Professor Soumyen Bandyopadhyay BArch, MArch, PhD

Personal Statement

Soumyen Bandyopadhyay is the Sir James Stirling Chair in Architecture at the Liverpool School of Architecture (LSA), having previously held professorial positions at the Manchester School of Architecture (MSA) and Nottingham Trent University. Working closely with the Head of School and other senior staff, Soumyen contributes towards the academic leadership of the School and plays a leading role in the development of the School's research culture.

Previously at MSA Soumyen headed the Architecture research group. At Nottingham Trent, Professor Bandyopadhyay led the REF submission for Architecture, Built Environment and Planning (Unit C16), where he was Research Coordinator for the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment. Before taking up his first professorial appointment at Nottingham Trent he taught at Liverpool and at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Soumyen contributes to the teaching of architectural design and the history and theory of architecture. His teaching and research interests are focused on the historical, theoretical and contextual approaches to architectural design and the art and architecture of India and the Middle East. Soumyen has extensive experience of architectural practice in India and the Middle East. He continues to undertake advisory and consultancy work in urban development, regeneration, architectural and urban design, and conservation.

Advisory role in Heritage Conservation, Design and Planning
2015 Advisor and workshop organiser, Appropriate methodologies for fieldwork documentation and heritage management.

2015-date Advisor, various Heritage Documentation and Tourism projects, Ministry of Tourism, Oman.

2010-date Advisor, various Heritage Documentation and Management projects, Ministry of Heritage and Culture, Oman.

2010 Advisor, Al Qattara and Al Jimi Oasis Conservation and Rehabilitation, with Barker-Langham Associates for ADACH, Government of Abu Dhabi.

2009-date Advisor, Conservation and interpretation of Qasr Al Husn Palace, Abu Dhabi. With Austin Smith-Lord for ADACH Government of Abu Dhabi.

2005-date Advisor and contributor, Muscat Urban Renewal, Muscat Municipality and The Palace Office, Government of Oman.

2004 Advisor, Ceremonial Route, The Palace Office, Government of Oman.

2004 Advisor and contributor, Development and Conservation of Harat al ‘Aqr (Nizwa), Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Government of Oman.

2003 Advisor and contributor, Management Plan for Bahla World Heritage Site (UNESCO inscription 1987 C-iv), UNESCO & Ministry of Heritage and Culture, Government of the Sultanate of Oman.

2003 Advisor and contributor, Conservation of the National Heritage Site of Harat al Bilad (Manah), Ministry of Heritage and Culture, Government of the Sultanate of Oman.

Keynote and invited contributions
2016 Invited lecture, 17th Century Omani ‘New Towns’ and from ‘Bayt’ to ‘Hisn’, in series: ‘An Evening With….’, Aga Khan Program at MIT.

2016 Invited lecture, Oman: Between Politics and Culture: Settlement Transformations, in symposium: ‘New Frontiers of Gulf Urbanism’, Aga Khan Program at MIT.

2015 Invited lecture, Appropriate Methodologies for Designing in Historic Contexts, Sri Lankan Institute of Architects.

2015 Invited keynote, Interpreting Pasts, Designing Futures, University of Mysore (India) Centenary Celebrations

2012 Invited keynote, Heritage Research in Oman, in international conference, Heritage and Housing Development, Muscat: Ministry of Housing.

2011 Invited lecture, Historical Association of Oman, Muscat, Oman.

2011 Invited contribution to journal, Orient: German Journal for Politics, Economics and Culture of the Middle East (ISSN 0030-5227) 52(1): 67-73.