Benson Lau
Course Director, MArch Environmental Design. Architect/Lecturer, Institute of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering
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Expertise Summary
Benson Lau is a chartered architect (RIBA) with expertise in integrated environmental design. He engaged in practice since 1996 as an architect and environmental/lighting design consultant in co-operation with Peter Eley Architects, Zaha Hadid Architects, John Pawson Architects, Fin Architects, Lotus Architects, Hong Kong, Isometrix Lighting Design, Fulcrum Consulting and Price & Myers Consulting Engineers, London before joining WSP Environmental Ltd in 2000, subsequently headed up the company's Far East operation.
He joined the School of the Built Environment, Nottingham University in 2005. Current teaching roles include course director of the MArch in Environmental Design Course and design studio tutor for postgraduate students. He also lectured in the Martin Centre, University of Cambridge, the Department of Architecture, London Metropolitan University, the Architecture and Planning Department, Tongji University in Shanghai and the Shanghai Research Institute of Building Sciences (SRIBS).
Current research interests primarily address the integrated environmental design approach, environmental performance prediction of building and related issues of occupant comfort and behavior. This design approach is a key component in his practice and teaching activities in the UK and Far East and the use of building performance prediction tools to support and enhance architectural decision-making has been adopted in his building projects world wide.
Awards: 1) Cambridge Overseas Trust Scholarship 1999-2000. 2) Darwin College, Cambridge Research Scholarship 2000. 3) Kettle's Yard Research Fund, University of Cambridge, 2000. 4) Royal Institute of British Architects Research Trust Award 2006. 5) PGCHE Learning and Teaching Development Fund 2006. Awarded by: Nottingham University 6) Chinese Vernacular Architecture Research Grant 2007. Awarded by: State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, the P.R.of China.Research Partners: Department of the Built Environment, Nottingham University and Shanghai Research Institute of Building Sciences. 7) EPSRC/Industry Funded PhD Research Studentship 2007. Awarded by: EPSRC / Industrial Partner. 8) RCUK Summer School Award 2008. Awarded by: Research Council UK. Professional Memberships: 1) Chartered Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). 2) Diploma Member of the Chartered Society of Designers. 3) Fellow, Cambriage Overseas Trust. Current Research Activities: Book Contracts: 1) Currently completing a book contract with publisher Laurance King on the theme of "Architecture, Climate and the Environment". This book will be published by December 2010. Co-author: Professor Brian Ford. Research Projects: 1)The Poetics of Light in Le Corbusier's Buildings in India. 2)The Enviromental Delight in the Scholar Gardens of China. 3) The Environmental Performance of the Cave Dwellings in Xian, China.
Recent Publications
SAKARELLOU-TOUSI. N and LAU.P.H., 2009. A Migratory Living Pattern in the Vernacular Dwellings at Mount Pelion in Greece PLEA 2009: 26th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Quebec City, Canada, 22-24 June 2009.
LAU, P.H. AND DUAN Z.C., 2008. The Daylight Benefit Conferred Upon Adjoining Rooms by Specular Surfaces in Top-Lit Atria Architectural Science Review: Volume 51, Number 3, September 2008. Volume 51(Number 3), 204-211 LAU, P.H., 2008. The Poetics of Sacred Light: a comparative study of the luminous environment in Ronchamp Chapel and the Monastery of La Tourette Passive Low Energy Architecture Conference: Dublin 2008. 125
LAU, B., 2007. The poetics of sacred light: an investigation of the luminous environment in the Monastery of La Tourette In: PLEA2007: the 24th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Singapore, 22-24 November 2007.