Kirsten Day

Kirsten Day lectures in Architecture at the University of Melbourne. Her research emerges from 20 years working as an architect, in-situ examination and exploration, and an abiding interest in Asia generally and especially Chinese culture and history.
This research includes:
1. The narrative of cultural identity represented in architecture.
2. Architectural practice – specifically the role of architects in the future competing with emergent technologies, patents and copyright and subsequent influences on the design of place, specialisation of skills (including outsourcing of tasks), and other consultants with a similar skill set.
3. Future housing – project based research into environment appropriate design, aging in place, and the impact of ‘business as usual scenarios’ and resource overreach. This work is linked with Architecture Media Politics Society (AMPS) and associated conferences and publications
Kirsten’s PhD thesis, Fengshui as a Narrative of localisation: Case studies of contemporary architecture in Hong Kong and Shanghai examined how fengshui and other traditional beliefs are used in contemporary architecture both as an expression of cultural identity and the branding of place. Her experiences living in Asia, as a student and later as a professional architect, provided an opportunity over many years to investigate her research topics.
Kirsten is a registered architect in the state of Victoria/Australia, and is principal architect with Norman Day + Associates. She has worked on numerous projects in Australia and in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Her teaching and management responsibilities include construction, professional practice, and research skills.
In partnership with Architecture Media Politics Society (London) during 2016, Kirsten organised and curated the conference ‘Future Housing: Global Cities and Regional Problems’. The conference was held at Swinburne’s Hawthorn Campus and hosted by the Department of Interior Architecture and Industrial Design and the Centre for Design Innovation.
Forming part of a global programme, Housing-Critical Futures, ‘Global Cities and Regional Problems’ focuses on housing in the growing global cities of the Asia Pacific Region. This conference brought together academics and professionals from 14 different countries to discuss their practice and research on how future housing can be imagined, designed and planned to address complex global issues.