Brent Allpress

Brent Allpress is a Senior Lecturer in Architecture and a former Director of RMIT Architecture. He researches adaptive architectural alteration practices, AI generated 3D printable modelling, contemporary architectural ornamentality and open source Intelligence urban Infomatics.

Creative Works Research:

Brent Allpress, Key Researcher and Interviewee in “Bad Faith” Feature Length Documentary Film, Dir. Stephen Ujlaki and Chris Jones, Panarea Production, Los Angeles, USA, released March 2024.

Brent Allpress, “Lost in Transition - The Demolished Entrance to the Capitol Theatre By The Griffins”, Digital Animation Film, Film Director/Editor: Brent Allpress, 3D Modelling and Animation: Justin Phillips, in Knowledge Transfer: CityXVenice Virtual Pavilion. Venice International Architecture Biennale, 20 May-26 November 2023. Vernissage 18-19 May 2023.

Brent Allpress, "Weaponised Urban Infomatics: Excerpts from the Documentary 'People You May Know' ", Film Excerpt Editor: Brent Allpress, Dir. Kat Gellein and Dr. Charles Kriel, in Knowledge Transfer: CityXVenice Virtual Pavilion. Venice International Architecture Biennale, 20 May-26 November 2023. Vernissage 18-19 May 2023.

Brent Allpress, credited key researcher in Jo Becker and Danny Hakim. “The Long Crusade of Ginni and Clarence Thomas”, New York Times Magazine Cover Story February 22, 2022. A 15,000 word extended article by Pultizer Prize winning NYTimes investigative journalists.

Brent Allpress, Key Researcher and Interviewee in “People You May Know” Feature Length Documentary Film, Dir. Kat Gellein and Dr. Charles Kriel, Metrotone Media, London/Oslo, released initially via Subscription Streaming on Amazon Prime US, Septenber 2020.

Brent Allpress, Founding Editor, Editorials, Architectural Design Research journal, Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia, 2005-2008. This was the first refereed journal internationally to publish project based design research and creative works research, anticipating the ERA framework. From 2008 I adapted the ediitorial and commissioning model for the RMIT Design Research publication series.

Publications Research:

Brent Allpress, “In Formation: Curating Emergent Design Behaviours in Algorithmic Scripting and Robotic Fabrication,” in Drawing Is/Not Building, Wellington: NZ: Adam Art Gallery, Victoria University of Wellington, 2016.

Brent Allpress, “Alteration and Alterity: The adaptive re-use of Modern architecture” in Architect Victoria Journal, Summer Issue, 2015.
Brent Allpress, Robyn Barnacle, Lesley Duxbury, Elizabeth Grierson (Eds), Supervising Practices for Postgraduate Research in Art, Architecture and Design, Rotterdam: Sense Publishing, 2013.

Brent Allpress, Robyn Barnacle, Lesley Duxbury, Elizabeth Grierson, "Supervising Practice-led Research through Art, Creative Writing, Architecture and Design Projects" in Brent Allpress, et al (Eds), Supervising Practices for Postgraduate Research in Art, Architecture and Design, Rotterdam: Sense Publishing, 2013.

Brent Allpress, "Pedagogical Practices for Supervising Research by Project in Architecture and Design" in Brent Allpress, et al (Eds), Supervising Practices for Postgraduate Research in Art, Architecture and Design, Rotterdam: Sense Publishing, 2013.

Brent Allpress, “Pedagogical Frameworks for Emergent Digital Practices in Architecture” in Distributed Intelligence in Design, Tuba Kocatürk and Benachir Medjdoub (Eds), London: Wiley, 2011

Brent Allpress and Robyn Barnacle, "Practice-based education: engaging with emergent practices in architecture through research-led teaching by project", in Joy Higgs et al (eds), Education for Future Practice, Rotterdam: Sense Publishing, 2010

Brent Allpress and Robyn Barnacle, "Projecting the PhD: Architectural design research by and through projects," in Changing Practices in Doctoral Education, David Boud and Alison Lee (eds), London: Routledge Press, 2009

Brent Allpress, "Design Research Infrastructure", Editorial in Architectural Design Research: project-based design research and discourse on design, Brent Allpress and Michael Ostwald (Editors), vol 3, no. 1, 2008

Brent Allpress, "Design Research Models", Editorial in Architectural Design Research: project-based design research and discourse on design, Brent Allpress and Michael Ostwald (Editors), vol 2, no. 1, 2007

Brent Allpress and Michael Ostwald (Editors), Design Research: project-based design research and discourse on design, vol 2, no. 1, 2007

Brent Allpress, Preface, in Leisurelandz: International Architecture Workshop 3, Paul Minifie & Jan van Schaik (Editors), Montpellier: Association Champ Libre, 2006. 

Brent Allpress, Editorial in Architectural Design Research: project-based design research and discourse on design, Brent Allpress and Michael Ostwald (Editors), vol 1, no. 1, 2005

Brent Allpress, Melbourne Editor, Monument Magazine, Australia, 1998-2005

Brent Allpress, "Design Scholarship," in Preter- RMIT Architecture Thesis Projects 2002-2003, edited by Stuart Harrison, Melbourne: RMIT Press, 2004

Brent Allpress, "Surface Values," in AR: Digital Architecture, Andrew Benjamin (Guest Editor), Andrew MacKenzie (Editor), Architecture Review Australia: Special Issue, no. 90, September 2004

Brent Allpress, "Out-Back, Installation by Seifert Stoeckmann, Kay Farm, Guildford, Victoria," in Monument #62, 2004

Brent Allpress, "Digital Interface: VCA Centre for Ideas, Minifie Nixon," in Monument #56, 2004

Brent Allpress, “Ornamental Operations,” in AD: Surface Consciousness, Mark Taylor (ed), London: Wiley-Academy, 2003.

Brent Allpress, "Book Review: 'Wonderful Weiner Werkstadt'," in Monument, 2003

Brent Allpress, “Trojan House: Seifert and Stoeckmann Living Room Project," in Monument #49, 2002

Brent Allpress, “Unruly Historical Figures: Lyons’ Wonthaggi TAFE," in Monument #47, 2002

Brent Allpress, “Property Values and Other Mis-appropriations,” in dia- Architecture Thesis Projects 2000-2001, edited by Mauro Baracco et al, Melbourne: RMIT University Press, 2002

Brent Allpress, “Surface Tensions: Revising the Role and Status of Digitally Mediated Ornamental Figuration in Contemporary Architecture,” in Re-framing Architecture: Theory, Science and Myth, edited by Michael J. Ostwald and R. John Moore, Sydney: Archadia Press, 2000

Brent Allpress, “Surface Fiction: Lyons Architecture practice profile", in Monument #37, 2000

Brent Allpress, "Broken Glass: Melbourne's Federation Square Shards Review," in Monument #35, 2000

Brent Allpress, "Book review: 'Contemporary Melbourne Architecture,' by Joe Rollo", in Monument #34, 2000

Brent Allpress, "Once Removed: interview with Howard Raggatt on the design and construction of the National Museum of Australia", in Monument #33, 2000

Brent Allpress, "Conference Review: 'Architectural Insites Symposium'," in Monument #33, 2000

Brent Allpress, "Aspect: Landscape Architecture practice profile," in Monument: Millenial Special Issue, 1999

Brent Allpress, "Seeking Heide: The MOMA Masterplan Design Competition," in Monument #31, 1999

Brent Allpress, and Martyn Hook, "Interview with Terence Riley, Curator of Architecture at MOMA, NY," in Monument #27, 1998

Brent Allpress, "Lab Results: Federation Square Design Competition," in Monument #21, 1997

Brent Allpress and Martyn Hook, "Interview with Itsuko Hasegawa," in Monument  #20, 1997

Brent Allpress, "Conference Review: 'Morphe', Conference, Deakin University", in Monument #20, 1997

Brent Allpress, "Exhibition Review: 'X-tract: Urban Design Installation', Laurel Pocari," in Monument #19, 1997

Brent Allpress, "Federation Square Competition," in Like, Art Magazine #4, Spring 1997

External Funded Research Projects:

Brent Allpress, RMIT, Prof Tom Kovac, Chief Investigator Funding Recipients. Project: 100 Year City Medini Malaysia. Funding: $130,000 AUD. over two years. Funding Source: Medini, Malaysia. 2017-2018

Brent Allpress, RMIT, Prof Tom Kovac, Chief Investigator Funding Recipients. Project: 100 Year City Malaysia. Funding: $36,000 AUD. Funding Source: Green Gain Corp, Malaysia. Industry Partners: Medini, Malaysia, 2014-2015

Brent Allpress, RMIT; Prof Michael Ostwald, University of Newcastle, Editor Funding Recipients. Project: Architectural Design Research Journal. Funding: $108,000 AUD. Funding Source: Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia AASA. Dates: 2005-2008

Brent Allpress, RMIT; Mark Burry, RMIT; Claire Newton, University of Melbourne; Conference Convenor Funding Recipients. Project: Design Research: AASA International Architectural Education Conference, University of Melbourne, 2003. Funding: $35,000 AUD. Funding Source: Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia AASA, 2003

Exhibition Curation:

Brent Allpress, RMIT Creative Director, in Knowledge Transfer, CityX Venice, NYIT Collatoral Exhibition, Venice International Architecture Biennale, 20 May 2023 – 26 Nov 2023.

Brent Allpress, RMIT Urban Proposals, Invited Competition Exhibition, Designing Resilience in Asia, NSU, Singapore, 2018

Brent Allpress and Gretchen Wilkins, RMIT Curators, in Machinic Processes Exhibition, Architecture Biennale Beijing ABB 15–31 October 2010. ABB Directors: Neil Leach and Xu Wei-Guo.

Brent Allpress, RMIT Curator, Cumulus Green, 20th Anniversary Exhibition, Shanghai, China, September 2010.

Brent Allpress, RMIT Curator, RMIT Architecture Installation with Studio Prix, die Angewandte, Vienna, Spot on Schools Exhibition, and Exhibition Forum Invited Speaker, in Visions: Beyond Media International Festival of Architecture and Media, Florence, July 9–17 2009. Curator: Paola Giaconia. Festival Director: Marco Brizzi.

Brent Allpress, RMIT Curator, Built Systems, 2040 City - Design Laboratory, in State of Design Festival: Sampling the Future, Melbourne, July 15–25, 2009.


Exhibition Catalogue Essays:

Brent Allpress, “In Formation: Curating Emergent Design Behaviours in Algorithmic Scripting and Robotic Fabrication,” in Drawing Is/Not Building, Wellington: NZ: Adam Art Gallery, Victoria University of Wellington, 2016.

Brent Allpress and Gretchen Wilkins, "RMIT Architecture: Advanced Technologies and Emergent Practices", 4th Architecture Biennale Beijing, Sep 6 - Oct 6, 2010. Selection was by invitation. RMIT Curators: Brent Allpress and Gretchen Wilkins

Brent Allpress, "RMIT Architecture" in Spots on School Exhibition in Visions: Beyond Media Festival, 2009, Stazione Leopolda, Florence, Italy, July 9-17, 2009. RMIT Curator: Brent Allpress

Brent Allpress, "Postgraduate Architecture and Design Research by Project at RMIT," Catalogue Essay in RMIT Architecture + Design and Art Postgraduate Research by Project, Exhibition Catalogue, Education Exhibition, Shanghai Art and Architecture Biennale, 2008. RMIT Curators: Adrea Mina, Brent Allpress, Lesley Duxbury.

Public Lectures, Forums and Interviews:

Brent Allpress, "Bad Faith", Intervied by Heidi Cuda and Joshua Fidel, Podcast: Radicalized, Los Angeles, USA, February 02, 2024. Features Key Researcher contribution to the US Film Documentary "Bad Faith", 2024.

Brent Allpress, RMIT; Matias del Campo, Taubman; Alessandro Melis, NYIT. Invited Panel. Convenors: Denise Luna Acevedo & Alex Santander, Pragma. Planetary Frontlines - CityXVenice Finissage, Venice International Architecture Biennale, 24 Nov, 2023.

Brent Allpress, "Weaponised Infomatics", Interview with Heidi Cuda and Joshua Fidel, Podcast: Radicalized, Los Angeles, USA, 20 Jun 2023. Features Venice Architecture Biennale exhibited Urban Infomatics research, 2023.

Brent Allpress, "Oil, Data, and Psychological Warfare", interview with Dave Troy, Podcast: Dave Troy Presents, Washington DC, USA, Series 1, Episode 17, February 20th 2022.

Brent Allpress and Chris Vickery, "Twitter Troll Strategies", Interviewed by Heidi Cuda, Joshua Fidel and Jim Stewartson, Podcast: Radicalized, Episode 9, Los Angeles, USA, 17 January 2022.

Brent Allpress, interviewed by James Morrow, Sunday Express, Radio National Australia Feb 27, 2022. Features research contribution to NYTimes Magazine cover story article out in February, 2022, by Pulitzer Prize winners Jo Becker and Danny Hakim.

Brent Allpress, interviewed by Heidi Cuda, Joshua Fidel and Jim Stewartson, "Counter Trolling", Podcast: Radicalized, Episode 3, Los Angeles, USA, 24 January 2022.

Brent Allpress, "Exposing the CNP", Interviewed by Heidi Cuda, Joshua Fidel and Jim Stewartson and Sean Connor, Podcast: Radicalized, Episode 10, Los Angeles, USA, 29 November 2021.

Brent Allpress, Invited Public Lecture, "Cambridge Analytica, Mental Health Data & Microtargeted Facebook Advertising across Religious, Health and Political audiences", Host, Dr. Emma Briant, Coordinator of the Contemporary Propaganda course, in the Human Rights Program, Bard College, NY State, USA, March 23, 2021.

Brent Allpress, interviewed by Monique Camarra, "Investigating the Coup", Podcast: Coffee Talk Politics, Padua, Italy, January 19, 2021. 

Brent Allpress, RMIT Architecture; Assoc. Prof. David Carroll, Parsons School of Design, NY. The Aftermath of Cambridge Analytica, Host Interviewer: David Troy, TEDX MidAtlantic, Washigton DC, USA, 10 Oct 2020. Features Key Researcher contribution to the documentary film "People you may know", released in September 2020.

Brent Allpress, interviewed on Nine To Noon, Radio New Zealand, 9:30-10:00 am on 8 October 2020. Features Key Researcher contribution to the documentary film "People you may know", released in September 2020.

Brent Allpress, Invited Speaker, 100 Year City Medini Malaysia International Urban Design Workshop, Biennale Sessions Forum, Finnesage, Venice International Architecture Biennale, 2018.

Brent Allpress, Invited Speaker, 100 Year City Malaysia Workshop, Biennale Sessions Forum, Finnesage, Venice International Architecture Biennale, 2014.

Brent Allpress, Invited Speaker, Public Forum, BMW Edge, Federation Square in State of Design Festival: Sampling the Future, Melbourne, July 15–25, 2009.

Brent Allpress, Invited Speaker, “Pedagogical Frameworks for Emergent Digital Practices in Architecture” in International Symposium on Distributed Intelligence in Design, Salford Quays, UK, May 7–8, 2009. Convenors: Tuba Kocatürk and Benachir Medjdoub. Hosted by Salford University, UK.

Brent Allpress, interviewed by Stuart Harrison and Simon Knott on The Architects, Radio show, RRR, Melbourne, 4 March 2008.

Brent Allpress, Invited Forum Speaker, Vice Versa: Hong Kong Venice Biennale Exhibition, Vernissage, International Architecture Biennale, Venice, 2006.

Brent Allpress, Invited Speaker, Utopia Forum, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia, 2004.

Brent Allpress, "Architecture & Design Research by Project", Campus Estado de Mexico, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico City, Mexico, May, 2003

Brent Allpress, opening address, Radical School Design Competition Exhibition, RMIT Architecture/Education Foundation, Education Foundation Summit, Melbourne Town  Hall, October 9th, 2002

Brent Allpress, Invited Speaker, “Research + Practice”, DIA- Design Thesis Exhibition Public Forum, RMIT Architecture and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Span Gallery, Melbourne, September 2002

Brent Allpress, Public Lecture, "Ornamental Misappropriation in Contemporary Australian Architecture", Institute of Achitecture, Director: Professor Gabby Seifert, Practice: Seifert Stoeckmann, Formalhaut, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Technical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria, November, 2001

Brent Allpress, Public Lecture, "Ornamental Misappropriation in Contemporary Australian Architecture", Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany, November, 2001

Brent Allpress, Public Lecture, "Ornamental Misappropriation in Contemporary Australian Architecture", Fachoschule Fachbereich Architektur, Universitat Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany, November, 2001

2001, Brent Allpress, Public Lecture, "Ornamental Misappropriation in Contemporary Australian Architecture", Hochschule Wismar, Wismar, Germany, November, 2001

Brent Allpress, Invited Public lecture, "Ornamental Misappropriation in Contemporary Australian Architecture", School of Architecture, Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand, September, 2001

Brent Allpress, “Postgraduate Research Innovation”, Invited Speaker, Research Forum, RMIT Faculty of the Constructed Environment, Melbourne Museum, September, 2001

Brent Allpress, Invited Public lecture, “Digitally Mediated Ornament”, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Unitec, Auckland, New Zealand, September 15th, 2000


Conference Organising Committee:

Brent Allpress, Organising Committee Member, Limits: Society of Architectural Historians of Australia and New Zealand SAHANZ International Architectural History and Theory cConference, RMIT, 2004.

Brent Allpress, Organising Committee Member, Design Research: Association of Architecture Schools of Australiasia AASA International Architectural Education Conference, University of Melbourne, 2003.

Brent Allpress, Organising Committee Member, ACCESSORY/architecture: International Architectural History and Theory Conference, University of Auckland School of Architecture, 1995