Emma Rowden

Dr. Emma Rowden is a Senior Lecturer in Architectural History and Theory at Oxford Brookes University’s School of Architecture, with additional roles as Postgraduate Research Tutor (PGRT) and co-lead of the Doctoral Training Program’s Environment and Society stream. She holds degrees from UNSW, the University of Melbourne, and Oxford Brookes, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Her research focuses on the intersection of architecture and justice, particularly the design of courthouses and video-mediated legal processes. Key works include *The Democratic Courthouse* (2019, Routledge) and contributions to the *Supporting Online Justice Project* (2022), which produced accessibility films for online hearings. She has led or co-investigated major grants from the ESRC, Leverhulme Trust, and Australian Research Council.

Teaching emphasizes research methods across undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including design studios and ethics training. She advises PhD students on topics like law and architecture, justice environments, and participatory design.

• Education:
  • PhD in Architecture (University of Melbourne)
  • BArch (Hons 1) and BA (UNSW)
  • PCTHE and FHEA certifications (Oxford Brookes)
• Awards:
  • 2022 University of Oxford Innovation Award
  • 2023 SLSA Impact Prize nomination
  • 2021 SLSA Book Prize nomination
• Key Projects:
  • ESRC-funded Virtual Justice (2020)
  • Leverhulme-funded Design and Due Process (2014)
  • ARC-funded Just Spaces (2013)

Her work bridges academia and practice, influencing court design guidelines (e.g., Gateways to Justice) and collaborating with judiciary, policymakers, and NGOs like the Howard League for Penal Reform.