Kerstin Thompson

Kerstin Thompson is Principal and Design Director of Kerstin Thompson Architects. Committed to design-based research and education, she is also Adjunct Professor at RMIT and Monash Universities. She plays an active role not only within the profession, but also in promoting quality design in the wider community through her role as Panel Member on the Office of the Victorian Government Architect’s Design Review Panel. Located in Melbourne Australia, KTA was founded by Kerstin in 1994 and has established itself as a significant and innovative reference point in Australian architecture and urban design. The practice focus is on architecture as a civic endeavour with an emphasis on user experience and enjoyment of place. Kerstin is a writer and lecturer with close links to schools of architecture and professional institutes in Australia and overseas. She was Creative Director for the 2005 RAIA National Conference and the 2008 Venice Biennale and a member of the Federal Government’s BEIIC. Kerstin has also been an elected National Councillor for the AIA and was elevated to Life Fellow by the Institute in 2017. Kerstin commits to numerous speaking events and seminars advocating for better industry practices, she has received over 70 local and international awards. In 2021, Thames & Hudson in conjunction RMIT published a Monograph on Kerstin’s work, a detailed survey of her designs across residential, cultural and educational projects throughout urban and regional Australia. The first of the Australian Architecture Monograph series, it is different to other monographs because the projects are not presented in chronological order, instead essays link ideas and studies with images, sketches and diagrams interwoven. It is a collection of work and workings, illustrating the process of design, which involves research, collaboration, experimentation and ideation. Hand sketches and drawings complement photographic images revealing concepts and design in the making. A diverse selection of projects, varying in size, stage and scale, has been chosen, each project has a description detailing the design intents – an insight into KTA. Kerstin is one of a few women in the architectural industry in Melbourne, Australia, that has solely led an architectural practice successfully for over 25 years.

Key Industry Positions RMIT University, Adjunct Professor in Architecture 2009 - Monash University, Adjunct Professor in Architecture 2012 - Melbourne University & Victoria University of Wellington, NZ, guest lecturer & critique Office of the Victorian Government Architect, Panel Member 2012 - Melbourne Housing Expo, Board Member/ Research 2016 - Key Voluntary Contributions to Public and Professional Causes Architects Declare - Founding signatory All staff invited to participate in Climate Emergency Summit Heritage Address speaker for Heritage Council of Victoria Open House Melbourne Annual Lecture + Panel Speaker AIA National Conference ‘Collective Agency’ Captain Venice Architecture Biennale Australian Pavilion ‘Repair’ exhibition MPavilion/ Parlour talk with Carme Pinós (Barcelona) Moderator AIA NSW + VIC Conference Keynote Speaker AIA ACT NSW + VIC Awards Jury Member