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DR DAVID O'BRIEN



Contact Details

Organization: Architecture, Building and Planning
Position: SENIOR LECTURER
Email:
Homepage: http://www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/people/staff/obriend.html
Work: 83448761
Room: 130
Level: 01
Building: Architecture And Planning Building
Campus: Parkville

Biography

David O'Brien practised as an architect before joining the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning in 1996. He has since worked in community development projects in rural Thailand and the Northern Territory and has advised in the construction and evaluation of prototype houses alongside builders, engineers, sociologists, government agencies and aid workers.

Research Expertise and International Linkages

Research Expertise

Research Interest Country of Expertise
Disaster relief - tsunami reconstruction housing Indonesia
Indigenous housing and development in Australia Australia
Sustainable housing developments in marginalized Australian and Asian communities Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea

International Linkages

Country Establishment Collaboration
Thailand Kasetsart University Teaching
Indonesia Universitas Syiah Kuala Research
Australia Aceh Research Training Institute, University of Melbourne Research
Thailand Population and Community Development Association Research, Technical Assistance/Training
Thailand Thammasat University Exchange, Research, Teaching
Thailand Silpakorn University Teaching

Qualifications, Honours, Fellowships and Other Awards

Qualifications

Title Institution Date Awarded Abbreviation
Doctor of Philosophy University of Melbourne 31-Dec-2006
Bachelor of Architecture University of Melbourne 31-Dec-1992
Bachelor of Planning and Design University of Melbourne 31-Dec-1992

Other Awards

Award Type Awarding Body Comments Date Awarded
Other (Award) Australian Government, DEST, Endeavour Australia Award 31-Dec-2005
Other (Award) Architeam Award for `Best use of timber? 31-Dec-2005

Government Research Classifications

Research Fields, Courses and Discipline Classifications

Socio-Economic Objective Classifications

Grants and Contracts

Research Grants, Contracts and Consultancies awarded to the University of Melbourne as the administering institution (since 2003) as recorded in Themis Agreements.

Grants

Title Role Funding Source Scheme Award Date
SUSTAINABLE AND ADAPTABLE HOUSING PROTOTYPES FOR THAILAND'S POOR RURAL COMMUNITIES Chief Investigator DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS & TRADE Australia - Thailand Institute Research Grants 01/07/2007
Transformation of Post-Disaster Housing Reconstruction Projects: The Case of Aceh, Indonesia Chief Investigator RAFAEL VINOLY ARCHITECTS Grants for Research in Architecture 01/01/2009

Publications

Publications produced at the University of Melbourne and reported in the Annual Publications Collection and 'Research Report' since 2001. The Themis Publications module, released in November 2006, allows additional publications from previous institutions and publications from past years to be entered.

Publications in 2011

Book Chapters

  • Donor-Driven Housing, Owner-Driven Needs: Post-Tsunami Reconstruction in Aceh, Indonesia
    Year: 2011
    Book: Pressures and Distortions - City Dwellers as Builders and Critics: Four Views
    Publisher: Rafael Vinoly Architects PC(New York)
    Authors(s):
    Editors(s):

Journal Articles

  • Home to own: Potential for Indigenous housing by Indigenous people
    Year: 2011
    Journal: Australian Aboriginal Studies
    Volume: 2011
    Issue: 1
    Page numbers: 65-80
    Author(s):
    Super Search Source this item in the University's Catalouge locate this resource.

Conference Publications/Papers

  • Migrations: Housing and Population Movements within Papua New Guinea


    Year: 2011
    Event name: Architecture at the Edge: Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia 2011 International Conference
    Conference Publication: Conference Proceedings - Architecture at the Edge AASA 2011
    Page numbers: 288-296
    Publisher: Deakin University(Geelong)
    Author(s):
    Editor(s):
  • Policy and Reality: Patterns of Everyday Living in Darwin's Indigenous "Town Camp" Communities
    Year: 2011
    Event name: 5th Australasian Housing Researchers' Conference
    Conference Publication: 5th Australasian Housing Researchers' Conference, 17-19 November 2010: refereed papers
    Publisher: The University of Auckland(Auckland)
    Author(s):
    Editor(s):

Publications in 2010

Conference Publications/Papers

  • From Humpies to Houses:  The Development of an Indigenous Town Camp Community


    Year: 2010
    Event name: SAHANZ - 27th International SAHANZ Conference
    Conference Publication: SAHANZ - Imagining... Proceedings of the 27th Interantional SAHANZ Conference
    Volume: 1
    Issue: 1
    Page numbers: 311-317
    Publisher: SAHANZ(Newcastle)
    Author(s):
    Editor(s):

  • Giving Voice to indigenous Housing:  Consultations with a 'Top End' Town Camp Community


    Year: 2010
    Event name: Imaging.. 27th International SAHANZ Conference
    Conference Publication: SAHANZ - Proceedings of the 27th Interantional SAHANZ Conference
    Page numbers: 414-419
    Publisher: SAHANZ(Newcastle)
    Author(s):
    Editor(s):

Publications in 2009

Journal Articles

  • Extending the House/Extending the Dream: Modifications to Government-built Housing in Bangkok Metropolitan Region
    Year: 2009
    Journal: JARS: Journal of Architectural/Planning Research and Studies
    Volume: 6
    Issue: 3
    Page numbers: 45-64
    Author(s):
    Super Search Source this item in the University's Catalouge locate this resource.

Conference Publications/Papers

  • Safe 'n' sound: Building with indigenous workforces in Australia and Thailand
    Year: 2009
    Event name: CIBW099 Conference 2009: Working Together: Planning, Designing and Building a Healthy and Safe Industry
    Conference Publication: Conference Proceedings: CIBW099 Conference 2009
    Page numbers: -
    Publisher: RMIT University(Melbourne)
    Author(s):
    Editor(s):
  • Sustainable organic building materials for housing: the case of post-disaster reconstruction in Indonesia
    Year: 2009
    Event name: 43rd Annual Conference of the Architectural Science Association, ANZAScA 2009
    Conference Publication: Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Conference of the Architectural Science Association, ANZAScA 2009
    Page numbers: 0-0
    Publisher: School of Architecture and Design, University of Tasmania(Launceston)
    Author(s):
    Editor(s):

Publications in 2008

Conference Publications/Papers

  • Housing reconstruction in Aceh: relationships between house types and environmental sustainability
    Year: 2008
    Event name: Building Abroad: Procurement of construction and reconstruction projects in the international context
    Conference Publication: Building Abroad: Procurement of construction and reconstruction projects in the international context
    Page numbers: 361-370
    Publisher: The University of Montreal(Montreal)
    Author(s):
    Editor(s):

Publications in 2007

Conference Publications/Papers

  • International Temperature Variations in Hot/Humid Climates
    Year: 2007
    Event name: 41st Annual Conference of the Architectural Science Association ANZAScA
    Conference Publication: Proceedings of the 41st Annual Conference of the Architectural Science Association ANZAScA
    Page numbers: 174-181
    Publisher: The Architectural Science Association(Adelaide)
    Author(s):
    Editor(s):
  • The Third Way: Developing low environmental impact housing prototypes for hot/humid climates
    Year: 2007
    Event name: XXXV IAHS World Congress on Housing Science 2007
    Conference Publication: Proceedings of the XXXV IAHS World Congress on Housing Science 2007. Planning, Design, Construction, Performance
    Page numbers: 1-9
    Publisher: RMIT University(Melbourne)
    Author(s):
    Editor(s):

Publications in 2006

Conference Publications/Papers

  • Lightweight Tropical: Reconnecting Construction Technologies with Thermal Comfort
    Year: 2006
    Event name: Challenges for Architectural Science in Changing Climates
    Conference Publication: Challenges for Architectural Science in Changing Climates
    Page numbers: 151-158
    Publisher: The Architectural Science Association(Adelaide)
    Author(s):
  • Reality/Television: Hype, Traditional and Everyday Life in Rural Thailand

    Year: 2006
    Event name: Hyper-Traditions. Tenth Conference of the International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments
    Conference Publication: International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments Traditional Dwelling and Settlements. Working Papr Series. Urban Real Estate and the Commodification of Tradition
    Volume: 180
    Page numbers: 173-189
    Publisher: International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments
    Author(s):
    Editor(s):

Publications in 2005

Journal Articles

  • Selling Your Design: Oral Communication Pedagogy in Design Education
    Year: 2005
    Journal: Communication Education
    Volume: 54
    Issue: 1
    Page numbers: 6 - 19
    Publisher: Routledge(New York)
    Author(s):
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Conference Publications/Papers

  • Can New Construction Technologies Drive a Sustainable Housing Industry in Rural Thailand?
    Year: 2005
    Event name: The Conference on Sustainable Building in South East Asia (SB04 Series)
    Conference Publication: Conference on Sustainable Building South East Asia
    Page numbers: 484-492
    Publisher: Construction Technology and Management Centre, Universiti Teknologi Ma(Johor)
    Author(s):

Publications in 2004

Journal Articles

  • Eurocentrism: Do Thai and Australian housign Developers Have a Case to Answer?
    Year: 2004
    Journal: Journal of the Faculty of Architecture, Silpakorn University
    Volume: 20
    Page numbers: 130-138
    Publisher: Faculty of Architecture, Silpakorn University(Bangkok)
    Author(s):
    Super Search Source this item in the University's Catalouge locate this resource.

Conference Publications/Papers

  • Modeling Asian Modernity: New Technologies and their Impact on Rural Spatial Structures
    Year: 2004
    Event name: Modern Asian Architecture Network 4th International Conference: Safeguarding and Revitalizing Local Heritage
    Conference Publication: Modern Asian Architecture Network 4th International Conference Proceedings: Safeguarding and Revitalizing Local Heritage
    Page numbers: 346-351
    Publisher: College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University(Shanghai)
    Author(s):
  • Regionalism and the Global Suburb in Southeast Asia
    Year: 2004
    Event name: Sipakorn Architectural Discourse 3rd Mini Symposium
    Conference Publication: Current: Reflection of Society. Silpakorn Architectural Discourse 2003: 3rd Mini Symposium
    Page numbers: 23.1-23.15
    Publisher: Faculty of Architecture, Silpakorn University(Bangkok)
    Author(s):

Publications in 2003

Book Chapters

  • Hybrid space: New housing prototypes in north-eastern Thailand
    Year: 2003
    Book: Liveable communities
    Publisher: Black Swan Press(Perth)
    Authors(s):

Conference Publications/Papers

  • Modernity's Legacies: from Corb to CBIRD
    Year: 2003
    Event name: Modernity, tradition, culture, water
    Conference Publication: Modernity, tradition, culture, water: Proceedings of an international symposium, Bangkok 29-31 October 2002
    Page numbers: 269-274
    Publisher: Kasetsart University Press(Bangkok)
    Author(s):
  • Regional housing development: pitfalls and possibilities
    Year: 2003
    Event name: Creating better cities in the 21st century
    Conference Publication: Creating better cities in the 21st century
    Page numbers: 550-556
    Publisher: Hanoi Architectural University(Hanoi)
    Author(s):
  • Timber, earth or concrete? Towards a new housing industry in South-East Asia
    Year: 2003
    Event name: Postgraduate Construction Research Conference
    Conference Publication: Proceedings of the Postgraduate Construction Research Conference
    Page numbers: 1-15
    Publisher: RMIT University(Melbourne)
    Author(s):

Publications in 2002

Journal Articles

  • Moderated influence: Globalisation and Thai Housing

    Year: 2002
    Journal: Journal of the Faculty of Architecture, Silpakorn University
    Volume: 18
    Page numbers: 59-75
    Author(s):
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Publications in 2001

Conference Publications/Papers

  • Mediating Cross-Cultural Exchange: Curriculum Design for Teaching Programs in South East Asia
    Year: 2001
    Event name: The Australasian University Building Educators Association 26th Annual Conference. Constructing and Managing the Built Environment: Education and Research for the Future.
    Conference Publication: Proceedings of the Australasian University Building Educators Association 26th Annual Conference. Constructing and Managing the Built Environment: Education and Research for the Future.
    Page numbers: 27-31
    Publisher: Australasian University Building Educators Association (AUBEA)(Perth)
    Author(s):
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