Brian Edwards is an architect by training and served on the RIBA Energy and Environment Committee for many years. With an MSc in Environmental Design from Heriot Watt University and a PhD from Glasgow University he has focused as academic and practitioner on sustainability and typologies in architecture. The author or co-author of 20 books, he has published monographs and building type studies for Routledge, Architectural Press, RIBA Publications, Wiley-Academy and Phaidon.

His various teaching and research positions include Lecturer at Glasgow School of Art (1980-1987), Senior Lecturer at Strathclyde University (1987-1993), Professor of Architecture at Huddersfield University (1993-2000), Heriot Watt Professor of Architecture (2000-2005), Professor of Architecture at ECA and acting Director of the Graduate Research School (2005-2008). After retirement from ECA he was appointed to the position of Associate Professor of Sustainability at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen (2008-2011).

In 2008 he was made Emeritus Professor of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at ECA, Edinburgh University.

His principal publications include the co-authored book ‘Green Buildings Pay’ (2000, 2013 and 2016) which evaluated the performance of a number of green buildings in Europe and North America; ‘Rough Guide to Sustainability’ (2001, 2006, 2009 and 2014) which gives an overview of sustainable design aimed at practitioners and students; ‘Sustainable Architecture’ (1997 and 2000); ‘Sustainability and the Design of Transport Interchanges’ (2011) and ‘Sustainable Housing’ (2001) which won the CIOB Gold Medal.

His first book London Docklands: Urban design in an Age of Deregulation (1992) examined the consequences of allowing market forces to shape the urban landscape. The interface between politics and city making followed his doctoral examination of Glasgow’s City Improvement Trust in the 19th century. In the case of London Docklands, Professor Edwards undertook an extensive interview with Michael Heseltine, later to become Margaret Thatcher’s deputy. He argued against masterplanning, believing that free market forces would provide more effective urban regeneration. The book critically reviews the result.

Professor Edwards has also undertaken typological studies of key building types including libraries, airports, railway stations and courtyard housing, all of which have resulted in academic books or book chapters and research journal articles. His co-authored book ‘Courtyard Housing: Past, Present and Future’ (2006) followed a professorial exchange (2000-2003) with the University of Homs in Syria funded by the British Council. The exchange centred on courtyard housing from climatic and cultural perspectives.

Another key interest is that of art and architecture and the synergies which exist between the two. His book ‘Understanding Architecture through Drawing’ (2000 and 2008) examines the changing nature of drawing in architecture, its inter-action with CAD and its pedagogic power. This and a selection of other books have been translated into Mandarin, Spanish and Portuguese.

In addition, Professor Edwards has authored many professional and research journal articles from the Architects’ Journal and Architecture Research Quarterly to the International Journal Sustainable Development where he was an early advisor to the editorial board.

Professor Edwards served on the Senate at Heriot Watt University 2001-5, on the Postgraduate Studies Committee at Huddersfield, Heriot Watt and Edinburgh Universities, and has acted as Masters, Doctoral and Research Course Leader at various schools of architecture.

Before becoming an academic Professor Edwards practiced as an architect with the former GLC in London, RMJM in Edinburgh, Wade Stockdill in Vancouver and Feilden and Mawson in Norwich. In addition, he worked as an architect planner with Norfolk County Council, Glasgow Corporation and Strathclyde Regional Council.