Robert Adams

Robert Adams

Robert Adams is an Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, also teaching in the Stamps School of Art and Design. He chairs U-M’s Initiative on Disability Studies. His research explores disability culture through bio-psycho-socio-techo models, focusing on architecture’s role in redefining accessibility and human-environment interactions. Key projects include the Asclepius Machine (Seoul Design Competition honorable mention, 2010) and the documentary Disability and Dragons: Health Infrastructure and Architecture in Urban-Rural China (2017).

Education:

• Master of Architecture (Distinction), Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), 2000s
• Bachelor of Fine Arts, Saint John’s University

Research Focus: Adams challenges traditional architectural paradigms by integrating wearable technologies, responsive networks, and disability studies. His concept of Chromo sapiens reimagines post-human identity beyond able/disabled binaries. Recent work includes Teledermic Health Architecture, blending biometrics and traditional Chinese medicine.

Awards & Recognition: Honorable Mention, Seoul International Design Competition (2010).

Teaching & Leadership: Leads thesis studios and seminars on immersive technologies. Co-founded B.A.S.E. Beijing (2005), fostering architectural experimentation in urban-rural contexts.