Dr David O'Brien
BPD, BArch (Hons) (Melb), PhD (Melb)
Senior Lecturer in Architectural Design and Technology
Email: djobrien@unimelb.edu.au
David O'Brien practiced as an architect before joining the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning in 1996. He has since worked in community development projects in rural Thailand and the Northern Territory and has advised in the construction and evaluation of prototype houses alongside builders, engineers, sociologists, government agencies and aid workers.
David’s Thai based research has been supported by the Sir Edward Weary Dunlop Fellowship, an Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Award and funding from the Australia/Thai Institute. In 2005 he spent six-months in northern Thailand completing his PhD thesis Global ideas and local practices: Unearthing the 'glocal' in Thailand’s low-cost housing market. He has worked with local community groups as well as partners including Population and Community Development Association, Thammasat University, Silpakorn University, Kasetsart University and Chiang Mai University. In 2008 he coordinated a subject where masters level students worked with Thai counterparts to build a sala (pavilion) at a health clinic in rural Thailand.
Further details of this project can be found at www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/abpgallery/thai-project/.
David’s work with indigenous communities in Australia’s ‘top-end’ is funded by grants from the University of Melbourne and the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. In 2008/2009 he coordinated subjects where masters level students worked with indigenous communities in design/build/consult projects to improve housing outcomes.
Further details of this project can be found at www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/abpgallery/indighousing-project/.
David’s work in Indonesia’s Aceh province is funded by the New York architectural firm Rafael Vinoly Architects. The project investigates resident’s modifications to the houses built by reconstruction agencies working in the aftermath of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.
Further details of this project can be found at www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/abpgallery/aceh-project/.
Current Teaching Responsibilities
Architectural Design (undergraduate and postgraduate)
Sustainable Tropical Housing (postgraduate)
Construction Technology (undergraduate)
Masters and PhD students
Research Interests
Community development, tropical architecture, low-cost housing ideologies, low-cost housing technologies, self-help housing, informal settlements, sustainable construction materials and systems.
Recent Publications
Chapters in Books
O'Brien D. 2003. Hybrid space: New housing prototypes in north-eastern Thailand. In J Haswell & D MacCallum (eds), Liveable communities. Perth, Australia: Black Swan Press, pp. 107-116.
O'Brien D. 2003. Modernity's Legacies: from Corb to CBIRD. In RJ King , O Panin & C Parin (eds), Modernity, tradition, culture, water, Bangkok: Kasetsart U.P., pp. 269-274.
Journal Articles
Morton J & O'Brien D. 2005. Selling Your Design: Oral Communication Pedagogy in Design Education. Communication Education. 54(1):6 - 19.
O'Brien D. 2004. Eurocentrism: Do Thai and Australian Housing Developers Have a Case to Answer?. Na Jua – Journal of the Faculty of Architecture, Silpakorn University. 20:130-138.
O’Brien D. 2002. Moderated Influence: Globalisation and Thai Housing. Na Jua – Journal of the Faculty of Architecture, Silpakorn University. 18:59-75.
Conference Proceedings
O’Brien D, & Dovey K. 2006. Reality/Television: Hype, Tradition and Everyday Life in Rural Thailand. In N. Al Sayyad (ed), Hypertraditions. International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments (IASTE). University of California, Berkeley.
O'Brien D. 2006. Lightweight tropical: Reconnecting construction technologies with thermal comfort. In S. Shannon, V. Soebarto & T. Williamson (ed), Challenges for Architectural Science in Changing Climates, ANZAScA 40th Annual Conference of the Architectural Science Association, The University of Adelaide.
O'Brien D. 2005. Can New Construction Technologies Drive a Sustainable Housing Industry in Rural Thailand?. In F Shafii & MZ Othman (eds), Conference on Sustainable Building South East Asia. 484-492. Johor, Malaysia: Construction Technology and Management Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
O'Brien D, Sintusingha S & Dinh QP. 2004. Regionalism and the Global Suburb in Southeast Asia. In A Kasemsook (ed), Current: Reflection of Society. Silpakorn Architectural Discourse 2003: 3rd Mini Symposium. 23.1-23.15. Bangkok, Thailand: Faculty of Architecture, Silpakorn University.
O'Brien D. 2004. Modeling Asian Modernity: New Technologies and their Impact on Rural Spatial Structures. In J Wu , Z Wu & S Muramatsu (eds), Modern Asian Architecture Network 4th International Conference Proceedings: Safeguarding and Revitalizing Local Heritage. 346-351. Shanghai, China: College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University.
O'Brien D. 2003. Regional housing development: pitfalls and possibilities. In T Trong Hanh, T Hong Doan, D Hau & U Dinh Chat (eds), Creating better cities in the 21st century. 550-556. Hanoi, Viet Nam: Hanoi Architectural University.
O'Brien D. 2003. Timber, earth or concrete? Towards a new housing industry in South-East Asia. In G Gilbert , C Langston & JRW Robinson (eds), Proceedings of the Postgraduate Construction Research Conference. 1-15. Melbourne, Australia: RMIT University.
O'Brien D. 2001. Mediating Cross-Cultural Exchange: Curriculum Design for Teaching Programs in South East Asia. In S Pullen , V Mehrtens & G Zillante (eds), Proceedings of the Australasian University Building Educators Association 26th Annual Conference. Constructing and Managing the Built Environment: Education and Research for the Future. 27-31. Perth, Australia: Australasian University Building Educators Association (AUBEA).
Design Awards
2005. Best Use of Timber Award at the Architeam Awards for the Littlewood House, Bunbury O’Brien Architects.
2004. Exhibit award from the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria for the Trail of the Elephants at the Royal Melbourne Zoo, Green and Dale Associates and David O’Brien.
2003. National Award for Excellence in Heritage Interpretation from the Interpretation Australia Association for the Trail of the Elephants at the Royal Melbourne Zoo, Green and Dale Associates and David O’Brien.
2000. S Whitford, D Radovic, Q Guo, D O’Brien, et al. International Urban Design Competition for Shenyang University Campus and Student Housing, (Third Prize).
Research Grants
2009. Rafael Vinoly Architects Research Grant ‘Transformation of Post-Disaster Housing: The Case of Aceh, Indonesia’ ($60000)
2008. Strategic Research Initiative Fund, University of Melbourne, ‘Indigenous Housing: The Sustainable Alternative’ ($25000)
2007. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia/Thailand Institute Research Grant, ‘Sustainable and adaptable housing prototypes for Thailand’s rural communities’ ($16000)
2005. Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Award, Awarded by the Australian Government’s Department of Education, Science and Training ($25000)
1999. Sir Edward Weary Dunlop Asia Fellowship, Awarded by Asialink ($15000)
1999. Multimedia Pilot Grant ‘Developing Computer Based Learning Techniques To Enhance Curriculum Delivery: Computer-based learning in Communications’, Teaching and Learning (Multimedia and Educational Technologies) Committee ($9500)
Jury Member
2005. Association of Siamese Architects (Lanna Chapter) Jury Member, Annual Architecture Awards (Domestic and Commercial).