Dr Katharine Bartsch
Senior Lecturer
School of Architecture and Built Environment
Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences
My research examines how human mobility shapes the built environment, specifically Islamic architecture. The emergence and diffusion of Islam can be traced along routes of migration, pilgrimage, trade, or travel in pursuit of knowledge. Given this context of mobility and the cultural encounters that it engenders, the goal of my research is to interpret the complexity and diversity of Muslim communities that is materialised in the built environment, with increasing emphasis on the Australian context. Thus, my research is interdisciplinary, reaching beyond conventional discourses of architecture, to obtain rich insights from cultural geography, world systems theories, postcolonial theory, and the history of travel. This approach enables a critical understanding of the production and transformation of the predominantly hybrid architecture of Muslim communities.
My PhD examined the Aga Khan Award for Architecture which required critical scrutiny of hundreds of projects that have been nominated or awarded. Of these, two key project themes continue to resonate in my research: Contemporary projects informed by the history of architecture, landscape architecture and urban design in the Islamic world; and, Humanitarian projects focusing on underprivileged communities. These two themes continue to influence my research and the HDR topics that I supervise:
1. Human mobility (migration, displacement, pilgrimage, diaspora) and the ways that this shapes architecture, landscapes and settlements, historically and today.
2. A humanitarian focus on migration (rural>urban, displacement, resettlement [forced and voluntary]) and settlement in the context of large scale infrastructure projects or urbanisation.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2018 Associate Head, School of Architecture and Built Environment University of Adelaide 2014 Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide 2005 - 2013 Lecturer University of Adelaide 1997 - 1997 Graduate Architect Philips and Pilkington Architects 1995 - 1998 Graduate Architect Cielens and Partners 1994 - 1995 Architect Intern Abhikram 1994 - 1994 Architect, Intern Lapsys and Keam Architects -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2014 Research Award ARC Linkage Grant Australian Research Council Australia — 2013 Fellowship Faculty Women’s Fellowship University of Adelaide Australia $15,000 2007 Teaching Award Executive Dean of the Professions’ Prize for Excellence in UG Teaching University of Adelaide Australia $2000 2006 Award Innovation Funding Bid University of Adelaide Australia — 2005 Research Award Small Faculty Research Grant University of Adelaide Australia $6500 2003 Research Award Brenda Nettle Grant: Australian Federation of University Women Australian Federation of University Women Australia $1000 2003 Research Award Samuel H. Kress Foundation Society of Architectural Historians United States $1000 2002 Research Award Clive E. Boyce Fellowship University of Adelaide Australia $2500 2001 Research Award Adelaide University Research Abroad Scholarship University of Adelaide — — 1999 Award The Kenneth and Hazel Milne Travelling Scholarship University of Adelaide Australia $8000 1998 Research Award Australian Postgraduate Award University of Adelaide Australia — -
Language Competencies
Language Competency English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review Italian Can read, understand spoken and peer review -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title — University of Adelaide Australia PhD — University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Architecture (Hons I) — University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Architectural Studies -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Books
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Book Chapters
Year Citation 2019 Bartsch, K. A., & Scriver, P. (2019). The House of Stars: Astronomy and the architecture of new science in early modern Lucknow (1831-49). In S. Akkach (Ed.), 'Ilm: Science, Religion and Art in Islam (pp. 59-77). Adelaide, South Australia: University of Adelaide Press.
2016 Kamleh, E., & Bartsch, K. (2016). Karbala in Lucknow: An itinerary of architectural mobility. In C. Gruber (Ed.), Islamic Architecture on the Move (pp. 26-59). Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. 2009 Bartsch, K. (2009). Roots or routes? Exploring a new paradigm for architectural historiography through the work of Geoffrey Bawa. In J. Traganou, & M. Mitrasinovic (Eds.), Travel, Space, Architecture (pp. 167-188). Surrey, England: Ashgate Publishing Limited.
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Conference Papers
Australian Research Council Linkage Grant. The Architecture of Australia's Muslim Pioneers, 2014-2017.
Chief Investigators Dr Peter Scriver and Dr Katharine Bartsch with Research Associate Dr Mizanur Rashid, University of Adelaide
With Partner Investigator Dr Philip Jones, South Australian Museum, and Partner Investigator Dr Abdul Razak Sapian, International Islamic University of Malaysia.
I teach courses in Design and the Environment, History and Theory of Architecture and Landscapes, and Design Studio.
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2020 Principal Supervisor The houses of the architectural practice of F. W. Dancker & Son (1880-1944): An international perspective and the search for a South Australian style. Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Kenan Reece Henderson 2020 Principal Supervisor Aiming to establish an innovative and sympathetic way to undertake issues of abandonment in neglected heritage buildings. The objective is to overcome the barriers which have instigated these buildings to become dormant un-utilised and undeveloped. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Madeline Louise Nolan 2019 Principal Supervisor An Other Regionalism: A Design Investigation into an Adelaide Architecture Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time APrf Francesco Bonato 2019 Principal Supervisor Towards A Socially Sustainable Educational Space Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Farjana Rahaman 2018 Principal Supervisor Managing Flood Risks: Exploring Dynamics Between Green and Grey Infrastructure Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Alhassan Ibrahim 2018 Principal Supervisor Managing Flood Risks: Exploring Dynamics Between Green and Grey Infrastructure Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Alhassan Ibrahim 2017 Principal Supervisor Building Modern Sri Lanka: New Town and Mahaweli Architectural Unit Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Nirodha Kumari Meegahakumbura Dissanayake 2017 Co-Supervisor Relearning the Limits of Growth: An Inter-disciplinary Coherence of Urban Planning and Water Cycles in Dhaka City Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Mehbuba Tune Uzra 2017 Principal Supervisor Building Modern Sri Lanka: New Town and Mahaweli Architectural Unit Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Nirodha Kumari Meegahakumbura Dissanayake 2017 Co-Supervisor Relearning the Limits of Growth: An Inter-disciplinary Coherence of Urban Planning and Water Cycles in Dhaka City Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Mehbuba Tune Uzra -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2013 - 2016 Principal Supervisor Evaluating New Towns in the Context of Mega Projects: A Case Study of the Mahaweli Architectural Unit, Sri Lanka (1983-1989) Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mrs Nirodha Kumari Meegahakumbura Dissanayake 2013 - 2016 Co-Supervisor The Rise of Modern Urbanity (tamaddun) in the Arab World Education, Journalism, and Enlightenment Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mrs Kinda Alsamara 2013 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Botanic and Poetic Landscapes: A Reading of Two Persian Texts on Early Safavid Gardens Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Zahra Ranjbari 2012 - 2012 Co-Supervisor Gardens of Damascus: Landscape and the Culture of Recreation in the Early Modern Period Master of Landscape Architecture Master Full Time Miss Georgina Hafteh 2012 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Multi-step Transition in Housing Provision and Progressive Development of Urban Settlements: Case of Davao City, Philippines Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Isidoro III Malaque 2010 - 2013 Principal Supervisor The Rationale of Architectural Discourses in Post-Independence Egypt: A Contrapuntal Reading of `Alam Al-Bena'a (1980-2000) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Marwa Moustafa El-Ashmouni 2008 - 2010 Co-Supervisor Sustainable Water Management in Semi-Arid India: Learning from the Gond and Kohli Indigenous Communities Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Namrata Vishwasrao 2008 - 2012 Co-Supervisor Architectural Exchange in the Eighteenth Century A Study of Three Gateway Cities: Istanbul, Aleppo and Lucknow Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Elise Kamleh 2008 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Conservation of Heritage Curtilages in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Nadiyanti Mat Nayan
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Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2015 - ongoing Member Uniting Communities Redevelopment Steering Committee Uniting Communities Australia -
Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2013 - ongoing Member Australian Institute of Architects Australia -
Editorial Boards
Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country 2021 - ongoing Member International Journal of Islamic Architecture Intellect Books United Kingdom
Connect With Me
External Profiles
