Urs Bette

Dr Urs Bette

Program Director MArch

School of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Urs Bette is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Adelaide and Director of Urs Bette : Design. He holds a Masters degree in Architecture from the University of Applied Arts, Vienna, and a PhD from RMIT University Melbourne. His design works have been shown at the Architectural Biennale Venice, the AEDES Architecture Gallery Berlin and the FRAC Centre Orléans. His research investigates the role of ‘the unreasonable’ in the design process, revealing strategies that facilitate the poetics of architecture within a professional discourse dominated by expectations of quantifiable performance. The context of this research is set by the relationship between existing urban fabrics and a secondary layer of architectural form. The work contributes to the discourse on sustainable models of urban growth, by developing strategies for urban densification that tap into local histories and voices, including those of the seemingly inanimate - the architecture itself and the ground it sits up-on - to inform the site-related production of architectural character and space. Urs leads practice-based research at the School of Architecture and Built Environment.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2016 - 2013 Lecturer - Fixed term contract University of Adelaide
    2013 - ongoing Lecturer - Continuing Position University of Adelaide
    2006 - 2007 Design Architect Sam / Ott Reinisch
    2004 - 2004 Design Architect next ENTERprise Architects
    2004 - 2004 Design Architect K.Stattman, Office for Architecture & Research
    2004 - ongoing Director Urs Bette : Design
    2001 - 2003 Design Architect Eichinger oder Knechtl
    2000 - 2001 Design Architect Designbureau Chavanne
    2000 - 2000 Design Architect next ENTERprise Architects
    1997 - 1998 Design Architect Atelier Lange Monteagudo
    1992 - 1994 Designer Coop Himmelb(l)au
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2016 Teaching Award Executive Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching Faculty of Professions - The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2016 Achievement OLT innovation and development grant Office for Learning and Teaching Australia $497.000 - jointly awarded to 14 Universities
    2015 Research Award Aiming for the Stars University of Adelaide - Faculty of Professions Austria $4.000
    2015 Research Award Cluster Evolution Support University of Adelaide - Faculty of Professions Australia $7,500
    2015 Award Austrian Steel Construction Award 2015 Austrian Steel Construction Association Austria -
    2013 Scholarship RMIT University HDR Scholarship RMIT University Australia $16.800
    2010 Award Artist in Residence Studio, 1. Prize, Architectural Design Competition Australian Experimental Art Foundation, Adelaide Australia -
    2009 Award Thalia NEU, 1. Prize, Architectural Design Competition - Austria -
    2000 Recognition Experimental Tendencies in Architecture Austrian Federal Chancellery Australia -
    2000 Scholarship Tische-Scholarship The Austrian Federal Chancelor Austria -
  • Language Competencies

    Language Competency
    English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    German Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    2011 - 2015 RMIT University Australia PhD
    1993 - 2000 University of Applied Arts Austria MArch
    1987 - 1992 University of Applied Sciences Germany DDes
  • Certifications

    Date Title Institution name Country
    2003 Architect Chamber of Architects Germany
  • Research Interests

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2019 Co-Supervisor An Other Regionalism: A Design Investigation into an Adelaide Architecture Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time APrf Francesco Bonato
    2017 Co-Supervisor Architectural Design: Research by Practice Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Anthony Quentin Donald Coupe
    2017 Co-Supervisor Design by Research that Investigates the Capacity of Architecture to Facilitate New Types of Social Situations Through Denaturalisation of 'Normal' Behaviour Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Richard Joseph Le Messurier
    2017 Co-Supervisor Architectural Design: Research by Practice Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Anthony Quentin Donald Coupe
    2015 Co-Supervisor Unexpected Expectations: Material Collision for a Purpose, Ensemble of Imperfections through Adoptive Process Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Mirai Morita
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2017 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Unlocking Physical Spaces Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Richard Joseph Le Messurier
    2017 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Warning, patrons ahead! A development assessment framework for public space for landscape architects drawing on lessons from the Festival City of Adelaide, Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss Janelle Arbon
  • Position: Program Director MArch
  • Phone: 83134590
  • Email: urs.bette@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83134377
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Horace Lamb, floor 4
  • Org Unit: Architecture and Landscape Architecture

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