Dr Lara Mackintosh

Program Coordinator, Architecture

Email: lara.mackintosh@nd.edu.au
Phone: 9433 0866

  • Biography

    Lara Mackintosh is an early career researcher, senior lecturer and registered architect. Lara’s passion for understanding how we live within and value built, social and natural environments informs her approach to learning, curriculum development, and professional practices. Her research interests, teaching activities and architectural practices come together as she coordinates the programs at the Fremantle School of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame Australia, and builds the community of Notre Dame Practice Partners within the architectural profession in Perth and Fremantle.

    Over 13 years in academia, Lara has supported innovative teaching practices and sustained engaging and challenging learning experiences within the Discipline of Architecture. She provides learning experiences that prepare students for entry into professional environments by embedding students in practice, supporting the application of theory to ‘real life’ scenarios. Lara’s teaching spans across streams in the architectural curriculum and reaches out to other disciplines. This distinct pedagogical approach is strengthened by her research on transformative learning experiences within environmental, and more specifically, architectural education. Lara’s research includes developing and supporting architectural education programs from primary to professional levels; the evaluation of learning environments and the relationship between pedagogy and space; and the role of architecture and learning in supporting sustainable behaviour.

  • Teaching areas

    Architectural Technology and Science
    Professional Practice

  • HDR and Honours Supervision

    • Lara's broad research areas cover Architectural Education and Transformative Learning; Education Spaces; Environmentally Responsible Design and the Design of Education and Learning Spaces.

  • Research expertise and supervision

    • Architectural Education and Transformative Learning
    • Education Spaces
    • Environmentally Responsible Design
    • Design of Education and Learning Spaces

  • Book chapters

    • Mackintosh, L. (2019) “Leadership and Placemaking.” Placemaking Fundamentals for the Built Environment, Palgrave Macmillan. Edited by Hes, Dominique, Hernandez-Santin, Cristina.

  • Journal articles and proceedings

    • Mackintosh, L. (2020) "Facilitating reflective practice: developing built environment educators' capacity for teaching and learning", Construction Economics and Building, 20(3):160-174 DOI: 10.5130/AJCEB.v20i3.7035
    • Mackintosh, L., Philips, M. (2017) “Learning about Architecture: The Art of Making and Being” in The International Journal of Architectonic, Spatial, and Environmental Design, 11(1), 1-13.

  • Conference proceedings

    • Mackintosh, L., Ruge, G., (2018) “Expanding built environment education from teaching content to student learning and skills outcomes for future professionals” in Educating Building Professionals for the Future in the Globalised World: 42nd AUBEA Conference. K. Do, M. Sutrisna, B. Cooper-Cooke and O. Olatunji. Singapore, Australasian Universities Building Education Association: pp 59-68
    • Mackintosh, L., Beard, N. and Macedo, J. (2017) “Looking Back to a Job Well Done? Measuring Success in the Integration of Teaching and Learning across Multiple Modes of Delivery” in Back to the Future: The Next 50 Years: 51st International Conference of the Architectural Science Association. Wellington, New Zealand: The Architectural Science Association, pp. 509-518.
    • Mackintosh, L., Creagh, R. and McGann, S. (2017) “Facilitating Transformative Experiences: Case studies for School Design” in Back to the Future: The Next 50 Years: 51st International Conference of the Architectural Science Association. Wellington, New Zealand: The Architectural Science Association. pp. 251-260.  
      FoR: 120101 Architectural Design  100%
    • Mackintosh, L. (2016) “Learning architecture: supporting positive change” in Fifty years later: Revisiting the role of architectural science in design and practice: 50th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association 2016, The Architectural Science Association and The University of Adelaide, pp 319-328.

  • Original creative works

    • Mackintosh L. (Viridis Architecture) Alameda Alterations and Additions to home in Highgate. Peer review through the Master Builder’s Housing excellence awards 2019. Winner in two categories.

  • Professional affiliations

    • Australian Institute of Architects, WA Chapter Education Committee – Chair
    • Architects Accreditation Council of Australia, Standing Panel member
    • Architects Accreditation Council of Australia, Accreditation Management Committee

  • Community engagement

    2021: Accreditation Review Panel. Appointed as Panel Member for Accreditation Review Panel for architecture programs at the Western Sydney University. 6-8 December
    2021: Accreditation Review Panels. Appointed as Panel Member for Accreditation Review Panels for architecture programs at the University of Melbourne. 25-28 October
    2021: WA International Womens Day Panel Discussion. Invited by the Australian Institute of Architects as member of a panel of high profile professional women. * March.
    2019:  Placemaking in Higher-Education Schools, Kuala Lumpur, invited by  Placemaking X as part of Placemaker Week ASEAN. Key Speaker. 6 November.
    2019:  Learning Environments as Place. Professional workshop as part of Transformance: Transforming the Learning Landscape Learning Environments Australasia 19th Annual Conference. Facilitator. 29 May.
    Association for Learning Environments Australasia, WA Chapter Executive Committee member, WA Awards Program Coordinator

  • Grants

    2020-2021 prep (postgraduate researchers, educators and practitioners) scoping project. Chief Investigator. Research project funded by Learning Environments WA.