معرفی
Amy Brookes is an Associate Professor at the University of Reading, serving as School Director of Diversity and Inclusion. She co-leads the BSc Architecture stage 1 design studio and teaches visualization and communication within the architecture program. With a background as a RIBA Chartered Architect and former associate director at BPR Architects, Brookes brings substantial professional experience to her academic role, having delivered £36m worth of educational projects including a £18m Science and Technology building for Middlesex University.
Education:
- PhD in Architecture by Published Works, University of Westminster, 2023
- PGDip in Professional Practice in Architecture (RIBA/ARB part 3), University of Westminster
- PGDip Architecture (RIBA/ARB part 2), University of Westminster
- BSc Architectural Studies (RIBA/ARB part 1), Cardiff University
Brookes' research centers on the intersection of architecture and science fiction, exploring how narrative and utopian thinking can inform architectural practice. Her work examines narrative communication in architectural design, the utopian imaginary in architecture, and widening participation in architectural education. She investigates how science fiction literature and film represent architectural concepts, particularly focusing on megastructures, collective spaces, and feminist approaches to urban design. Her research demonstrates architecture as a social art that should embody and support progressive social development through consultation, participation, and narrative communication.
Analysis of Brookes' recent publications reveals a consistent focus on the relationship between science fiction and architectural thinking, with particular emphasis on feminist and queer perspectives. Her work increasingly examines threshold conditions, edge-lands, and the politics of collective space, demonstrating how speculative fiction can provide critical frameworks for reimagining urban environments. The interdisciplinary nature of her research connects architecture with literary studies, gender studies, and urban theory, creating innovative approaches to both design practice and architectural education.
Scientific Awards and Recognition:
- Nominated for Teaching Excellence Award at Newcastle University
As School Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Brookes leads initiatives to broaden participation in architecture education. She co-founded Involve Architecture Collective, which has partnered with major institutions including Tate Britain, RIBA, Open City, the V&A Museum, and the Horniman Museum to create small-scale installations and workshops that engage diverse audiences with architectural thinking. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes social engagement in design and explores narrative's role in architecture, directly informed by her research into science fiction.
Brookes is an active member of several scholarly communities including the Imaginaries of the Future Network, London Science Fiction Research Community, the British Science Fiction Association, and the Utopian Studies Society. Through Involve Architecture Collective, she maintains a practice-based research approach that bridges academic inquiry with public engagement, creating opportunities for community participation in architectural discourse and design processes.
