Kurt Espersen-Peters

Kurt Espersen-Peters is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Interior Design at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Architecture. He also serves as Co-Director of Academic Initiatives for the Canadian Centre for Mindful Habitats (CCMH), focusing on contemplative approaches to design education and the built environment. His research bridges mindfulness, design theory, and pedagogy, exploring how mindful practices can enhance design thinking and education. Espersen-Peters holds a Ph.D. in English Literature from Lancaster University, complemented by advanced degrees in architecture from McGill University, the University of Calgary, and a BFA from the University of Victoria.

Prior to joining the University of Manitoba in 2018, he coordinated the Bachelor of Interior Design program at Algonquin College (2006–2018) and served as a visiting lecturer at the University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka (2013–2016). His academic interests include John Ruskin’s writings on architecture and geology, as well as the relationship between design processes and reflective thought.

Espersen-Peters’ publications and presentations emphasize mindful design pedagogy, empathetic studio practices, and the integration of contemplative methods into design education. He currently supervises doctoral students researching design history, theory, and the philosophy of the built environment. His work with the CCMH seeks to redefine design education through mindfulness, aiming to foster deeper connections between human experience and architectural spaces.