Dr Nikolina Bobic

Position

UG/PG History, Theory and Critical Context Stream Leader

Biography

Nikolina Bobic is an academic and architect. Broadly, Nikolina’s research is enveloped in understanding 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. Her research specifically delves into the spatial history and theoretical concepts to do with politics, power, and space. Within this domain, she has written on balkanization (geopolitical fragmentation), borders, and (post)conflict; how these notions manifest at the complex intersection of architecture, urbanism, military, media, economics, technology, literature, and film.

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 late 2021); and, The Routledge Handbook of Architecture, Urban Space and Politics, Vol II: Ecology, Social Participation and Marginalities (forthcoming mid-late 2022). 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 from the University of Sydney. Prior to joining the University of Plymouth in UK in November 2014, 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 has been co-leading the delivery of Architectural History and Theory at HKU Space Architecture since 2019. 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 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

: Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice

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.

Awards & Funding   

Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) to support PhD studies

The University of Sydney Top-up Grant

The University of New South Wales U/G Entry Scholarship

AHRC Changing the Story ECR: Workshop Equal Opportunities [Remembering Differently: The Youth Opening Up History through Architecture and Film]

Teaching Relief for completion of Balkanization and Global Politics

Teaching and Learning Equality and Diversity Seminar Workshop

Conferences and Field Trips Research

External Financial Support by University of Auckland for co-convening of Political Matters Conference

Qualifications

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK (FHEA), since 2015.            

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

Professional Experience    

Project and Assistant Architect in residential architecture. 

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).

Teaching interests

Teaching 

2014 – current       

Currently, Module Leader in:

History, Theory and Critical Context - Yrs 2 and 3.

History, Theory and Critical Context Module Co-Leader in Hong Kong - Yrs 2 and 3.

History, Theory and Critical Context - Yr 1.

Design Studio - Yrs 1, 2 and 3. 

Communications - Yr 1.

Urban Methodologies - Masters Yr 1. 

Emerging Research in Architecture - Masters Yr 2.

Re-Thinking Architecture - Masters Yr 2. 

PhD Supervision

Sioned Freer - Has UI/UX ruined the internet? Web aesthetic, personal autonomy, gentrification & capitalist enclosure in the modern commons.

PhD RDC Examinations:

Justin Chung - Learning from Counter-Hegemonic Urban Practise: constructing a ‘socio-cultural and spatial framework’ inspired by the ephemeral night markets in Taiwan.

Ruth Potts - Activism as prefigurative politics: implications for cultivating experiences of political agency in everyday life.

2009 – 2014

Academic Staff in Architecture and Sociology. The University of Sydney, Australia.

Courses taught in Architecture:

Design Studio - Yrs 1, 2 and 3.

Architectural History and Theory - Yrs 2 and 3.

Architectural Communications - Yrs 1 and 2.

Architectural Technologies - Yrs 1 and 3.

Courses taught in Sociology:

Sociology of Terror - Senior Level. 

Urban Sociology - Senior Level.

2009 – 2013    

Academic Staff in Architecture. The University of New South Wales, Australia.

Courses taught in Architecture:

Design Studio - Yrs 1 and 2.

Architectural History and Theory - Yr 2.

Architectural Communications - Yr 1.

2013     

Academic Staff in Architecture. The University of Technology, Australia.

Courses taught in Architecture:

Design Studio - Yr 2.

Invited to give a couple of lectures in History and Theory - Yr 2.

Research interests

Primary Research

Politics, power, and space.

Balkanism, balkanization and borders.

Urbicide.

(Post)conflict.

Urban and architectural re-construction.

Humanitarianism and human rights.

Alternatives practices and systems.

Creative Practice + Other Research  

Nikolina’s research also deploys her 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.

2013 Postgraduate Research Visions Exhibition [solo piece as part of group exhibition].

The University of Sydney, Australia.

2010 - Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning. The University of Sydney, Australia.

Green Desires: Rethinking Sustainability.

2007 Biennale in Venice - Australian Abundant Pavilion [made a model that was exhibited for Virginia Kerridge Architect stand - VKA, Sydney].

Bondi House.

Invited Talks / Lectures

2021: School of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, Lancaster University, UK:

Balkanization and Global Politics: Remaking cities and Architecture

2020: Faculty of Architecture and Built Environment, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands.

‘Positions in Practice: Towards Inclusive Built Environments’ – Ruins, Identity and Nation Building

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

Power, Violence and the Urban

2018: School of Law, Criminology and Government (Department of Sociology), University of Plymouth, UK

Gentrification and Marginalities: The Romani in Belgrade

Roles on External Bodies

- Conferences / Symposiums

SAHANZ, Australia/New Zealand.

Temporal Formal as part of the ‘Expanded Architecture’ in Sydney, 14/15.

- Journals

Architecture and Culture.

Architecture Philosophy.

Cultural Dynamics Journal.

Fabrications.

Cubic Journal.

Architecture and Culture.

Journal of Material Culture.

Open House International.

- Books

Architecture on the Borderline: Boundary Politics and Built Space (Routlegde).

Perception in Architecture. Here and Now (ANCB, the Metropolitan Laboratory).

- Grants

National Science Center, Krakow, Poland.

- PhD Applications - Doctoral Fellowship Programme

The Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria.

UNSUCCESSFUL RESEARCH GRANTS

2019:   

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

Application to the Large Grants fund from the 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 – AMOUNT: £86871.

2018:    

Challenges of Balkanisation, Humanitarianism and Human Rights: Urban Resilience through Community Initiatives  and Stability through Co-existence

British Academy - The Humanities and Social Sciences Tackling the UK’s International Challenges – AMOUNT: £106,644.

Urban balkanization within and beyond the Balkans

Urban studies foundation Seminar Series Application Form (2018) Seminar Series – AMOUNT: £19,803.

Additional information

Art

Nikolina’s research also deploys her own art [drawing, painting, photography and mixed media] as an experimental tool and a tacit evocation of her written work to explore several ideas:

- connections between politics, power, violence and resistance;

- memory, identity and history as constructs of ‘visibility’;

- legitimacy of art as evidence.