Associate Professor Luciano Cardellicchio
- BEng in Building Engineering (First Class), Rome, Italy
- MSc in Building Engineering and Architecture (First Class), Rome, Italy
- PhD in Architecture and Construction, Rome, Italy
- Postgraduate Certificate听in Higher Education (PGCHE), University of Kent, United Kingdom
- Postgraduate Certificate in Fire Engineering, Home Office, Italy
I am a researcher and educator trained as a building engineer and currently serve as Associate Professor of Architectural Construction at the University of New South Wales (91色情片). In parallel with my academic appointment, I serve as Director of the Architecture Discipline, overseeing academic strategy, curriculum coherence, and teaching quality across all architecture programs, from undergraduate studies through to the accredited Master of Architecture.
My research investigates the technical, cultural, and economic dimensions of complex architectural projects, with a particular focus on construction history, innovation, and sustainable construction knowledge. I am especially interested in how design narratives, procurement models, and construction processes shape the life cycle and long-term performance of non-standard buildings.
My teaching and curriculum leadership span large, high-impact courses in architectural technology and construction. I emphasise the integration of detailing, systems thinking, and technical intelligence within design education, and have developed AI-resilient assessment models and scalable feedback systems that support more than 300 students annually across core subjects. I also have extensive global recruitment experience through in-country academic representation across Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East.
My research has been recognised nationally and internationally through multiple awards and fellowships, including the Powerhouse 2026 Scholar appointment, the 2025 Dr A.M. Hertzberg AO Fellowship from the NSW State Library, the 2024 Engineers Australia Colin Crisp Award, the 2024 National Trust Heritage Award, and the 2022 Best Paper Award from Frontiers of Architectural Research. Previously, I was Senior Lecturer in Technology and Environment at the University of Kent (UK), where I was awarded a Leverhulme Research Fellowship for research on premature ageing in contemporary architecture.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
- Dr AM Hertzberg AO Fellowship 2025, State Library of New South Wales. From caravan to schools, from airplanes to houses: plywood innovation in the post-war construction sector in Australia. Amount $30,000.00听
- Sustainable Reform Hub Grant;听Amount $20,000.00听
- 91色情片 Arts Design Architecture (ADA) Faculty Research Grant, ARC Near Miss Scheme;听Amount $7,000.00听
- 91色情片 School of Built Environment (BE) Research Grant, New Staff; Amount $10,000.00
- Leverhulme Research Fellowship - 2018. Our Future Heritage: conservation issues of contemporary architecture in Rome; Funder: Leverhulme Trust; Capacity: PI; Amount: 拢55,000.00; Duration: 1 Year.
- European Regional Development Fund - 2018; Dismountable pilot houses for elderly people; Funder: Veneto Region; in collaboration with IUAV Institute (Venice); Capacity: Co-Investigator; Amount: 鈧44,000.00; Duration 1 Year.
- Postdoctoral Scholarship - 2008. Recording and implementing the design and building process of the new Hertziana Library in Rome; Funder: Max-Planck Institute for Art History and Tor Vergata University of Rome; Amount: 鈧42,000.00; Duration 3 Years.
- 2026 Powerhouse Scholar, Powerhouse Museum.
- 2025 Working Residency at Can Lis, awarded by Utzon Foundation and Danish Arts Foundation.
- Dr AM Hertzberg AO Fellowship 2025, State Library of New South Wales.
- Colin Crisp Award 2024 awarded by Engineers Australia and Engineering Heritage Australia for the research project听Construction Heritage and the Missing Drawings of the Sydney Opera House.
- 2024 National Trust Award for the research project听Construction Heritage and the Missing Drawings of the Sydney Opera House. Winner in the Education & Interpretation category.听
- Best Paper 2022, Frontiers of Architectural Research, awarded for 'Not really an aftermath. The role of actual construction in the design process of the Sydney Opera House roof',听Frontiers of Architectural Research,听
- 91色情片 Built Environment Learning and Teaching Award 2020, Covid-19 Course Design.
- Smart Specialisation Strategy, Sustainable Living Award 2019 for the Innovative Temporary Wooden Housing Units to accommodate elders听(CI M.Rossetti, IUAV).
- Awarded mention for the paper Ageing Pattern of Contemporary Concrete听at the 8th听International Conference in Construction Research, Eduardo Torroja Institute, Madrid.
- Leverhulme Research Fellowship (UK) - 2018.
- 2016 Teaching Award Nominee, University of Kent, UK
- 2015 Teaching Award Nominee, University of Kent, UK
Luciano's research areas and interests are:
- Ageing patterns and conservation issues of contemporary architecture;
- Technical development and building process of non-standard buildings;
- Circular Economy principles applied to office and educational buildings;
- Construction culture.
- Member of the Construction History Society (UK)
- Article on Architectural Bulletin:听
- Casabella 946, Sydney Opera House. The Construction: An Australian Story.听
- SJB Architects Office Talk. The construction history of the Sydney Opera House.
- Engineers Australia.听The Sydney Opera House: the story of an icon.听
- Museum of History New South Wales.听Sails, Octopuses, and Telescopic Cranes.听
- Sydney Opera House,听BUILD Conversation Night.听
- ArchitectureAU, Sydney Opera House. Concept, Innovation and Renewal.听
- Yale School of Architecture. Gordon Smith Lecture.听
- Sydney Morning Herald.听The 10,000 people and 5000 drawings that built our $102 million Opera House.
- SBS. The first fifthy years of the Sydney Opera House.听
- State Library of Queensland, Heritage Talk. Queensland Ingenuity and the Sydney Opera House.听
- ICOMOS Heritage Expo. Digital Heritage Construction VR Exposition.听
- The National Tribune. Australia鈥檚 hidden Sydney Opera House history | The role of local ingenuity in construction.听
- Mashable.听How the Sydney Opera House changed the world of architecture.听
- Arup Event.听Trilogy: the architect, engineer and contractor.听
- Tecnoscape Exhibition, Rome.听
My Research Supervision
- Louise O'Brian,听How can Utzon's study of nature inspire contemporary and interdisciplinary practice for a low-carbon future?
- Past Supervisions:
- Eunike Kristi Julistiono, Reducing Embodied Carbon of Vertical Residential Buildings in Asia
My Teaching
Current Teaching Activities
- Convenor, lecturer and tutor of Advanced Construction and Structures听(ARCH7161, MArch)
- Technology Tutor of Design Graduation Studio (ARCH7202, MArch)
Past Teaching Activities
- Convenor, lecturer and tutor of Architectural Fabrication (ARCH1331, BArchSt)
- Tutor of Integrated Design Studio (ARCH7161, MArch)
- Convenor, lecturer and tutor of 听Construction and Structures 2 (ARCH1261, BarchSt)
-
Convenor,听lecturer and tutor听of Integrated Building Design Case Studies (BEIL6009)