Stephen Loo

Professor Stephen Loo is a distinguished academic and practitioner at the University of New South Wales, Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture, where he serves as Professor in the School of Built Environment. With over 30 years of experience, he has established himself as a leading figure at the intersection of architecture, philosophy, art, performance, and science. His transdisciplinary approach has significantly influenced architectural theory and practice.

Stephen Loo's research spans architectural theory and criticism, posthumanism, applied ethics, theatre and performance studies, cognitive neuropsychology, psychoanalytic theory, digital culture, and performance research. His work explores the complex relationships between design, philosophy, and ethics, with particular emphasis on posthuman approaches to architectural practice. His research interests include biophilosophy, ecological humanities, and experimental computational thinking, reflecting his commitment to pushing the boundaries of traditional architectural discourse.

His recent publications reveal a trajectory moving toward increasingly speculative and interdisciplinary work, with growing emphasis on posthuman ethics, biopolitics, and the relationship between entomology, psychoanalysis, and ethics. This evolution demonstrates his capacity to integrate diverse theoretical frameworks into architectural practice.

Professor Loo has held significant leadership positions including Chair of the National Education Committee at the Australian Institute of Architects (2010-2016) and President of the Australian Deans of the Built Environment and Design (2013-2016). He serves on the international Steering Committee for the Humanities Network Infrastructure (HuNI) and maintains active roles as PLuS Alliance Fellow, Visiting Professor at Arizona State University, and Adjunct Professor at the University of Tasmania.

Beyond academia, Professor Loo is a founding partner of Mulloway Studio, an award-winning design practice whose projects have featured in the Venice Biennale in 2008 and 2014. He maintains an active performance-philosophy based art practice, exhibiting internationally, and participates in international collectives including the Food Art Research Network and The Food Project.