Rebecca Galbraith

I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture. Having been in practice as an architect, I joined the University of Portsmouth, believing that an architectural education not only leads students to becoming architects, but also gives them a broader understanding of the environment around us.

I believe strongly that being an architect is more a vocation than a job: the architect endeavours to understand the world surrounding them, and use architecture as a way to solve problems, and use this expression to communicate to others.

Following my architectural studies, I worked in private practice in London prior to completing my Part 2 qualification in practice in Liverpool. After qualifying as an Architect, I gained 15 years’ experience working for Hampshire County Council, designing educational buildings, especially secondary schools, where the environment directly affects the students.

Woking for a Local Authority which helped me see first-hand the benefit of the architectural collaboration between user, funder, design team and construction team, particularly drawing from experiences with my last project: the refurbishment of Queen Elizabeth Country Park.

I joined the University shortly after meeting the School of Architecture team as an architect attending their employer evenings, taking part in mock interviews and being an examiner on Final Examination in Professional Practice (Part 3) Architecture course.

Because I believe that appreciation of the environment is key to architecture, I spend my spare time painting, mostly landscapes. I am a professional artist, and belong to the Yard Studios in Winchester.

I am Course leader for both the undergrad and postgrad Degree Apprenticeship courses.  I am also Year Coordinator for BA Architecure first-year where I lead the final design module of the year. I am the Module Coordinator for the Technology and Professional Practice module for the first year of the Master of Architecture. 

My role with the Degree Apprenticeship students and their employers brings me closer to practice and industry.

I am part of the Spatial & Performance Practices Research Group, which looks at how architecture can be embedded in the creative world.

I was involved in the ‘Portsmouth Phoenix’ project, a collaboration with notable residential architects, culminating in a three-day design charrette.

I am currently engaged in a research paper looking at the teaching of ethics in schools of architects as part of my PGCert Degree Apprenticeship course.