Richard Anderson

Richard Anderson is Professor of Architectural History and Theory at the University of Edinburgh, holding a Personal Chair within the Edinburgh College of Art and the Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA). He served as Head of ESALA from 2019 to 2024, where his leadership focused on creating low-carbon educational futures based on principles of environmental and social justice. Prior to this, he served as Director for Postgraduate Learning and Teaching for Edinburgh College of Art.

Anderson's research focuses on the history of modern and contemporary architecture, with particular attention to the relationship between architecture and socialism. His work examines the impact of architectural thought and production beyond capitalism on the global built environment, contributing to the expansion and diversification of architecture's histories. His research interests span Soviet and Socialist architecture, Central and Eastern European architecture, and the art and architecture of European avant-gardes.

His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on Soviet architectural history and theory, with his 2024 book Wolkenbügel: El Lissitzky as Architect examining El Lissitzky's visionary 'horizontal skyscraper' project and its influence on modern architectural culture in Europe. His scholarly output reveals a trajectory from early work on Soviet architectural publications to comprehensive studies of modern Russian architecture and specific architects like Hilberseimer.

• British Academy Senior Research Fellowship (2024)
• Getty Research Institute Library Research Grant (2024)
• Graham Foundation Publication Grant (2025)
• Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton Membership (2024-25)
• Josef Dobrovský Fellowship (2024)
• Fulbright Scholar

Anderson's research has received extensive funding from prestigious institutions including the Leonard A. Lauder Research Center for Modern Art, American Council of Learned Societies, Mellon Foundation, Whiting Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, U.S. Department of Education, Getty Foundation, DAAD, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, British Academy, and Leverhulme Foundation. As a Fulbright Scholar, he has built international research networks across Europe and North America. His leadership roles include co-chairing the Sixth International Conference of the European Architectural History Network (EAHN) in 2021.