Welsh School of Architecture staff

Oriel Prizeman

Senior Lecturer

Publications

Responsibilities

• Year 2 Chair
• Programme Co-ordinator: MSc Sustainable Building Conservation
• MArch dissertation supervision
• MPhil Supervision
• PhD supervision

I joined WSA as a Senior Lecturer in May 2012. I am an RIBA accredited conservation architect with a PhD in the environmental history of architecture. I have worked as a sole practitioner for over 16 years specialising in the repair and adaptation of listed houses. I have recently been Director of Studies for Architecture at Gonville and Caius College Cambridge and have also taught in design studios at the University of East London, the University of Cambridge and at the Royal College of Art.

Research Interests

The genesis of global environmental standards in architecture c.1850-1950. The relationship between public space (libraries) and the increase of the democratic franchise. The influence of globalisation on fractured legacies of vernacular construction. Challenges between interests of building conservation and energy conservation. The impacts of philanthropic and public procurement routes upon the notion of "improvement".

My book, Philanthropy and Light; Carnegie Libraries and the advent of transatlantic standards for public space, was published by Ashgate in May 2012. www.ashgate.com/isbn/9781409427988. Since then I have been a regular contributor to the Architectural Review on Library Architecture more broadly. My research used techniques of environmental modelling to evaluate the artificial and daylight illumination of library buildings against broader social and historical considerations.

Current Work

I am a member of the steering group for an Arts Council of Wales Capital project for Rubicon Dance, Cardiff.

I am an active member of the London based Tbilisi Heritage Group. I am working in collaboration with SAVE Europe to contribute to a report on the conservation of the historic centre of Tbilisi. We have met with and gained the support of the Georgian Minister of Culture and Monument Protection for this work in which we will also collaborate with ICOMOS Georgia.

I've been asked to be a potential Co-Investigator on an AHRC Connected Communities Design Call for a project concerning the re-development of Rawmarsh Carnegie Library with colleagues from Sheffield University.