Associated Researcher
Simon Colwill
Room A 608, CoCoon
T + 49 – 30 – 314 – 29647
F + 49 – 30 – 314 – 21907
Curriculum Vitae
Simon Colwill has been a researcher at the Habitat Unit since October 2013. He studied Landscape Architecture at the University of Greenwich in London. Simon worked as a freelance landscape architect in several offices in Berlin from 1995–2006. From 2004–2014 he worked as Assistant Professor and Lecturer for Landscape Architecture at the TU Berlin. Here he supervised design studios and held seminars on the bachelor and master’s courses in landscape architecture.
From 2007–2014 he was the co-supervisor of the interdisciplinary 'Mexico Project' (architects, landscape architects, urban designers and engineers) at the TU Berlin. Here he supported the students from the design and implementation planning in Berlin to the structural implementation on site in Mexico. Simon has also managed and assisted DesignBuild projects in Bolivia, Egypt and Germany.
Simon Colwill´s research is focused on developing an international knowledge exchange network for all stakeholders involved in DesignBuild projects in an academic context. The development of this knowledge web platform is funded by the Erasmus Mundus Programme of the European Union. He is also working on a DFG research project investigating the development of built landscapes through time. The aim is to develop an anticipatory method in order to optimise future landscape architectural projects in terms of their resistance, resilience and maintenance in the planning phases. This will make an important and necessary contribution to sustainability in construction.
1994
Diploma in Landscape Architecture (hons.), University of Greenwich, London
1992
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (B. A. hons.), University of Greenwich, London
Since 2014
Research Associate
DFG Research Project - Landscape Architecture and the Time Factor
TU-Berlin, Institute for Landscape Architecture, TU Berlin, Prof. Loidl-Reisch
Since 2013
Research Associate
Erasmus Mundus Research Project European DesignBuild Knowledge Network, Habitat Unit, TU Berlin
2013 – 2014
Assistant Professor
TU Berlin, Institute for Landscape Architecture, Prof. Loidl-Reisch
2012 – 2013
Lecturer
TU-Berlin, Institute for Landscape Architecture, TU Berlin, Prof. Loidl-Reisch
2006 – 2012
Assistant Professor
TU Berlin, Institute for Landscape Architecture, Prof. Loidl-Reisch
2004 – 2005
Lecturer
TU-Berlin, Institute of Landscape Architecture, Chair of Presentation und Design, Prof. Trillitzsch
2014 – 2018
DFG Project: Landscape Architecture and the Time Factor.
Construction research on the contextual change of built landscape elements and the development of optimisation strategies, Department of Landscape Architecture, Prof. Loidl-Reisch
2013 – 2016
Erasmus Mundus Project: European DesignBuild Knowledge Network.
Development of an international knowledge exchange network for all stakeholders involved in DesignBuild projects in an academic context. The project runs in cooperation with the Vienna University of Technology (Östereich), Associazione Archintorno (Italien), German University Cairo (Ägyptien) and Dalhousie University (Canada), Habitat Unit, Institute for Architecture, TU Berlin.
Since 2011
Doctoral Thesis
(Working Title) Alterungsprozessen auf der Spur. Lebensdauer von städtischen Freiräumen im Spannungsfeld von Dauerhaftigkeit und Veränderung. (Supervisor: Prof. Cordula Loidl-Reisch).
Studios and Seminars in Landscape Architecture, Bachelor and Masters Courses, TU Berlin
Design-Build-Studios
Supervision of interdisciplinary teaching and practice projects (e.g. projects in Mexico, Bolivia and Germany). The students take part in real projects from the first draft to the development of design models and detailed plans as well as participating in the project implementation on site. These interdisciplinary teaching and practice projects are carried out in collaboration with locally based partners. This involves project management (concept, design, detailed design), workshops, discussions, fundraising, lectures, excursions and on site supervision.
Studio Landscape Architecture
In design studio projects the students design new spatial situations and concepts. The students develop the ability to analyse current issues and find new solutions in an integrated artistic-design process.
Construction and materials
The focus of this seminar lies in the relationship between design, type of use, maintenance, building materials and construction. New materials, construction methods and forms of production are explored.
Thematic Design
This seminar focuses on the specific planning requirements for open space facilities with special usage and/or functional requirements.
Computer aided drawing and design
Practice related computer studies for graphic and CAD-Programmes incl. AutoCad, VectorWorks and Photoshop.
Books
(2013) Designing for Bougainvilleas. Interdisciplinary Workshop and Design-Build Studio Mexiko, ISBN 978-3-9812464-5-2 (Editor).
(2009) Mexiko Praktikumsseminar. ISBN 978-3-9812464-1-4 (Co-Author and Co-Editor).
Book contributions
with Pawlicki, N; Hartig, U (2013) Research by Design: Design-Build Mexiko Projekt. In: Stollmann Jörg; Bridger, Jessica; Cramer Johannes, Research in Architecture. Berlin: Verlag Technische Universität Berlin, S. 200-203, S. 242, ISBN 978-3798325555.
with C. Neumann (2012) Detailed Design and Landscape design concept. Eine Marmeladenmanufaktur für Naxii. Design-Build Studio Mexiko, S. 38-41, 43-45, ISBN 978-3-9812464-3-8.
(2010) Is this possible? Eine Schule für Zaachila. Design-Build Studio Mexiko, S. 94-98, 2010, ISBN 978-3-9812464-2-1.
(2008) Interdisciplinarity Mexiko Praktikumsseminar, Design-Build Studio Mexiko, S. 18-21, 2008, ISBN 978-3-9812464-0-7.
Conference Papers
(2014) Landscape + Architecture: an interdisciplinary Design-Build teaching approach, Peer reviewed paper, ACSA Working out | thinking while building, Halifax, Canada.
Adaption to the Context, a jam manufactory for Naxii, Project paper at ACSA Working out | thinking while building, Halifax, Canada (with Nina Pawlicki).
(2015) Concrete Garden – an exemplary university project. Concrete Conference at the Federal German Garden Show 2015, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany (Organiser: BetonMarketing Nordost).
(2015) Innovate Design-Build. Guest lecture series, German University Cairo (GUC), Egypt (with Ursula Hartig).
(2014) Landscape Architecture: Best Practices in Design and Construction, Dahab Island – Design-Build Studio Cairo, with students from Egypt and Germany, German University Cairo, Egypt.
(2014) Landscape + Architecture: an interdisciplinary Design-Build teaching approach, Conference: working out | thinking while building, ACSA (Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture), Halifax, Canada.
(2014) Adaption to the Context, a jam manufactory for Naxii, Conference: working out | thinking while building, ACSA (Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture), Halifax, Canada (with Nina Pawlicki).
(2014) The Concrete Garden, Federal German Garden Show 2015, Dyckerhoff Weiss Concrete Conference 2014.
(2012) Landscape, Architecture und Context, International Scientific Symposium Design-Build-Studio: New Ways in Architectural Education, TU-Berlin, Institute for Architecture.
(2008 – 2012) Interdisciplinarity, Public presentations of the Mexico-Project in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, TU- Berlin, Institute for Architecture.
2015
SEED International Award for Excellence in Public Interest Design
awarded for the interdisciplinary project A jam manufactory for NAXII, Design-Build Studio Mexico 2012, TU Berlin
2014
Public Interest Design Award Mexico for Excellence in Public Interest Design
awarded for the interdisciplinary project A jam manufactory for NAXII, Design-Build Studio Mexico 2012, TU Berlin
2013 – 2014
UNESCO official project of the UN Decade 2013/2014 'Education for Sustainable Development awarded for the project European Design Build Knowledge Network – EDBKN, Research project of the European Union, Erasmus Mundus programme at the TU Berlin
2005
Gustav-Meyer Prize
awarded for outstanding planned, built and maintained public green spaces and parks with the project Neighbourhood Park Wassertor Berlin (with Schmidt–Seifert Landscape Architects, Berlin)
Chamber of Architects Berlin, Member
VFFA, Association of Friends and Sponsors of the Architecture Program, Board member