Ms Laura Evans

About

I graduated in 2013 from the School of Architecture at London Metropolitan University. Previously, I had studied Ancient History and Archaeology with History of Art and Architecture at Trinity College Dublin and subsequently began my architectural studies at the University of Limerick in 2007.

An architect and researcher, I have experience in practice in both the UK and Ireland. In 2016 I was awarded the RIBA Boyd Auger Scholarship for an ongoing research project entitled 'Portico and Patio: Response to Climate and Tradition in Cuban Modernist Architecture', which resulted in a small publication and an exhibition of drawings and models at the Crypt Gallery in September 2018.

I have been a visiting critic at a number of universities including Queens University Belfast, the University of Liverpool and Cambridge University. Since 2017 I have been the director of my own practice, Howland Evans Architects. I am a former member of the RIBA Research Grants Sub-Committee.

Academic responsibilities

Senior Lecturer and Joint Course Leader BA (Hons) Architecture

Qualifications

  • Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Architecture (RIBA III), London Metropolitan University
  • Professional Diploma in Architecture (RIBA II), London Metropolitan University
  • B.A (Hons) Ancient History and Archaeology with History of Art and Architecture, Trinity College Dublin

Teaching and learning

I have been teaching architecture since 2015 at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. I have taught design studio and history and theory, and led modules in architectural representation before becoming Course Leader for BA (Hons) Architecture here in Kingston in 2022. In 2021 I achieved Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), through which I developed my critical reflection on my own teaching practice. Currently, I lead a Year 3 Design Studio with Douglas Murphy.

I am also an External Examiner to the M.Arch (Part II) course at Birmingham City University.

Qualifications and expertise

  • Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Undergraduate courses taught

Research

I am an editor of REGISTER, the research group that connects the students at Kingston School of Art with the professional and public spheres of architectural practice in London, Europe, and further afield through public lectures, podcasts and a new series of publications.

Over the past three years we have invited numerous guests and collaborators to give public lectures at the school. These lectures help foster new conversations about urbanism, landscape, and buildings with students, broadening their understanding of the discipline and its role in society. We ask all those practitioners and academics who join us for REGISTER lectures to participate in the podcast programme, to extend the breadth and depth of the discussions, as well as to support our students who might be unable to attend an evening lecture.

The initiative has built momentum with over 70,000 listens to-date. Through this podcast series we are able to extend the conversation beyond our students to support multiple audiences interested in the built environment, establishing Kingston School of Art as a key site for discussions and debates around the form and content of architecture.

Professional practice, knowledge exchange and impact

As mentioned above, I am an ARB and RIBA registered architect, and a founding director of Howland Evans Architects. From 2019-2022 I was a member of the RIBA Research Grants Sub-Committee, awarding grants to individuals conducting independent architectural research at any stage of their careers.

Leadership and management

I am joint Course Leader BA (Hons) Architecture and have been implementing a revalidated course since September 2022.

Since 2022 I have sat on the Department of Architecture & Landscape Department Management Group (DMG), making a significant contribution to the strategic and day-to-day management of the Department.

Social media

Instagram