Thomas Gregory McQuillan

Thomas Gregory McQuillan is a Professor in the Department of Architecture at Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO), where he has been teaching since becoming a professor in 2021. Previously, he served as head of the Department of Architecture from 2013 to 2020. McQuillan is both an academic and a practicing architect with a deep engagement in architectural theory and history.

His educational background includes:

• Architecture degree from The Cooper Union (1991)
• PhD from AHO (2006) focusing on Le Corbusier's technological agenda

McQuillan's research explores modern architecture from a humanistic perspective, with particular focus on resource extraction as an ongoing process and the cultural significance of materials. His work examines how materials are embedded in historical, economic, and poetic contexts rather than being neutral resources. He investigates the intersections of technology, history, and material provenance in architecture, with particular attention to figures like Le Corbusier, Sverre Fehn, Lina Bo Bardi, and Anne-Eva Bergman.

His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on architectural modernism, material culture, and the work of significant architects. McQuillan frequently examines how architectural ideas travel across cultural boundaries and how materials carry historical and cultural significance. His writing often bridges theoretical analysis with practical considerations of architectural production.

McQuillan leads the Subject Matter studio as part of the Provenance Projected initiative, where he and Helle Bendixen Trier guide students in exploring the material foundations of architecture. This studio investigates materials such as stone, metals, and textiles, focusing on their extraction, processing, and cultural significance. His approach encourages students to understand materials as embedded in broader historical, economic, and poetic contexts rather than neutral resources in a supply chain.