Dr Silvia Micheli (BArch Politecnico di Milano; PhD, IUAV, Venice) is Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Program Convener of the Bachelor of Architectural Design. She joined The University of Queensland in 2012 after 5 year of teaching and research at the Politecnico di Milano.
Dr Micheli's design research is cross-disciplinary, with a strong focus on the urban environment and its resiliance. Her research investigates the notion of productive city and how small-scale productive projects can enhance livability and resilience in our communities. Her forthcoming co-authored book, House, Precinct and Territory: Design Strategies for the Productive City (ORO, 2024) discusses concrete scenarios for urban production. The book is the result of a research partnership with RMIT, UTS and PRAUD/Seoul. Dr Micheli is cuncurrently studing new forms of urban horticulture and farming to increase food production and foster circular economy in the city. In 2021, Silvia co-designed the Blue Bower Pavilion, receipient of the Crossroads Prize at the 2021 Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism as a manifesto of urban resilience during COVID19. In 2018, Silvia's co-designed the multi-awarded residential building One Room Tower, a demonstration project for the densification of the city.
Dr Micheli is currently co-curator of the fothcoming exhibition on the work of AIA gold medallist Enrico Taglietti, in partnership with the Canberra Museum and Gallery. This exciting collaboration is underpinned by her knowledge and experitise on cultural transfer and the related notion of the global architect built through her publications. These includes her new critical co-authored book on the mechanism of cultural production and translation in late 20th century, Paolo Portoghesi: Architecture between History, Politics and Media (Boomsbury, 2023); the co-edited volume Italy/Australia: Postmodern Architecture in Translation (Melbourne, 2018), that reflects on the influence of Italian design culture on Australian architecture; her study on the impact of Aalto in Australia and Japan that was presented at the 2021 DOCOMOMO conference in Tokyo; the co-edited book Aalto beyond Finland: Buildings, Projects and Network (Helsinki, 2018), which explores the global reach of the work of Finnish architect Alvar Aalto and her contribution to the 2014 travelling exhibition catalogue Alvar Aalto: Second Nature, Vitra, with an essay on the impact of Italian urban culture on Aalto design approach.
Contextually, Silvia has also co-authored the book Storia dell’architettura italiana 1985–2015 (Turin, 2013), which reflects on the mechanisms of architectural production in contemporary Italy; co-edited the volume Italia 60/70. Una stagione dell’architettura (Padua, 2010); solo-authored the volume Erik Bryggman 1891–1955. Architettura Moderna in Finlandia (Rome, 2009). Her first co-authored book, published in when she was a graduate student, Lo spettacolo dell'Architettura: Profilo dell'Archistar, looks at the power of media in the making of design culture.
Dr Micheli has a range of international collaborations with cultural institutions, such as the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, Triennale di Milano, Centre Pompidou, MAXXI Museum , Alvar Aalto Foundation and Vitra Design Museum. She has also liaised with prestigious academic institutions, including Seoul National University, Berlage Institute, Politecnico di Milano and University of Manchester. In 2019, Dr Micheli was Visiting Professor at the School of Art and Design at the Guangdong University of Technology, China.
Since 2016, Dr Micheli has assisted ADP to secure DFAT funding to foster UQ students mobility in the Asia Pacific Region, liaising with international academic and industry partners in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Singapore, Hong Kong and Seoul.
Dr Silvia Micheli is a registered architect (Board of Architects, Lecco, Italy) and member of the editorial board of the Springer book series Transnational Histories of Design Cultures and Production.
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Journal Article: The Changi-Marina Bay corridor: green strategies for Singapore’s soft power
Micheli, Silvia and Brugman, Johanna (2023). The Changi-Marina Bay corridor: green strategies for Singapore’s soft power. Architectural Research Quarterly, 27 (1), 61-71. doi: 10.1017/s1359135522000598
Book: Paolo Portoghesi : Architecture between History, Politics and Media
Micheli, Silvia, Sabini, Maurizio, Heynen, Hilde, Søberg, Martin, Musgrave, Elizabeth, Colman, Scott, Johnsen, Espen and Szacka, Léa-Catherine (2023). Paolo Portoghesi : Architecture between History, Politics and Media. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. doi: 10.5040/9781350117167
Book Chapter: Inside becomes outside: Queensland’s domestic landscape
Micheli, Silvia and Paine, Ashley (2022). Inside becomes outside: Queensland’s domestic landscape. The new Queensland house. (pp. 12-19) edited by Cameron Bruhn and Katelin Butler. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Thames & Hudson.
UQ Advancing Women Researchers Grant 2015 Round 1 - Dr Silvia Micheli
(2015–2016) UQ Advancing Women Researchers Grants
(2014–2015) UQ Early Career Researcher
(2012–2015) UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
Wildly productive urban landscapes: Exploring the agency of public urban landscapes in creating healthy cities and community engagement
Doctor Philosophy
Mobility Culture and Micro-scale Living Patterns: Re-conceptualization of Land Use and Movement Patterns in Australian Cities
Doctor Philosophy
Improving food production, convenience, and the comforts of agricultural architecture
Doctor Philosophy
Paolo Portoghesi : Architecture between History, Politics and Media
Micheli, Silvia, Sabini, Maurizio, Heynen, Hilde, Søberg, Martin, Musgrave, Elizabeth, Colman, Scott, Johnsen, Espen and Szacka, Léa-Catherine (2023). Paolo Portoghesi : Architecture between History, Politics and Media. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. doi: 10.5040/9781350117167
Aalto Beyond Finland - Projects, buildings and networks
Esa Laaksonen and Silvia Micheli eds. (2018). Aalto Beyond Finland - Projects, buildings and networks. Helsinki, Finland: Rakennustieto Publishing’.
Italy/Australia: postmodern architecture in translation
Micheli, Silvia and Macarthur, John eds. (2018). Italy/Australia: postmodern architecture in translation. Melbourne, Australia: Uro.
Guida all'architettura di Milano 1954-2014
Marco Biraghi, Gabriella Lo Ricco and Silvia Micheli eds. (2013). Guida all'architettura di Milano 1954-2014. Milan, Italy: Hoepli.
Storia dell'architettura italiana 1985-2015
Biraghi, Marco and Micheli, Silvia (2013). Storia dell'architettura italiana 1985-2015. Turin, Italy: Giulio Einaudi Editore.
Erik Bryggman: 1891-1955: Architettura moderna in Finlandia
Micheli, Silvia (2009). Erik Bryggman: 1891-1955: Architettura moderna in Finlandia. Roma, Italia: Gangemi Editore.
Lo spettacolo dell'architettura. Profilo dell'archistar
Lo Ricco, Gabriella and Micheli, Silvia (2003). Lo spettacolo dell'architettura. Profilo dell'archistar. Milano, Italy: Bruno Mondadori.
Inside becomes outside: Queensland’s domestic landscape
Micheli, Silvia and Paine, Ashley (2022). Inside becomes outside: Queensland’s domestic landscape. The new Queensland house. (pp. 12-19) edited by Cameron Bruhn and Katelin Butler. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Thames & Hudson.
Micheli, Silvia and Ciccarelli, Lorenzo (2022). The International call: Italian design, culture, politics, and economics at the 1972 MoMA exhibition and beyond. Italian imprints on twentieth-century architecture. (pp. 207-220) edited by Denise Costanzo and Andrew Leach. London, United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Visual Arts. doi: 10.5040/9781350257757.ch-016
Alessandro Mendini, Domus and the postmodern vision (1979–1985)
Micheli, Silvia (2018). Alessandro Mendini, Domus and the postmodern vision (1979–1985). Mediated messages: periodicals, exhibitions and the shaping of postmodern architecture. (pp. 115-133) edited by Véronique Patteeuw and Léa-Catherine Szacka. London, United Kingdom: Bloomsbury. doi: 10.5040/9781350046207.ch-007
Between La Tendenza and neoliberty: Mauro Baracco goes to Australia
Baracco, Mauro, Macarthur, John and Micheli, Silvia (2018). Between La Tendenza and neoliberty: Mauro Baracco goes to Australia. Italy/Australia: postmodernism in translation. (pp. 180-192) edited by Silvia Micheli and John Macarthur. Melbourne, VIC Australia: Uro Publications.
Ciao Australia: Domus looks to the antipodes
Micheli, Silvia (2018). Ciao Australia: Domus looks to the antipodes. Italy/Australia: Italian postmodern architecture in translation. (pp. 36-46) edited by Silvia Micheli and John Macarthur. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Uro Publications.
Culture mining: Ian McDougall in conversation with John Macarthur and Silvia Micheli
McDougall, Ian, Macarthur, John and Micheli, Silvia (2018). Culture mining: Ian McDougall in conversation with John Macarthur and Silvia Micheli. Italy/Australia: postmodern architecture in translation. (pp. 164-171) edited by Silvia Micheli and John Macarthur. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Uro.
Thinking Italian in postmodern Australia
Micheli, Silvia and Macarthur, John (2018). Thinking Italian in postmodern Australia. Italy/Australia: postmodern architecture in translation. (pp. 6-10) edited by Silvia Micheli and John Macarthur. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Uro.
Addison, Rex, Micheli, Silvia and Macarthur, John (2018). Thinking about Gino Valle and a few others in my small pool: Rex Addison in conversation with Silvia Micheli and John Macarthur. Italy/Australia: postmodern architecture in translation. (pp. 172-179) edited by Silvia Micheli and John Macarthur. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Uro Publications.
“I am Brunelleschi”: Aalto’s Fever for the Mediterranean
Micheli, Silvia (2018). “I am Brunelleschi”: Aalto’s Fever for the Mediterranean. Aalto beyond Finland: Projects, Buildings, Networks. (pp. 62-75) edited by Esa Laaksonen and Silvia Micheli. Helsinki, Finland: Rakennustieto Publishing.
Paolo Portoghesi and the postmodern project
Micheli, Silvia and Szacka, Léa-Catherine (2017). Paolo Portoghesi and the postmodern project. Re-framing identities: architecture's turn to history, 1970–1990. (pp. 179-189) edited by Ákos Moravánszky and Torsten Lange. Basel, Switzerland: Birkäuser.
Paolo Portoghesi and the postmodern project
Micheli, Silvia and Szacka, Léa-Catherine (2017). Paolo Portoghesi and the postmodern project. Re-framing identities: architecture's turn to history, 1970-1990 . (pp. 179-189) edited by Ákos Moravánszky and Torsten Lange. Basil, Switzerland: Birkhäuser. doi: 10.1515/9783035608151-012
Between history and design: the Baroque legacy in the work of Paolo Portoghesi
Micheli, Silvia (2015). Between history and design: the Baroque legacy in the work of Paolo Portoghesi. The Baroque in architectural culture, 1880-1980. (pp. 195-210) edited by Andrew Leach, John Macarthur and Maarten Delbeke. Farnsworth, United Kingdom: Ashgate.
International influences in post-war Queensland: protagonists, destinations and models
Micheli, Silvia and Wilson, Andrew C. (2015). International influences in post-war Queensland: protagonists, destinations and models. Hot modernism: Queensland architecture 1945-1975. (pp. 117-133) edited by John P. Macarthur, Deborah van der Plaat, Janina Gosseye and Andrew Wilson. London, United Kingdom: Artifice.
Alvar Aalto and Italy: A relationship of exchange
Micheli, Silvia (2014). Alvar Aalto and Italy: A relationship of exchange. Alvar Aalto: Second Nature. (pp. 316-337) edited by Jochen Eisenbrand, Mateo Kries and Alvar Aalto. Weil am Rhein: Vitra Design Museum.
Architecture Italienne: Années 1960 et 1970
Micheli, Silvia (2012). Architecture Italienne: Années 1960 et 1970. La tendenza: Architectures Italiennes 1965 -1985. (pp. 81-89) edited by Frédéric Migayrou. Paris, France: Centre Pompidou.
Biennale di architettura di Venezia
Micheli, Silvia (2012). Biennale di architettura di Venezia. Architettura del novecento - Teorie, scuole, eventi. (pp. 99-106) edited by Marco Biraghi and Alberto Ferlenga. Torino, Italy: Giulio Einaudi Editore.
Genius loci di Christian Norberg-Schulz
Micheli, Silvia (2012). Genius loci di Christian Norberg-Schulz. Architettura del novecento - teorie, scuole, eventi. (pp. 390-394) edited by Marco Biraghi and Alberto Ferlenga. Torino, Italy: Giulio Einaudi Editore.
Baukuh. Una idea di architettura
Micheli, Silvia (2010). Baukuh. Una idea di architettura. MMX: Architettura zona critica. (pp. 185-193) edited by Marco Biraghi, Gabriella Lo Ricco, Silvia Micheli and GIZMO (Research group). Rovereto, Italy: Zandonai.
L'Altra sede. Verso una nuova identita' milanese
Micheli, Silvia (2010). L'Altra sede. Verso una nuova identita' milanese. MMX Architettura zona critica. (pp. 90-95) edited by Marco Biraghi, Gabriella Lo Ricco and Silvia Micheli. Rovereto, Italy: Zandonai.
La cultura architettonica Italiana: Una generazione "contro"
Micheli, Silvia (2010). La cultura architettonica Italiana: Una generazione "contro". Italia 60/70. Una stagione dell’architettura. (pp. 15-30) edited by Marco Biraghi, Gabriella Lo Ricco, Silvia Micheli and Mario Viganò. Padova, Italy: Il Poligrafo.
Le riviste Italiane di architettura: Il luogo logico del dibattito architettonico
Micheli, Silvia (2010). Le riviste Italiane di architettura: Il luogo logico del dibattito architettonico. Italia 60/70: Una stagione dell'architettura. (pp. 125-138) edited by Marco Biraghi, Gabriella Lo Ricco, Silvia Micheli and Mario Vigano. Padova: Il Poligrafo.
Un pensiero in continua evoluzione
Micheli, Silvia (2009). Un pensiero in continua evoluzione. Editoriali di architettura. (pp. XIII-XVII) edited by Gabriella Lo Ricco and Mario Vigano. Rovereto, Italy: Zandonai.
The Changi-Marina Bay corridor: green strategies for Singapore’s soft power
Micheli, Silvia and Brugman, Johanna (2023). The Changi-Marina Bay corridor: green strategies for Singapore’s soft power. Architectural Research Quarterly, 27 (1), 61-71. doi: 10.1017/s1359135522000598
Shifting strategies: Australian architects and the future of Chinese cities
Violett, Paul and Micheli, Silvia (2020). Shifting strategies: Australian architects and the future of Chinese cities. Architecture Australia (Jan-Feb), 56-59.
Come together: the evolving social role of libraries
Laaksonen, Esa and Micheli, Silvia (2020). Come together: the evolving social role of libraries. Griffith Review (69), 246-252.
“I Made a Choice”: Enrico Taglietti citizen of the world in Canberra
Micheli, Silvia (2020). “I Made a Choice”: Enrico Taglietti citizen of the world in Canberra. Fabrications, 30 (3), 346-370. doi: 10.1080/10331867.2020.1827788
Designing the global city: design excellence, competitions and the remaking of central Sydney
Micheli, Silvia (2019). Designing the global city: design excellence, competitions and the remaking of central Sydney. Planning Perspectives, 34 (4), 750-751. doi: 10.1080/02665433.2019.1620047
New directions for the dense city: Moshe Safdie in Singapore
Bischeri, Cecilia and Micheli, Silvia (2016). New directions for the dense city: Moshe Safdie in Singapore. Joelho, 7 (7), 116-131. doi: 10.14195/1647-8681_7_9
Vale Romaldo Giurgola AO, 1920-2016
Micheli, Silvia (2016). Vale Romaldo Giurgola AO, 1920-2016. Architecture Australia, 105 (6), 107-109.
Incremental civic-ness: James Street Precinct
Micheli, Silvia and Moulis, Antony (2016). Incremental civic-ness: James Street Precinct. Architecture Australia, 105 (5), 64-70.
Micheli, Silvia and Szacka, Léa-Catherine (2016). Paolo’s triangolo. AA Files (72), 98-106.
Reassessing 1960s and 1970s Italian architecture: oral history as a method of investigation
Micheli, Silvia (2014). Reassessing 1960s and 1970s Italian architecture: oral history as a method of investigation. Fabrications: The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand, 24 (2), 199-213. doi: 10.1080/10331867.2014.963923
Review: Fascism, Architecture, and the Claiming of Modern Milan, 1922–1943
Micheli, Silvia (2014). Review: Fascism, Architecture, and the Claiming of Modern Milan, 1922–1943. Fabrications, 24 (2), 294-297. doi: 10.1080/10331867.2014.961227
Kaksi erilaista polkua: two different journeys
Micheli, Silvia (2014). Kaksi erilaista polkua: two different journeys. Arkkitehti, 111 (2), 72-77.
Brisbane Supreme and District Courts
Micheli, Silvia and Moulis, Antony (2013). Brisbane Supreme and District Courts. Architecture Australia, 102 (2), 30-36.
Moulis, Antony and Micheli, Silvia (2011). A unity of experience. Architectural Review Australia (124), 78-85.
Erik Bryggman. The cemetery chapel in Turku (1938-41)
Micheli, Silvia (2009). Erik Bryggman. The cemetery chapel in Turku (1938-41). Abitare la Terra (23), 35-39.
Micheli, Silvia and Sarvimaki, Marja (2021). Process of a global triangulation of cultures: how Alvar Aalto's design methodology crossed the Asia pacific. 16th International Docomomo Conference, Tokyo, Japan, 29 August - 2 September 2021. Tokyo, Japan: Docomomo.
The ecology of (sub)tropical residential architecture in urban Vietnam and Australia
Micheli, Silvia (2020). The ecology of (sub)tropical residential architecture in urban Vietnam and Australia. Urban Tropicality: 7th International Network of Tropical Architecture Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 5-8 December 2019. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
New inner-city living: testing the micro-context
Micheli, Silvia and Moulis, Antony (2018). New inner-city living: testing the micro-context. Annual Design Research Conference, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 27-28 September 2018. Sydney, NSW, Australia:
Queensland, golden chips and the temptation of the Asia-Pacific model
Bischeri, Cecilia and Micheli, Silvia (2016). Queensland, golden chips and the temptation of the Asia-Pacific model. Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ) Annual Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 6-9 July 2016. Melbourne, Australia: SAHANZ.
Micheli, Silvia (2015). Brisbane, Australia’s new world city: the making of public and institutional spaces in South Bank from Expo ’88 to the G20. Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ) Annual Conference, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 7-10 July 2015. Sydney, NSW, Australia: SAHANZ.
Micheli, Silvia (2014). Building European taste in broader communities: The role of the David Jones stores in the promotion of design and architecture in Australia. EAHN Turin 2014: European Architectural History Network Third International Meeting, Turin, Italy, 19 - 21 June 2014. Torino, Italy: Politecnico di Torino.
Micheli, Silvia (2013). Architecture in a foreign language: how Italy has recognized foreign architecture in the last twenty years. Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ) Annual Conference, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 2-5 July, 2013. Gold Coast, QLD, Australia: SAHANZ: Society of Architectural Historians, Australia & New Zealand.
At the origins of postmodernism: Paolo Portoghesi's studies on baroque architecture
Micheli, Silvia (2012). At the origins of postmodernism: Paolo Portoghesi's studies on baroque architecture. Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ) Annual Conference, Launceston, TAS, Australia, 5-8 July 2012. Launceston, TAS, Australia: SAHANZ.
Exploring the edge of orthodoxy: The Baroque as read by Paolo Portoghesi
Micheli, Silvia (2012). Exploring the edge of orthodoxy: The Baroque as read by Paolo Portoghesi. 2nd International Meeting of the European Architectural History Network, Brussels, Belgium, 31 May - 3 June 2012. Brussels, Belgium: KVAB Press.
Micheli, Silvia (2011). Look at the architect! The effects of the star system on the communication of contemporary architecture. Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ) Annual Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 7-10 July 2011. Brisbane, Australia: Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ).
Kaji-O'Grady, Sandra and Micheli, Silvia (2019). Rivers and waterfronts. 2019 Seoul biennale of architecture and urbanism: Collective city. (pp. 263-265) Seoul, South Korea: Seoul Metropolitan Government.
phorm architecture + design, Micheli, Silvia and Moulis, Antony (2018). One Room Tower. Brisbane, Australia: Phorm Architecture.
L'architettura che ti piace / the architecture you like©
GIZMO, Biraghi, Marco, Lo Ricco, Gabriella and Micheli, Silvia (2011). L'architettura che ti piace / the architecture you like©. Rome, Italy: MAXXI: Museo nazionale delle Arti del XXI secolo.
UQ Advancing Women Researchers Grant 2015 Round 1 - Dr Silvia Micheli
(2015–2016) UQ Advancing Women Researchers Grants
(2014–2015) UQ Early Career Researcher
(2012–2015) UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
Wildly productive urban landscapes: Exploring the agency of public urban landscapes in creating healthy cities and community engagement
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Mobility Culture and Micro-scale Living Patterns: Re-conceptualization of Land Use and Movement Patterns in Australian Cities
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Improving food production, convenience, and the comforts of agricultural architecture
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
64+ MANIFESTO: Intergenerational Approach for a Healthy and Age Friendly City
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Data-Driven Urban Evaluation of Australian cities through the lens of Micromobility
Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
The Figures of Charles Jencks, 'Semiology and Architecture'
(2016) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Radical Restructuring: Autonomies in Italian Architecture & Design, 1968-73
(2014) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors: