Staff Profile

James Craig is Senior Lecturer in Architecture at Newcastle University. At Newcastle, he co-runs the MSc in Advanced Architectural Design and a dissertation elective focussed on the politics of memory in art and architecture. He has previously taught at the Architectural Association, University College Cork and the University of Greenwich.

His teaching and research is interdisciplinary and focussed on making links between architectural representation, memory studies, psychoanalysis, art history and fine art practice. Publications include: ‘Discordant Forms: Seeking the transitional object in axonometric projection’. Book chapter. In: Creative Practice Inquiry in Architecture. (Routledge, 2023). ‘The Parallax Gap: Drawing spectres in post-conflict Northern Ireland’. Journal Article. In: TRACEY Drawing and Loss. Special issue. (Loughborough University Press, 2021). ‘The Autobiographical Hinge: Revealing the self in architectural drawing’. Journal article. In: Drawing: Research, Theory, Practice. (Intellect, 2021). Craig J, Ozga-Lawn M. ‘Models as Objects: The installation as architectural encounter’. Journal article. In: Architectural Design. Vol 91, no 3. (Wiley, 2021). ‘Everest Death Zone: Bodily transgressions in architectural drawing’. Book chapter. In: Mountains and Megastructures: Neo-Geologic Landscapes of Human Endeavour. (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020). ‘Resilience’. Book. (Princeton Architectural Press, 2012).

I welcome supervision enquires from prospective PhD students interested in any of the themes outlined above.

I maintain an interdisciplinary approach to research that links to:

The application of psychoanalytic concepts to the sphere of architectural representation, asking where subjectivity lies in this dialogue. This is realised through drawing practice and application of critical theories.

The representation of subjectivity in places of trauma; art work from conflict zones and spaces of difficult heritage, the legacy of trauma through visual means that evade language. Recent work has engaged with the post-conflict context in Northern Ireland, and the legacy of trauma that pervades in the country.

• Articles

  • Craig J. The Parallax Gap: Drawing spectres in post-conflict Northern Ireland. TRACEY 2021, 16(1), 1-13.
  • Craig J. The Autobiographical Hinge: Revealing the self in architectural drawing. Drawing: Research, Theory, Practice 2021, 6(2), 273-289.
  • Craig J, Kakalis C, Ozga-Lawn M. On Disjointed Bodies: Emergent spaces between the body and screen in pandemic-era architectural education. Charrette 2021, 7(1), 41-58.
  • Craig JA, Ozga-Lawn M. Models as Objects: The Installation as Architectural Encounter. Architectural Design 2021, 91(3), 82-87.
  • Craig J, Ozga-Lawn M. The Studio as Site: exploring the positionality of the designer in the creative process. Association of Architectural Educators 2016, 1, 67-79.
  • Craig J, Ozga-Lawn M. Looking; Looking Back. Architectural Research Quarterly 2015, 19(3), 212-223.
  • Craig J, Ozga-Lawn M. Everest Death Zone. Paper for Emerging Architectural Research 2014, 1(5).

• Authored Book

  • Ozga-Lawn M, Craig J. Resilience. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2012.

• Book Chapters

  • Craig J. Discordant Forms: Seeking the transitional object in axonometric projection. In: Mason A; Sharr A, ed. Creative Practice Inquiry in Architecture. London: Routledge, 2022, pp.160-171.
  • Craig J, Ozga-Lawn M. Everest Death Zone: Bodily Transgressions in Architectural Drawing. In: Beattie,M;Kakalis,C;Ozga-Lawn,M, ed. Mountains and Megastructures: Neo-Geologic Landscapes of Human Endeavour. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan, 2021.
  • Craig J, Ozga-Lawn M. Mallory's Ascent: Engaging the Space of Death through Architectural Drawing. In: Butcher, M; O'Shea, M, ed. Expanding Fields of Architectural Discourse and Practice: Curated Works from the P.E.A.R. Journal. London, UK: UCL Press, 2020, pp.336-354.
  • Craig J, Ozga-Lawn M. The Doomer’s Ball. In: Fairy Tales: When Architecture Tells a Story. New York, NY, USA: Blank Space, 2015, pp.110-117.
  • Craig J. Observer Objects. In: East of Eden: University of Greenwich Department of Architecture and Landscape Works 2015. London, UK: University of Greenwich Department of Architecture and Landscape, 2015.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

  • Architectural Humanities Research Association (AHRA). Research Encounters via Architecture's Methods. In: Proceedings of the 17th AHRA PhD Student Symposium 2020. 2020, Online: School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University.

• Editorial

  • Craig JA, Ozga-Lawn M. Emerging practices in design research. Architectural Research Quarterly 2015, 19(3), 202-203.

• Exhibitions

  • Ozga-Lawn M, Craig J. Everest Death Zone: Mallory. 2016. Tyne Bridge North Tower, Newcastle upon Tyne: Being Human Festival of the Humanities 2016: Hope and Fear.
  • Craig J, Ozga-Lawn M. Everest Death Zone. In: Moving Mountains: Studies in Place, Society and Cultural Representation. 2014. Edinburgh, UK: Tent Gallery, 4.