Distinguished Visiting Professor Kevin O’Brien at the CPID

A descendent of the Kaurareg and Meriam, Kevin O'Brien is a Brisbane-based architect. In 2018 he joined BVN as a Principal, becoming part of one of Australia’s leading architectural practices. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney and has held various board positions for community and arts organizations over the past 15 years.

Kevin’s expertise in cultural, educational, health and commercial projects has generated a reputation for achieving meaningful architecture and authentic outcomes for the communities and clients they serve. Numerous projects have been recognized through the Australian Institute of Architects’ awards in regional, state, and national levels. 

Kevin’s current focus is on the development and demonstration of a Designing with Country methodology that seeks to locate people in settings engaging with Country.

From October 3 through 7, 2022, Kevin will be hosted by the PSU School of Architecture and Indigenous Studies program to run a one-week design studio workshop asking students of architecture to rethink their assumptions about architecture’s relationship to the land, how they imagine the city, and how we learn through doing. Five architecture studios will be participating in the workshop, including undergraduate and graduate students.

Alongside this workshop, Kevin will join a number of welcomes, talks, and other events on campus hosted by the Indigenous Studies program. After a two year break in programming as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are excited to announce that Kevin will be kicking off the return of the CPID Talks with an event in the CPID office on Wednesday (October 5) from 12-1pm. He will also be giving a public talk at the School of Architecture on Friday, October 7 at 4:00 p.m. For this Fridays@4 lecture, where Kevin will discuss his practice and share the results of the week-long workshop at PSU. 

Location

Portland, OR