About
Emma Curtin is a registered architect and senior lecturer. She leads Studio 2 in BA2. She will build on the work of her established BA3 design studio Communities and Contested Spaces which encouraged a design process focused on people’s everyday experiences of architecture and how we may better engage with the communities and places we encounter, especially in the context of current unfolding political, economic and environmental crises. She has experience teaching architectural design from BA1 through to Thesis level. She has also run lecture modules relating to professional practice and critiques and communication for Masters students.
Building on her earlier experience as Education Lead for the School of Architecture Emma is currently leading a project focussed on closing Awarding Gaps across the faculty for Humanities and Social Sciences.
Emma is also researching the lives of women that studied at Liverpool School of Architecture in the 1920s and 30s.
Earlier in her career, working at architectural practices in Manchester, Sheffield and London she built up a wide range of experience across sectors including education, social housing, transport and heritage re-use. With Sheppard Robson she was involved in the redevelopment of the Former Royal Eye Hospital in Manchester and a number of award winning schools. Later at 3D Reid she worked on 1 Angel Square during the construction phase and most recently she was project architect for a number of new social housing schemes in Greater Manchester with Triangle Architects.
She has a background in architectural practice and community-led campaigns to influence the shape of the built environment. Notably she was the chair of The Friends of London Road Fire Station. This striking listed building in central Manchester has a rich social history but was left undeveloped and left to decay by its owners since 1986. Following two years of active campaigning the building was eventually sold and is currently under development. Emma was also involved in the high profile campaign Friends of Library Walk. Identified by the 20th Century Society as a unique piece of urban design, this footpath was closed and built on by Manchester City Council. Opposition to this development led to a Public Inquiry where Emma acted as an Interested Party; opposing the loss of the Right of Way through this space.
Other projects have included a year-long illustration project drawing birds and a new project exploring visual perception of the landscape along the M62 as experienced by coach.