Dr Damian Madigan is an architect and urban infill housing researcher who coined the term ‘Bluefield Housing’ to describe established suburbs and the way they can support low-rise infill through adaptive reuse and co-location with existing housing on a block. His sole-authored book ‘Bluefield Housing as Alternative Infill for the Suburbs’ (Routledge 2024) has been described as "a grand vision for a future of housing and practical guide for how to achieve it" and “design research at its best”. Damian works with academics, industry, and government, and individually and collaboratively his design research has been successfully peer reviewed through international design competition awards, shortlistings, and ... Read more
About me
Dr Damian Madigan is an architect and urban infill housing researcher who coined the term ‘Bluefield Housing’ to describe established suburbs and the way they can support low-rise infill through adaptive reuse and co-location with existing housing on a block. His sole-authored book ‘Bluefield Housing as Alternative Infill for the Suburbs’ (Routledge 2024) has been described as "a grand vision for a future of housing and practical guide for how to achieve it" and “design research at its best”. Damian works with academics, industry, and government, and individually and collaboratively his design research has been successfully peer reviewed through international design competition awards, shortlistings, and commendations from the City of Los Angeles, NSW State Government, the City of Sydney, Architecture Australia, and the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation.
Damian is currently working with the South Australian State Government and multiple local councils to write the land use definition and planning policies that will put his new research-based 'bluefield' co-located housing model into law. This will provide new small-footprint housing options in established suburbs for people wishing to age-in-place and for anyone seeking smaller, more efficient, and more affordable housing options in well-serviced communities.
Outside of his research and teaching, Damian is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), Expert Member of the South Australian State Government’s Design Review Panel, Expert Member of the AACA National Accreditation Standing Panel for the accreditation of Architecture Programs across Australia and New Zealand, and a Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chair of the Board of The Cottage Homes Incorporated - a not-for-profit housing provider for older people living on the full aged pension.
Damian's design research can be downloaded at bluefieldhousing.com.au.
About me
About me
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 13/09/2024 |
ABC News: Australia's housing crisis requires creative thinking. Bluefield housing provides one possible solution, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-13/housing-crisis-density-bluefield-suburbs-solution/104305122 |
| 09/08/2024 |
ABC Radio National interview: Bluefield housing and the suburbs, https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/blueprintforliving/bluefield-housing-and-the-suburbs/104193848 |
| 22/07/2024 |
The Fifth Estate: Bluefield housing - a design rethink for suburban infill, https://thefifthestate.com.au/columns/spinifex/bluefield-housing-a-design-rethink-for-suburban-infill/ |
| 29/11/2021 |
Ageing Well in the Bluefields, https://architectureau.com/articles/ageing-well-in-the-bluefields/ |
| 17/05/2021 |
Announcing the Winners of the LA Low-Rise Design Challenge, https://lowrise.la/winners |
| 06/11/2019 |
Alternative Housing Ideas: How We Can Reimagine the Way We Live, https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/free-event-to-hear-bright-ideas-reimagine-the-future-of-housing |
| 15/10/2019 |
Channel 9 News interview: Cohousing for Ageing Well, https://www.facebook.com/9NewsAdelaide/videos/423212578384004/?fref=nf |
| 13/10/2019 |
The Sunday Mail: Big idea to give downsizers a fair share, https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/education/unisa-project-to-help-turn-inner-suburban-homes-into-multiple-dwellings-for-older-people-downsizing/news-story/46f8a3b3a1de2eda33ac3862e5b66666 |
| 18/06/2019 |
Seven entries shortlisted in City of Sydney’s Alternative Housing Ideas Competition, https://architectureau.com/articles/seven-entries-shortlisted-in-city-of-sydneys-alternative-housing-ideas-competition/ |
| 01/08/2018 |
The Advertiser: 'Fonzie flats' and shipping containers: the new battle on our city edge, https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/city/prospects-growth-vs-character-battle-over-future-development/news-story/1863747cd654c7b6d69cdf9b8f9a0e5b |
| 17/07/2018 |
Reshaping the suburbs: Designing for the 'missing middle', https://architectureau.com/articles/reshaping-the-suburbs-designing-for-the-missing-middle/ |
| 27/10/2017 |
Becoming more urban: attitudes to medium-density living are changing in Sydney and Melbourne, https://architectureau.com/articles/becoming-more-urban-attitudes-to-medium-density-living-are-changing-in-sydney-and-melbourne/#img=1 |
| 18/09/2017 |
Australia’s Quiet Housing Revolution on Show, https://www.adelaidereview.com.au/form/architecture-form/australias-quiet-housing-revolution-show/ |
| 09/06/2017 |
Narrow-lot houses: Sydney architects squeeze smart design into ‘leftover’ space, https://www.domain.com.au/news/narrowlot-houses-sydney-architects-squeeze-smart-design-into-leftover-space-20170609-gwhv6s/ |
| 01/06/2017 |
Testing the Missing Middle, http://architecturebulletin.com.au/winter-2017/#winter-2017/page33-page34 |
| 09/05/2017 |
Housing affordability in focus: What can architects do?, https://architectureau.com/articles/housing-affordability-in-focus-what-can-architects-do/ |
| 13/04/2017 |
Missing Middle designs indicate a bright future for medium density housing in NSW, http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/missing-middle-designs-indicate-a-bright-future-fo |
| 12/04/2017 |
Winners Announced: NSW Missing Middle design competition, http://architectureau.com/articles/winners-announced-nsws-missing-middle-design-competition/?utm_source=ArchitectureAU&utm_campaign=13cd979f0d-AAU_2017_04_04&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e3604e2a4a-13cd979f0d-39613530 |
| 11/04/2017 |
NSW announces winners of its missing middle competition, http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/innovation/residential-2/nsw-announces-winners-of-its-missing-middle-competition/90600 |
About me
Doctor of Philosophy Monash University
Bachelor of Architecture (Honours) The University of Adelaide
Bachelor of Architectural Studies The University of Adelaide
Where do people go when their suburban housing no longer suits them or they cannot find a way into their suburb of choice? Through the process of design research, Damian has developed and authored Bluefield Housing as Alternative Infill for the Suburbs. Bluefield Housing is a way of creating small, sensitive infill housing within established suburbs that are usually quarrantined from density increases and are at risk of gentrification (a process that can lock people into their suburbs as they become asset rich but cash poor, while locking other people out through a lack of affordability). Working at the intersection of NIMBYism and YIMBYism, Damian's work demonstrates that infill housing is possible in older suburbs whilst retaining and... Read more
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Apartment Design, Historic & Character Area Design and Demographics & Housing Choice Research Project, SA Dept for Trade, Tourism and Investment, 03/06/2024 - 30/06/2025
Damian's sole-authored and illustrated book Bluefield Housing as Alternative Infill for the Suburbs (Routledge New York and London, 2024) is available as a free Open Access PDF download, and in hardback and paperback.
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
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| 2022 |
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| 2021 |
Open access
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| 2020 |
Open access
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| 2019 |
Open access
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| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
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| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
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| 2022 |
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| 2019 |
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| 2014 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2016 |
Open access
|
| 2012 |
Open access
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| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2022 |
Open access
|
| 2021 |
Open access
|
| 2021 |
Madigan, D 2021, Ageing well in the bluefields, Architecture Australia, Architecture Media. |
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
Madigan, D 2020, Bluefield housing: shortlisted entry, AA prize for unbuilt work 2021.
Open access
|
| 2019 |
Open access
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| 2019 |
Open access
|
| 2018 |
|
| 2017 |
Open access
|
| 2011 |
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| 2009 |
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| 2009 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2021 |
Open access
|
| 2020 |
Open access
|
| 2017 |
Open access
|
Damian's urban infill research has been recognised by the University with the Early Career Researcher Award for the former Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences in 2019. In 2021, Damian was UniSA Creative's nomination for the UniSA Early Career Researcher Award.
Research
Where do people go when their suburban housing no longer suits them or they cannot find a way into their suburb of choice? Through the process of design research, Damian has developed and authored Bluefield Housing as Alternative Infill for the Suburbs. Bluefield Housing is a way of creating small, sensitive infill housing within established suburbs that are usually quarrantined from density increases and are at risk of gentrification (a process that can lock people into their suburbs as they become asset rich but cash poor, while locking other people out through a lack of affordability). Working at the intersection of NIMBYism and YIMBYism, Damian's work demonstrates that infill housing is possible in older suburbs whilst retaining and enhancing neighbourhood character. This research matters to a broad audience: to those wanting greater housing choice in the suburbs, and to those wishing to maintain the status quo. Importantly, it matters as equally to those in decision-making roles as it does to end-users, and its communication methods are easily understood. You can download Damian's design research at bluefieldhousing.com.au.
Outside of his own research, Damian is a design-review writer. You can read some of his work at Architecture AU.
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of California, Los Angeles | UNITED STATES |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
FellowAustralian Institute of Architects (AIA) |
2018 |
MemberAustralian Institute of Architects (AIA) |
2018 |
Member, Australian Architecture Program Accreditation Standing PanelArchitects Accreditation Council of Australia |
2018 |
Registered ArchitectArchitectural Practice Board of South Australia (APBSA) |
2018 |
FellowAustralian Institute of Architects (AIA) |
2017 |
MemberAustralian Institute of Architects (AIA) |
2017 |
Member, Design Review PanelOffice for Design and Architecture, Government of South Australia |
2017 |
FellowAustralian Institute of Architects (AIA) |
2016 |
MemberAustralian Institute of Architects (AIA) |
2016 |
FellowAustralian Institute of Architects (AIA) |
2015 |
MemberAustralian Institute of Architects (AIA) |
2015 |
FellowAustralian Institute of Architects (AIA) |
2014 |
MemberAustralian Institute of Architects (AIA) |
2014 |
FellowAustralian Institute of Architects (AIA) |
2013 |
MemberAustralian Institute of Architects (AIA) |
2013 |
MemberAustralian Institute of Architects (AIA) |
2012 |
MemberAustralian Institute of Architects (AIA) |
2011 |
MemberAustralian Institute of Architects (AIA) |
2010 |
Damian teaches across both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels of the Architecture Program and his teaching has received multiple awards within the Academic Unit and University-wide.
A design and construction teaching focus centres on the appreciation that one facet cannot be understood without the other. At an undergraduate level, a particular concern is to investigate how students’ innate knowledge of space forming, structure and function when combined with a systematic exposure to materials and processes might enable a challenging of their traditional assumptions and previously unquestioned acceptance of general housing typologies. At the Masters level, students’ design ambitions are challenged across multiple scales to consider the material and formal effects for users at the scales of the city, site, building, room and tactile object.
In research-based design studios, the nexus between teaching and research is formed in a collaborative studio environment where staff and students work as peers.
In work integrated learning (WIL) design studios, the focus is on embedding practice-based projects that benefit from being the products of engaged student minds that insist on being led by their aspirations to provide better built environments for their communities.
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Games for Industry: Application of Game-Engine Software to the AEC Sector | Current |
| Immersivity and fidelity: Architecture, design and game engines | Current |
| Planning a creative profession: the role of creativity in Australian urban planning practice | Current |
| Responsible Housing: Creating a strategy to facilitate holistic sustainable development in the Australian housing industry | Current |
