Uploaded April 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Philip Beesley is an Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Waterloo and practices art and architecture in Toronto. He maintains an experimental practice in architecture that combines sculpture with public buildings. His projects in the past several years have focused on immersive digitally fabricated lightweight ‘textile’ structures, and the most recent generations of his work feature interactive kinetic systems that use dense arrays of microprocessor-controlled systems. He is a co-director of the University’s Integrated Centre for Visualization, Design and Manufacturying (ICVDM). As the Fabrication Theme Leader for the Canadian Design Research Network he has co-authored books including ‘Future Wood’ (2006) , ‘Responsive Architectures’ (2006) ‘Expanding Bodies in Art, Cities and Environment’ (2007) , ‘Mobile Nation’ (2007) and ‘Fabrication: Examining the Digital Craft of Architecture’ (2004), and his work has been featured in WIRED magazine and numerous journals. After studying Fine Art at Queen’s University, Beesley completed his professional degree in Architecture at the University of Toronto. Previous to entering architecture, he served apprenticeships in instrument making and machining. Distinctions for his work include the Prix de Rome in Architecture (Canada) and two Dora Mavor Moore Awards.
Recorded Feb 19, 2008
Philip Beesley is an Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Waterloo and practices art and architecture in Toronto. He maintains an experimental practice in architecture that combines sculpture with public buildings. His projects in the past several years have focused on immersive digitally fabricated lightweight ‘textile’ structures, and the most recent generations of his work feature interactive kinetic systems that use dense arrays of microprocessor-controlled systems. He is a co-director of the University’s Integrated Centre for Visualization, Design and Manufacturying (ICVDM). As the Fabrication Theme Leader for the Canadian Design Research Network he has co-authored books including ‘Future Wood’ (2006) , ‘Responsive Architectures’ (2006) ‘Expanding Bodies in Art, Cities and Environment’ (2007) , ‘Mobile Nation’ (2007) and ‘Fabrication: Examining the Digital Craft of Architecture’ (2004), and his work has been featured in WIRED magazine and numerous journals. After studying Fine Art at Queen’s University, Beesley completed his professional degree in Architecture at the University of Toronto. Previous to entering architecture, he served apprenticeships in instrument making and machining. Distinctions for his work include the Prix de Rome in Architecture (Canada) and two Dora Mavor Moore Awards.
Recorded Feb 19, 2008
