in 2010 and a member of the Ministerial Working Group on the Creative Industries in Scotland 2010 – 2012. He was appointed to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Research & Innovation Group (RIG) in 2010 as well as Academician at the Royal Scottish Academy in 2011 and a Fellow of The Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland 2010. He has been a key figure in the promotion of creative industries policies in Scotland and across the UK. Having worked closely with The Lighthouse, Scotland’s Centre for Architecture Design and the City since 1999, including designing and curating 8 of their National touring Exhibitions – In addition he played a major role in the 2007 ‘Six Cities’ Design Festival. In partnership with NVA, Pert was invited by the Scottish Government, Creative Scotland and the British Council, to curate a distinctive Scottish presence at La Biennale di Venezia’s 2010 International Architecture Exhibition.

Pert currently chairs the Hallmark Research Initiative for Affordable Housing which is a pan- university initiative to tackle major societal problems and he is a member of the Asialink Council which provides staff and students with the global perspectives and tools to amplify their intercultural capabilities to navigate a shared future in Asia. A book co-edited with Prof. Philip Goad, exploring the idea of “The Total Environment” is due for release in early 2024. As Deputy Dean, with an interest in the Pedagogy-Space-Technology nexus, Alan is also leading the development of the new $350m Design and Engineering Campus at Fishermans Bend which forms part of a new State Government innovation precinct.