Dr Nikolina Bobic

Position

UG/PG History, Theory and Critical Context Stream Leader

Biography

Nikolina Bobic in an architect, and an international academic who has worked in Australia, NZ, HK, and the UK. Broadly, Nikolina’s research addresses the nexus between power, politics, and space. Within this domain, she investigates the ways in which architecture and urban space are oppressed by, struggle against, operate within, or are constructed by politics. Likewise, the ways through which architecture and urban space can be transformed, as well as the kinds of transformations they can enact and construct alternative realities. At a more specific level, she has written on balkanization (geopolitical fragmentation), borders, and (post)conflict; how these notions manifest at the complex intersection of architecture, urbanism, media, economics, technology, literature, and film. Her research also deploys own art (drawing, painting, photography, and mixed media) as an experimental tool to explore several ideas: connections between control, violence, and resistance; memory, identity, and history as constructs of ‘visibility’; and, legitimacy of art as evidence.

At present, Nikolina is working on the interdisciplinary and co-edited The Routledge Handbook of Architecture, Urban Space and Politics, Vol I: Violence, Spectacle and Data (forthcoming early-mid 2021); and, The Routledge Handbook of Architecture, Urban Space and Politics, Vol II: Ecology, Social Participation and Marginalities (forthcoming late 2022-early 2023). She is the co-editor of the recently published peer-reviewed Interstices: A Journal of Architecture and Related Arts thematic issue 20 'Political Matters' (December 2020). Her authored Balkanization and Global Politics: Remaking Cities and Architecture was published in 2019 by Routledge. In the same year, she co-convened the international conference Political Matters: Spatial Thinking of the Alternative in Auckland, NZ.

Nikolina holds a PhD in Architecture from The University of Sydney, Australia. Prior to joining the University of Plymouth, Nikolina taught in Architecture and Sociology at the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales, and the University of Technology in Australia. She also co-led the delivery of Architectural History and Theory at HKU Space Architecture from 2019-21. In July, 2019 she was invited to support teaching in Architecture at the University of Auckland, NZ. Nikolina has been invited to give talks nationally and internationally. She has supervised over fifty UG dissertations nationally and internationally, fifteen PGT dissertations as well as engaged in PhD supervision. Her industry experience is in residential architecture. The predominant concentration while working as an architect in Australia was on exploring and exploiting the interface between internal and external spaces, the means by which were addressed through materiality and a close consideration of the context.

Other academic roles

: Member of/Reviewer for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Ethics Sub-committee: 2017 - current.

: Subject (Architecture) Champion of the Equality, Diversity + Inclusivity Committee: 2019 - current.

: Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Academic Offence Panel Member: 2020 - current.

Panel member interviewing prospective new staff; internal reviewer for internal / external research grants; preparation for RIBA accreditation; preparation, delivery and presentation for annual External Examiner visits; PhD supervision; PhD RDC examination; contribution to the organization of Discourses Public Lecture Series.

Education + Qualifications

: Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice / Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK (FHEA)

The University of Plymouth, UK, 2015.   

: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy (Architecture)

The University of Sydney, Australia, 2014

: Bachelor of Architecture – Honours Class 1 (Part 2 equivalent)

Bachelor of Arts – Major in Sociology

The University of New South Wales, Australia, 2006.           

: Registered Architect, New South Wales, Australia - since 2008 (NSWARB 8077).

: Politics, power, and space.

: Balkanism, balkanization and borders.

: Urbicide.

: (Post)conflict.

: Urban and architectural re-construction.

: Humanitarianism and human rights.

: Alternatives practices and systems.

Awards & Funding   

Internal

: Conferences and Field Trip Research

School of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Plymouth, 2015-current.

: Political Matters International Conference Co-convenor

School of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Plymouth, 2019.

: Women in Education + Employment: Westminster Forum Project [London]

ADA Teaching and Learning Research Grant

School of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Plymouth, 2018.

: Teaching Relief for completion of Balkanization and Global Politics

School of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Plymouth, 2017.

: Conferences and Field Trip Research

Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning. The University of Sydney, Australia, 2009-2013.

: The University of Sydney Top-up Grant

Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning. The University of Sydney, Australia, 2009-2013.

: Green Desires: Rethinking Sustainability Research Project

Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning. The University of Sydney, led by Dr Glen Hill, 2010.

: The University of New South Wales U/G Entry Scholarship

Faculty of the Built Environment, The University of New South Wales, 1999.

External

: Australian Postgraduate Award (APA)

Support for PhD studies at the University of Sydney, 2009-2013.

: Remembering Differently: The Youth Opening Up History through Architecture and Film

AHRC Changing the Story ECR Project Development Workshop Equal Opportunities, 2019 (led by Professor Paul Cooke at the University of Leeds).

: Political Matters International Conference Co-convenor

School of Architecture and Planning, The University of Auckland, NZ, 2019.

Unsuccessful Research Grants

: DE:COLONISE (Difference and Equity: Co-creative Learning Opportunities, Networks for Inclusion, Shared Education)

Arts & Humanities Research Council international project “Changing The Story: Building Inclusive Civil Societies With, and For, Young People”, led by Professor Paul Cooke at the University of Leeds, 2019.

: Challenges of Balkanization, Humanitarianism and Human Rights: Urban Resilience through Community Initiatives

British Academy, The Humanities and Social Sciences Tackling the UK’s International Challenges, 2018.

: Urban balkanization within and beyond the Balkans

Urban Studies Foundation Seminar Series, 2018.

Professional Experience    

: Pioneer Lab, Wollongong: Architectural Design, Internal Fitouts: 2009

: Virginia Kerridge Architect (VKA), Sydney: 2004-2008

Project Architect:      

New 3 storey House in Bondi (2004 – 08); Alteration/Addition to a Heritage Terrace in Elizabeth Bay (2006 – 08); Alteration/Addition to a House in Bronte Beach (06 – 08).

Assistant Architect:      

Alteration/ Addition to a House in Bronte (2005 – 08); New House in Kingscliff (2006 – 08); New Cottage and Farmhouse in Hunter Valley (2007 – 08); Alteration / Addition to a House in Coogee (2006 – 07); New House in Bronte (2005 – 06); Alteration /Addition to Kerridge House + Apartment (2004).

Membership

: European Architectural History Network (EAHN).

: Architectural Humanities Research Association (AHRA).

: Society of Architectural Historians Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ).

: New South Wales Architects Registration Board (NSWARB).

: Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers (RGS-IBG).

Teaching interests

Teaching 

2014 – current       

In 21.22 Module Leader / teaching n:

History, Theory and Critical Context - Yrs 1 and 3.

Design - Yrs 2 and 3.