Professor Mathew Aitchison

Dr. Mathew Aitchison is Interim CEO of Building 4.0 CRC. He is Professor of Architecture at Monash University, where he also directs the Future Building Initiative. Mathew was previously Professor of Architecture at the University of Sydney and director of the Innovation in Applied Design Lab (IAD Lab). Mathew is a researcher, teacher and designer with extensive international experience. Leading up to his current role as CEO of Building 4.0 CRC, Mathew directed a series of large, collaborative research projects exploring industrialised building funded by industry and government.
Mathew’s research outputs focus on the opportunities and challenges arising from industrialised building. He is lead author of PREFAB HOUSING AND THE FUTURE OF BUILDING: PRODUCT TO PROCESS (Lund Humphries, 2018). Earlier publications include, THE ARCHITECTURE OF INDUSTRY: PARADIGMS IN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING AND PLANNING, (Ashgate, 2014), of which Mathew is editor and contributing author. Mathew’s early scholarship focused on 20th century architectural and urban design discourses. His publications in this field include, VISUAL PLANNING AND THE PICTURESQUE (Getty, 2010), the first publication of Nikolaus Pevsner’s previously unpublished treatise on urban design and architecture. He has published widely, in international journals such as the Journal of Architectural Education, AA Files, Journal of Architecture, and Fabrications, along with numerous book sections and conference papers.
Mathew has worked as an architect and teacher internationally: in Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the U.S.A. and Australia. Through Building 4.0 CRC and the work of the Future Building Initiative Mathew continues to develop projects and design research collaborations with private and public bodies in Australia and internationally.
Recent news
$28 million grant to transform the design and production of buildings in Australia
Reducing waste, delays and emissions from building projects is the focus of a collaborative initiative between 30 industry partners that received $28 million from the Australian Government.
18 Mar 2020
Current research projects
At Monash Art, Design and Architecture, we focus on the pursuit of research that addresses the social, economic and human issues facing Australia.
Building 4.0 CRC
Better buildings, new efficiencies through technology and collaboration.
CRC-P LCA of Mass Timber Construction
Quantifying the embodied emissions and carbon sequestration potential of mass timber construction materials in Australia.
Predictive Personalisation in Chile
Harnessing informal construction to improve the environmental performance of mass housing.
Vanuatu Pathway to Ownership
Creating a pathway to home ownership in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
WAYOUT: Codesign in Kandos
Contemporary art practices into architectural design.
Past research projects
CRC-P Capstone Prototype
Showcasing the potential of industrialised construction through innovative full-scale prototypes.
CRC-P Future Living System
Creating a real-scale prototype apartment from a range of prefabricated and modular elements.
CRC-P Innovation in Advanced Multi-Storey Housing Manufacture
Transforming the housing construction industry towards an innovative, advanced manufacturing future.
uTecture Industry Test Group Report
Single dwelling design tools for improved customer outcomes.