ABOUT LINDSAY JOHNSTON

Lindsay Johnston grew up in Northern Ireland and studied architecture in Scotland.  He worked in architectural practice in London and Dublin and with the Irish Government Construction and Planning Research Institute. He ran his own architecture practice in Dublin for ten years and was winner of a number of architectural competitions and awards. Work included housing, commercial projects, restorations and interiors. He was a technical adviser to the Irish Government on Low Cost Housing and a Consultant with the World Bank in Saudi Arabia.

He emigrated to Australia in 1986 to take up an appointment at the University of Newcastle, was appointed Associate Professor in 1993 and was Head of the Department of Architecture from 1993 to 1997 and Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Design 2000–2001. He received the 2002 Australian Institute of Architects National Education Award for his contribution to Architectural Education.  He was visiting Head of the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, in 2006.

He has continued architectural practice in parallel with his academic career and this has formed the basis of much of his research and teaching. He has been recipient awards from the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland for buildings in Australia. He has developed a specialisation in low energy and environmentally sustainable building design and received the 1997 Royal Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter Environment Award for his experimental ‘autonomous’ house in the Watagan Mountains and the 2000 RAIA NSW Premier’s Award for his environmental design of the Four Horizons Eco-Lodges also in the Watagans National Park, both of which have been published internationally.

He has been principally responsible for the founding and development of the Architecture Foundation Australia ('ozetecture') which has presented the annual Glenn Murcutt International Architecture Master Class since 2001 with Glenn Murcutt, Richard Leplastrier, Peter Stutchbury and Brit Andresen, an annual Summer School for Architecture Students, and many other educational events. The Foundation has also toured exhibitions internationally, published the definitive book on Peter Stutchbury, and has organised Deerubbin Conferences 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 and the 'Diversity + Community' Conference at the national Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne 2017.

 Lindsay Johnston received an AM in the 2023 Kings Honours List and Life Fellowship of the Australian Institute of Architects for his contribution to Architectural education, and education in associated disciplines.