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Dr Cathy Smith

Dr Cathy Smith

Senior Lecturer

BBE(IntDes), BArch(Hons1), MAppSc(Research), PhD UNSW, PhD SYD, BOAQ, RAIA, AFHEA

Arts, Design & Architecture (ADA)
School of Built Environment

As a registered architect, interior designer and academic with international and local experience, Cathy operates at the nexus of research and industry. With professional qualifications and two PhDs - one in Urban Planning (UNSW) and the other in Architectural History and Theory (USyd) - Cathy is uniquely positioned to assist her research partners identify interdisciplinary projectdrivers and particularly enjoys complex urban problems involving competing stakeholder perspectives. Her scholarly and sector-focused research on Meanwhile Use in vacant or underutilized properties, Valuing Creative Placemaking, DIY architecture and DIY urbanism have been widely published as book chapters, and in industry and international scholarly journals including Australian Feminist Studies, Journal of Place Management and Development,Architectural Histories, Interstices, Architectural Theory Review, IDEA and Design Ecologies. Reflecting her commitment to issues of equity in the built environment and its associated educational processes, she is an Executive Committee member of the UNSW Women in Research Network (WiRN). She wasalso a Richard Rogers Fellow (Harvard University GSD, Fall 2018) and the inaugural Turnbull Foundation Women in the Built Environment scholar (UNSW, 2018-2023).

Phone
+61 (0) 9385 7793
E-mail
cathy.smith@unsw.edu.au
Location
Red Centre
  • Book Chapters | 2024
    Smith C; Vaughan J; Lloyd J; Cohen M, 2024, 'Wanna Dance? Using Creative Placemaking Value Indicators to Identify COVID-lockdown-related Solastalgia in Sydney, Australia', in Courage C; McKeown A (ed.), Trauma Informed Placemaking, Routledge,
    Book Chapters | 2023
    Smith C, 2023, 'A Screen of One’s Own: The Domestic Caregiver as Researcher During Covid-19, and Beyond', in Dever M (ed.), New Feminist Research Ethics, Taylor & Francis,
    Book Chapters | 2022
    Smith C, 2022, 'Meanwhile use as generosity?', in Generosity and Architecture, pp. 200 - 214,
    Book Chapters | 2022
    Smith C, 2022, 'Meanwhile use as generosity?', in McVicar M; Kite S; Drozynski C (ed.), Generosity and Architecture, Routledge, Abingdon, New York, pp. 200 - 214,
    Book Chapters | 2018
    Smith C; Ware S, 2018, 'Out (fit) ting the City: Care and Contribution in Post-Industrial Newcastle, Australia', in Designing a City of Care, Bloomsbury Publishing, pp. 93 - 110
    Book Chapters | 2018
    Smith C, 2018, 'Renew (ing) Newcastle and complicating capitalism: contributory economies, artisanal production, and the DIY occupation of disused commercial space', in Subverting Consumerism, Routledge, pp. 105 - 122
    Book Chapters | 2018
    Smith C, 2018, 'Renew(ing) Newcastle and complicating capitalism: Contributory economies, artisanal production, and the DIY occupation of disused commercial space', in Subverting Consumerism: Reuse in an Accelerated World, pp. 93 - 110
    Book Chapters | 2018
    Smith C, 2018, 'The Do-It-Your(self): The Construction of Social Identity Through DIY Architecture and Urbanism', in The Routledge Companion to Architecture and Social Engagement, Routledge, pp. 243 - 256
    Book Chapters | 2012
    Smith C, 2012, 'Remembering in Red', in Semi-Detached: Writing, Representation and Criticism in Architecture, Uro Media, pp. 152 - 159
    Book Chapters | 2011
    Smith C, 2011, 'Cathy Smith, Inflatables Illustrated, PhD Research', in Amaze 2011; Annual Architecture Catalogue, Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney, pp. 40 - 40
    Book Chapters | 2005
    Smith C, 2005, 'The ’spectacular everyday’: experimental making and living', in Absolutely Public: Crossover: Art and Architecture, Mulgrave, pp. 56 - 59
  • Journal articles | 2023
    Smith C; Murray A; Dincer D; Lloyd E, 2023, 'Disrupting the Architectural Line: Wandering Domestic Objects in Public Spaces', Australian Feminist Studies, 37, pp. 1 - 1,
    Journal articles | 2023
    van Holstein E; Dulfer N; Smith C; Garner A, 2023, 'The alternate infrastructures that support digital counter publics: Digital inequality in an Australian public housing estate', Cities, 137,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Maalsen S; Smith C, 2022, 'Interview with Sophie Dyring and Samantha Donnelly on A Design Guide for Older Women’s Housing', Australian Feminist Studies, 37, pp. 212 - 226,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Simon J; Maalsen S; Chee L; Smith C, 2022, 'Reflections on, and from, Feminist Practice: Introduction to the ‘Home’ Special Issue', Australian Feminist Studies, 37, pp. 111 - 116,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Smith C, 2022, 'Meanwhile Bodies: Architecture Without Property', Architectural Design, 92, pp. 110 - 119,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Smith C, 2021, 'A Screen of One's Own: The Domestic Caregiver as Researcher During Covid-19, and Beyond', Australian Feminist Studies, 36, pp. 165 - 179,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Vaughan J; Maund K; Gajendran T; Lloyd J; Smith C; Cohen M, 2021, 'Determining and representing value in creative placemaking', Journal of Place Management and Development, 14, pp. 430 - 445,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Vaughan J; Maund K; Gajendran T; Lloyd J; Smith C; Cohen M, 2021, 'Social, Economic and Environmental :Benefits of Creative Placemaking', New Planner: Journal of the New South Wales Planning Profession, 127, pp. 26 - 27,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Smith C, 2020, 'Tin City: Nomadic occupation, colonization and resistance in the sand dunes of Stockton Bight, Australia', Design Ecologies, 9, pp. 93 - 109,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Tezcan N; Durakovic I; Smith C; Lloyd E; D'Arcy S, 2020, 'Scaffolded, simulated work-integrated learning in design education: Beyond the live project', International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning, Special Issue,, 21, pp. 521 - 529,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Smith C; Whittem V, 2018, 'Symposium Vacancy and Preservation: Architecture of the Post-industrial Community [Review]', Fabrications, 28, pp. 279 - 281,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Smith C, 2017, 'The intentionally ruptured and temporal self of do-it-yourself architecture', Design Ecologies, 6, pp. 62 - 84
    Journal articles | 2016
    Smith C, 2016, 'Body-Building-Becomings: The productive material life of the artisanal-architect', Australian Feminist Studies, 30, pp. 402 - 417,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Smith C; Chapman M, 2015, 'Contributory economies, design activism and the DIY urbanism of Renew Newcastle', IDEA Journal: Design Activism: Developing Models, Modes and Methodologies of Practice, pp. 66 - 79,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Smith C, 2015, 'Participants or Consumers? The “Do It Yourself” Construction of the Twenty-First Century City', Monu, 23, pp. 120 - 127
    Journal articles | 2014
    Smith C, 2014, 'A Clinic for the Exhausted: In Search of an Antipodean Vitality: Edmond & Corrigan and an Itinerant Architecture [Review]', Fabrications: the journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand, 24, pp. 299 - 301,
    Journal articles | 2014
    Smith C, 2014, 'Handymen, hippies and healing: social transformation through the DIY movement (1940s to 1970s) in north america', Architectural Histories, 2,
    Journal articles | 2013
    Smith C, 2013, 'Labour matters: The politics of materials and making in architecture', Interstices: Journal of Architecture and Related Arts,
    Journal articles | 2010
    Smith C, 2010, 'Essay: Corners and Ceilings: Investigating small spaces', Artichoke, 32, pp. 66 - 67,
    Journal articles | 2008
    Smith C, 2008, 'A Primer for Germinant Practice', Architectural Theory Review, 13, pp. 306 - 319,
    Journal articles | 2007
    Smith CD, 2007, '(a) rchitecture at the hardware store',
    Journal articles | 2005
    Smith CD, 2005, 'Spaces of architectural overcoming', IDEA Journal, 6, pp. 51 - 59,
    Journal articles | 2004
    Smith CD, 2004, 'Inside-out: Speculating on the interior', IDEA Journal, 2004, pp. 93 - 102,
    Journal articles | 2003
    Smith CD, 2003, 'Between-ness: Theory and Practice within the Margins of Excess', IDEA Journal, 2003, pp. 131 - 144,
    Journal articles | 2001
    Smith C, 2001, 'Looking for Liminality in Architectural Space (The Space of Liminality and the Space of Architecture)', Limen, 1
    Journal articles | 2001
    Smith C, 2001, 'Other Architectural Spaces',
  • Creative Works (non-textual) | 2024
    Smith C; Oldfield P; Hargrave J, 2024, Randwick Creative Ward, A New Normal & Vivid Sydney 2024, 24 May 2024 - 15 June 2024, medium: Digital Image, at: https://www.normalise.it/sydney
    Reports | 2023
    Cohen M; Gajendran T; Lloyd J; Maund K; Smith C; Vaughan J, 2023, Valuing Creative Placemaking: A survey toolkit for public and private stakeholders, Landcom NSW, Sydney,
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2022
    Smith C; Tezcan N, 2022, The Permanently Temporary, Other Spaces, 17 March 2022 - 27 March 2022, at: https://otherspacesexhibition.com/3-The-Permanently-Temporary
    Curatorial Outputs | 2021
    Murray A; Smith C, 2021, Luminocity, exhibited at: , 10 September 2021 - 10 September 2026,
    Conference Papers | 2019
    Smith C, 2019, 'Licensing the radical: from licensed squatting to meanwhile use in London and Regional Australia', in MacCallum D; Maginn P (ed.), 9th State of Australian Cities National Conference, 30 November - 5 December 2019, Perth, Western Australia, Perth, Australia, presented at 9th State of Australian Cities National Conference, 30 November - 5 December 2019, Perth, Western Australia, Perth, Australia, 03 December 2019 - 05 December 2019,
    Reports | 2018
    Cohen M; Lloyd J; Maund K; Smith C; Landcom NSW; People C, 2018, VALUING CREATIVE PLACE MAKING: DEVELOPMENT OF A TOOLKIT FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS,
    Reports | 2018
    Cohen M; Thayaparan G; Maund K; Lloyd J; Smith C, 2018, Valuing creative placemaking: development of a toolkit for public and private stakeholders, Communities of Practice Collaborative Project Stage 1 (Sydney: NSW State Government: Landcom), NSW State Government: Landcom, Sydney, ISBN: 9780648359531
    Conference Papers | 2015
    Smith C, 2015, 'The Artisan, The State and the Binaries of DIY Urbanism', in Proceedings of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand 32, Architecture, Institutions, Change, Sydney, Australia, pp. 616 - 626, presented at Architecture, Institutions, Change: Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand 32, Architecture, Sydney, Australia, 07 July 2015 - 10 July 2015,
    Conference Papers | 2013
    Smith C, 2013, 'Living histories: engaging Paolo Soleri’s Arcosanti project though the notion of ‘History/Becoming', in Proceedings of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand 30, Open, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia, pp. 435 - 445, presented at Open: Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand 30, Open, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia, 02 July 2013 - 05 July 2013,
    Conference Papers | 2012
    Smith C; D Occhio A, 2012, 'The Architecture and Surfaces of Reza Negarestani’s Cyclonopedia', in Fabulation: 29th Annual Conference of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand, University of Tasmania, Launceston, pp. 1004 - 1015, presented at Fabulation: 29th Annual Conference of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand, University of Tasmania, Launceston, 05 July 2012 - 08 July 2012,
    Conference Abstracts | 2012
    Smith C, 2012, 'Architectural followings: 1998-2010', Tulane University
    Conference Papers | 2012
    Smith C, 2012, 'The surfaces and spaces of a sentient planet: the geophilosophy and geoethics of Reza Negarestani’s Cyclonopedia: complicity with anonymous materials', University of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology, University of Tasmania, Launceston, presented at Fabulation: 29th Annual Conference of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand, University of Tasmania, Launceston, 05 July 2012 - 08 July 2012,
    Theses / Dissertations | 2012
    Smith CD, 2012, Productive matters: the DIY architecture manuals of Ant Farm and Paolo Soleri,
    Conference Papers | 2011
    Smith C, 2011, 'From Dad to ’Dropper’: The evolving readership of the DIY manual in post-war North America', in Audience. XXVIIIth International Conference of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, pp. 1 - 14, presented at Audience. XXVIIIth International Conference of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 07 July 2011 - 10 July 2011,
    Conference Abstracts | 2010
    Smith C; others , 2010, 'Ant Farm: DIY Sensibilities and Collective Practice', in Alternative Practices in Design: The Collective-Past, Present & Future: Symposium Proceedings 2010, RMIT University. Design Research Institute, pp. 205 - 210, presented at Alternative Practices in Design: The Collective-Past, Present & Future, RMIT University. Design Research Institute, 09 July 2010 - 10 July 2010,
    Conference Abstracts | 2010
    Smith C, 2010, 'Ant Farm: DIY Sensibilities and Collective Practice', in Alternative Practices in Design: The Collective - Past, Present & Future: Symposium Proceedings 2010, pp. 205 - 215
    Conference Papers | 2010
    Smith C, 2010, 'The Silty Imaginings of Paolo Soleri', in Imagining: Proceedings of the 27th International SAHANZ Conference, Newcastle, Australia, pp. 384 - 390, presented at Imagining: the 27th International SAHANZ Conference, Newcastle, Australia, 30 June 2010 - 02 July 2010,
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2008
    Smith C; Dixon M, 2008, germinant: avebury, Abundant: Australian Pavilion Eleventh International Architecture Exhibition at la Biennale de Venezia, La Biennale de Venezia, 11 September 2008 - 23 November 2008
    Theses / Dissertations | 2008
    Smith CD, 2008, Germinant design practice: a do-it-yourself narrative, Queensland University of Technology
    Conference Papers | 2007
    Smith C, 2007, 'Architecture at the Hardware Store', in Techniques and Technologies: Transfer and Transformation, The Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference of the Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia (AASA), UTS ePress, UTS, Sydney, Australia, presented at Techniques and Technologies: Transfer and Transformation: Fourth International Conference of the Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia (AASA), UTS, Sydney, Australia, 27 September 2007 - 29 September 2007,
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2004
    Brisbin CA; D Alpoim D; Dixon MI; Paine AI; Smith CD, 2004, What is the Value of Home? NOT FOR SALE-West End Interventions
  • Media | 2020
    Smith C, 2020, ‘Meanwhile’ building use: another way to manage properties left vacant by the COVID-19 crisis, The Conversation, ,
    Media | 2017
    Smith C, 2017, Is There an Architectural #metoo?,
    Media | 2015
    Smith C, 2015, Hidden Hegemonies,

2021 New Staff Grant (research):'The Legacy Value of Meanwhile Placemaking and Use in Greater Sydney, Post-Covid 19' (School of Built Environment, UNSW, AUD$6032)

2018-2021Turnbull Foundation Women and Built Environment scholarship AUD$95 000 and stipend forAGSM Women inLeadership Program

2018 Richard Rogers Fellowship, Harvard GSD, residency and USD$10 000 stipend

2017-2020: Team member C2, ‘Valuing Creative Placemaking’, Urban Growth NSW UniversityPartnership Collaborative Learning Proposal Grant, UON, MQ, UNSW, City People (Total Value AUD$130 000)

06.2014 – 12.2014: New Staff Grant, ‘Between the Analogue and the Digital: DIY urbanism as a Procurement Methodology For Small-Scale Architectural Practice Involving Design-Build Assembly and the Portable Digital Printer’ (UON, AUD$5000)

01.2010 – 12.2010: New Staff Research start-up grant ‘An Investigation of the DIY Architectural Aesthetic in Australia’ (UQ, AUD$11 254)

University of New South Wales

2018-2020: Turnbull Foundation Women in Built Environment Scholarship, AUD $95000 plus stipend to attend the AGSM Women in Leadership programme

Harvard GSD

Fall 2018: Richard Rogers Fellowship, residency and stipend

University of Newcastle

2015-2016: Inaugural Australian Fminist Network (AFS)Mentoring Scheme for the Australian Feminist Studies journal

University of Queensland

2011: Teaching Excellence Award and stipend, Faculty fo Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology

Australian Government, Department of Education and Training

2000-2007: Australian Postgraduate Scholarship (APA), part-time

Queensland University of Technology

2000-2007: Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship Initiative

1997: Academic Medal (Bachelor of Architecture)

1997: Dean’s Award for Excellence 1997

1996: Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) QIA Medallion

1996: Noel Robinson Architect’s Prize

1996: UDIA Student Award for Excellence

1995: Fulton Gilmour Trotter Moss Research Award 1995-1996

1991: Academic Medal (Bachelor of Built Environment)

I have three primary research projects and areasbroadly focused on issues of urban renewal, place identity and social and gender equality.

The first and current major project results from a Richard Rogers Fellowship, Harvard GSD (Fall 2019), and the Turnbull Foundation Women in Built Environment scholarship (UNSW, 2018-2020), resulting inscholarly and industry publications, and a PhD (Urban studies and Planning). It is focused on identifying the drivers, design implications and experience of meanwhile use: the temporary occupation of vacant sites and buildings awaiting redevelopment for residential or non-residential uses. In London, meanwhile use has become a sector in its own right and its residential form is also referred to as property guardianship or meanwhile housing.

The second current collaborative research project is ‘Valuing Creative Placemaking’ and involves the development and testing of a toolkit for stakeholders wanting to evaluate their arts-led programming in urban redevelopment sites. It involves research partners in Landcom, City People, Macquarie University and the University of Newcastle; and has produced several scholarly journal and industry publication outcomes.

The third project relates to DIY architecture and urbanism (also the focus of my first PHD in Architectural History and Theory), an area inwhich I have published extensively. I am particularly interested in the connection of do-it-yourself practices to individual and communal identity.

My Teaching

Cathy has taught in the subject areas of design, history and theory and construction to undergraduate and postgraduate students ofarchitecture, landscape architecture and interior architecture and design at several Australian Universities, including the University of Queensland, the University of Newcastle and the QueenslandUniversity of Technology. She was recently a Visiting Professor at Carleton University, Canada (Winter 2019) where she developed anddelivered a Master of Architecture design studio based on her 'Meanwhile Use' research project.