Overview

Profile summary

Dr Mathew Emmett is an artist-architect who holds the positions of Architecture Research Area Lead and Programme Leader for the Master of Architecture programme at the University of Plymouth, School of Art, Design, and Architecture, where he previously served as the Programme Leader for 3D Design including Spatial and Interior Design, Product Design and Designer Maker.

With a specialisation in cultural environments, public realm, immersive installations, and healthcare design, Emmett has made significant contributions to advancing architecture as a communicative art form. Having collaborated with renowned architects such as Charles Jencks on prestigious projects such as the Imperial War Museum-North (UK) in collaboration with Studio Libeskind, Portello Park (Milan), the Beijing Olympics (China), Garden of Scientific Speculation (Portrack), and partnerships with YRM Architects, Acanthus Ferguson Mann, and Harrison Sutton Partnership LLP, Emmett is dedicated to creating meaningful architectural experiences.

Emmett was awarded the prestigious Gardener Theobald Scholarship at the Architectural Association, London and the Sir Henry Herbert Bartlett Award at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London. His educational background includes a Doctorate in situated cognition and architecture and a Fine Art Foundation at Central St Martins. Notably, Emmett received a research grant to study space-music with Karlheinz Stockhausen in Kürten, Germany.

Emmett's work has been internationally exhibited and widely published. His research takes a radical interdisciplinary approach, combining architecture with situated cognition, cybernetics, AV installation, soundscape, and digital performance. Notable projects, such as "Sender/Receiver," a generative-open sonic system for transcultural communication, has been performed during the inauguration of the Blavatnik Building at Tate Modern in London. Recent exhibitions, including "The Albatross," a video installation at Jamestown Art Centre, and "St Sebastian: Plague Memory," a multi-channel AV installation exhibited at Museo dell'Arte Classica, Roma.

Emmett's academic career spans various international universities and institutions including Eindhoven University of Technology, Detmolder Schule für Architektur, City University of Macau, NHM New Human Media in Uruguay, Chelsea College of Art, The Royal College of Art, The Bartlett School of Architecture, and The Architectural Association.

Emmett's dedication to interdisciplinary art-architecture research is evident through his collaborations with notable figures in the arts and music industry, including Eberhard Kranemann, co-founder of Kraftwerk, Adam Benjamin, founder of Candoco Dance Company, and Node electronic composer Dave Bessell. As a PhD supervisor and examiner, Emmett actively contributes to the development of art and science collaborations including the €4.1 million EU Marie Curie Project 'Cognovo,' that explored Cognitive Innovation from an interdisciplinary design perspective.

Links:

Mathew Emmett

Professional memberships

RIBA Professional Membership.
ARB Professional Membership.
The Architectural Association.

The Bartlett School of Architecture. Kinetica Museum.

Roles on external bodies

University of the Arts (Chelsea) London: External Examiner MA Interior and Spatial Design.

Supervised research degrees

2015-2019: Birgitte Aga, Second Supervisor.

2013-2019: PI on the €4.1 million EU Marie Curie Project 'Cognovo', which explored Cognitive Innovation from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Teaching interests

I am the programme leader for the Master of Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 2). The MArch programme is fully validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) to the requirements at Part 2 level. The programs’ ethos is founded upon a belief in architecture that is empowering of people culturally, politically and socially; connected to place climatically, environmentally and performatively; and grounded in processes of procurement, production and poetics. The 1 year MA Architectural Design programme explores architecture, design and urbanism, with an emphasis on the critical investigation of space through practical, theoretical research interests and creative activities. Students gain real world experience and formulate an approach to future practice that is discursive (playful, research-driven and transdisciplinary), leading (enabling, ethical and proactive), and agile (mobile, resilient and transformative). Our students’ achievements are reflected in their winning prizes in the international Creative Conscience Awards three years running. Our students and staff bring a wealth of international learning and professional experience to the learning environment.


Emmett has taught at numerous international/national universities including: Eindhoven University of Technology; Detmolder Schule für Architektur; City University of Macau; NHM New Human Media, Uruguay; Chelsea College of Art; The Royal College of Art; The Bartlett School of Architecture and The AA. His teaching focuses on crossing the boundaries of architectural design with new media architecture, investigating how spaces and design are influenced by advances in a wide range of sciences, cognitive theory and the arts with the aim to create innovative conditions in architecture and immersive environments. The teaching searches for an architecture that is innovative, spatial, immersive, technologically multifaceted, hybridised and interdisciplinary.

PhD supervision and examination 2020-: Leah Dinning, DoS. 2018-: Zoe Latham, Second Supervisor. 2015-2019: Birgitte Aga, Second Supervisor.
2013-2019: PI on the €4.1 million EU Marie Curie Project 'Cognovo', which explored Cognitive Innovation from an interdisciplinary perspective.

International Summer Schools 2012: „Study of Industrial Ruins – Perception of Space in Architecture and Culture" is the title of the EU-funded international Summer School 2012 at the “Detmolder Schule für Architektur und Innenarchitektur” of the Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences. Participating partner institutions are: Plymouth University (England), Istanbul Technical University (Turkey), Lucerne University (Switzerland) and the Universidade Fumec Belo Horizonte (Brazil). 

2013: Sensory Living - dedicated to the study of sensory architecture. The aim is to transfer natural patterns to spatial situations in architecture and culture. Participating partner institutions are: Plymouth University (England), Istanbul Technical University (Turkey), Lucerne University (Switzerland) and the Universidade Fumec Belo Horizonte (Brazil).
2010. Advanced Digital Architectural Design, International Summer School,Germany.




Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 4 - Quality Education
  • SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

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