Richard Kulczak-Dawkins

As a part-time academic juggling a professional career as an architect and small family, I find it both challenging and tremendously rewarding to throw myself into research and teaching, so I embrace the opportunity wholeheartedly and enthusiastically. One approach to teaching that I consider fundamental is addressing students like adult people, colleagues in the learning journey, and part of a team in which I’m helping to guide people on a journey where my role is supporting and motivating people to do their best. This way, my approach is more about guiding but not spoon-feeding, encouraging and not dictating.

In working with all our Built Environment students, I explain processes and applications of building design and construction in a logical, practical sequence through real-world examples, explanation and live-sketching/drawing based on my 26-years’ architectural practice experience. Through sketching and diagramming, I try to bring students along with me in the explanation, engaging people with both active sketching and drawing plus descriptive explanation of rationales, approaches, systems, details, broader connections, applications and impacts concerning sustainability. Because I’ve had experience in implementing technologies and techniques we’re teaching on actual buildings and construction, I also explain practical tips-and-tricks for when students are ultimately employed in industry, and why they’re relevant and useful—why it matters—for each of our disciplines across AT, BS, QS, PM, and CM. To me, this means everyone can experience the curriculum in ways that are personally meaningful. 

Practice-led sustainability research is my focus, specifically interpersonal interrelationships in individual, project-based, and institutional contexts.  Currently, I concentrate on qualitative research on sustainability, human values, problem framing, and design decision processes in architecture.

It is a strong and deeply held belief that by combining practice and research in architecture and sustainability, I can make the most impact in sustaining the planet for both human and non-human inhabitants. This extremely urgent and is of paramount importance considering the transgression of many planetary boundaries beyond their carrying capacity. 

In addition to my experience as a senior design architect, manager, and lecturer, I have also won the RICS Best Sustainability Paper for my first research contribution.