Dr Jonathan Orlek BA (Hons), MArch, PhD
Lecturer in Architecture
Summary
I am an architectural researcher and practitioner, interested in the intersections between art, architecture, and ethnographic research. My research is concerned with artist-led organisations and spaces, critical spatial practices, embedded research methods, and collective forms of housing.
I lead the MArch Praxis 1 and 2 modules at Sheffield Hallam University, contribute to MArch design studio teaching, and lecture and tutor on undergraduate Cultural Context modules. Before joining SHU, I taught on modules throughout the MA Urban Design at Sheffield School of Architecture, including as a design studio lead tutor.
About
In 2021 I completed a collaborative PhD between East Street Arts and the University of Huddersfield, which explored the provision of housing by artist-led organisations. My thesis developed embedded ethnography as a critical spatial practice, to investigate artist-led approaches to housing and live/work space.
I am currently a researcher on several interdisciplinary projects exploring care, high streets, and activist spatial practices. This includes Caring—with Cities (Senior Research Assistant) and Sonic Acts of Noticing.
I am a director of Studio Polpo, a social enterprise architecture collective based in Sheffield. With Studio Polpo I have undertaken several projects investigating shared living and alternative models for housing. This includes initiating OPERA sleepover performances, designing and delivering co-housing workshops, and co-authoring the Experimental Residential newspaper. I have also worked on commissions for The Hepworth (Wakefield), The Tetley (Leeds), and Bloc Projects (Sheffield), which playfully explore the connections between art and architecture. I have recently worked on designs for The High Street of Exchanges, an immersive installation for the British Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2021, curated by Unscene Architecture. This project combines design and research to explore the future of the British High Street.
Teaching
Department of the Natural and Built Environment
Courses Taught
MArch Architecture (Full-time, part-time and Degree Apprenticeship routes)
BSc Architecture
Modules Taught
MArch Design Studio 4
MArch Design Studio 5
MArch Praxis 1
MArch Praxis 2
BSc Cultural Context 2
BSc Cultural Context 3
Research
Researcher on ‘Sonic Acts of Noticing: Listening with the High Street.’ Awarded a fellowship of the Future Architecture Platform, 2021. Funded and supported by: Sheffield Hallam University; Future Architecture Platform; Driving the Human; BINA Belgrade; Forecast, Berlin.
Sonic Acts of Noticing is an interdisciplinary investigation spanning sound studies and architecture. The project proposes different ways of occupying high streets and participating in their design through engaged, situated and spatial practices of listening. We propose careful listening as a way to (re)think and (re)make the spaces of the high street in ways that draw attention to forms of collectivity, and support productive and agonistic relations, intensities and concerns.
Senior Research Assistant on ‘Caring—with Cities’ project, funded by the British Academy.
Caring—with Cities aims to understand how care is embedded into community-led and policy-led urban development; the interface between the two; and the potential for designing care—with into future urban policy at a systemic level. With ‘participant-researchers’ embedded within 3-5 UK case studies, I am helping to undertake organisational and community archival research; in-depth interviews and facilitated group conversations; and a preliminary system mapping of the interface with policy to identify soft infrastructures of care.
Commissioned by East Street Arts to edit a publication on artist-led housing. (Publication date 2022)
Research Assistant on ‘Footprints of urban activism: mapping narratives of success and failure in post-industrial development’ project, funded by the British Academy.
Research Assistant on ‘Mapping the High Streets Research Field’ project, funded by Sheffield Hallam University
Director, social enterprise architecture practice Studio Polpo.
Studio Polpo use situated and collaborative approaches to create objects, structures, initiatives and research-led resources that enable transformative social change. Projects by Studio Polpo are underpinned by a genuine desire to work towards social, environmental and economic justice. To this end we self-initiate projects to support diverse economies of participation and exchange through spatial intervention.
Publications
Journal articles
Cathryn, K., & Orlek, J. (2021). Open Letter as reparative interior: expanding, making, participating. Idea Journal, 18, 223-236. https://idea-edu.com/journal/index.php/home/article/view/418
Orlek, J. (2020). Commoning Artist-led Housing. Sluice Magazine.
Jonathan Orlek, , Cristina Cerulli, , & Mark Parsons, (2016). Prototyping Shared Living: Collective Residential Experiments. BDC (Bollettino Del Centro Calza Bini), 16 (2), 251-264.
Conference papers
Orlek, J. (2020). "In House” Research: Reflections on Moving In and Out of Artist-led Housing. In What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About The Artist-Led, Exhibition Research Lab, Liverpool. Exhibition Research Lab, Liverpool: https://www.exhibition-research-lab.co.uk/events/what-we-dont-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-the-artist-led/
Cerulli, C., & Orlek, J. (2016). Developing a Critical Praxis. Inhabitation as Performance in the OPERA Project. In Stoppani, T., Bernath, D., & Engel, B. (Eds.) This Thing Called Theory - 12th Architectural Humanities Association Conference.
Book chapters
Udall, J., Orlek, J., & De Little, A. (2023). Sonic Acts of Noticing. In Mao, Y., van Dijck, N., & Smith, R. (Eds.) Forest, City, Body, Flow. Landscapes of Care. DPR Barcelona: https://dpr-barcelona.com/forest-body-city-flow-landscapes-of-care/
Udall, J., Orlek, J., & De Little, A. (2023). Field Trip: Sonic Acts of Noticing x Landscape Lab. In Field Trip. (pp. 12). Foundation Press: http://balticplus.uk/field-trip-a-collective-playbook-for-making-art-in-the-outdoors-c35878/
Orlek, J., Chan, J.J., & Wong, S. (2022). When galleries aren't just containers. In Bloc Projects, , & Chan, J.J. (Eds.) Blowing Water, Critical Care. Bloc Projects
Jones, H., McKenna, N., Delaney McNulty, R., Nickols, P., Orlek, J., & Wolfe, B. (2021). Planning and Designing Decent Homes and Liveable Places for All in West Yorkshire. In Wilson, A. (Ed.) AMPlify West Yorkshire: An Alternative Manifesto Process. (pp. 9-12). Huddersfield: Same Skies
Vodicka, G. (2018). Voices in my research. In Orlek, J. (Ed.) Multivoices A Script by Researchers. Spirit Duplicator
Orlek, J., Bruno, A., Aun de Azevedo Nascimento, E., Milic, P., Théréné, M., Thielemans, F., ... Van Ngoc, H. (2018). Médecins du Monde Collective health. In Berger, M., Moritz, B., Carlier, L., & Ranzato, M. (Eds.) Designing urban inclusion. Université Catholique de Louvain/ Université Libre de Bruxelles
Orlek, J. (2018). Between Utility and Uselessness. In Space, Place, Action. Huddersfield, Temporary Contemporary
Orlek, J. (2017). Sharing the domestic through "residential performance". In Cairns, G., Artopoulos, G., & Day, K. (Eds.) From Conflict to Inclusion in Housing: Interaction of Communities, Residents and Activists. (pp. 180-198). London: UCL Press
Orlek, J. (2017). An archaeology of a contemporary construction. In Gavin, H., & Kaasa, A. (Eds.) Uncommon building. London: Spirit Duplicator
Books
Orlek, J. (Ed.). (2018). Multivoices: A Script by Researchers. London: Spirit Duplicator.
Exhibitions
Cerulli, C., Udall, J., Wakeford Holder, A., Orlek, J., & Parsons, M. (2020). The High Street of Exchanges (part of the British Pavillion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2020). [Interactive installation]. Venice.
Orlek, J., & Vodicka, G. (2019). P.S. A Postscript Before Concluding, From Brooklyn Works to Brooklynism exhibition. [Film]. Kelham Island Museum, Sheffield, UK.
Orlek, J. (2019). Moving in and out, or staying in bed. Convention House, East Street Arts.
Spencer, J., Orlek, J., & Machin, T. (2022). The High Street of Exchanges, Studio Polpo: The Venice Architecture Biennale at Sheffield Hallam University. [Installation]. Post Hall, Head Post Office, Sheffield Hallam University. https://gallery.shu.ac.uk/event/high-street-of-exchanges/
Media
Spencer, J., Orlek, J., & De Little, A. (2021). Sonic Acts of Noticing: Future Architecture Rooms. Future Architecture Platform
Presentations
Orlek, J., & Cannon, J. (2022). The Future of Artist-Led Housing. Presented at: Out & About Weekends: Urban Futures, Site Gallery, CIQ Square, Sheffield
Orlek, J. (2022). EASA Commons Workshop.
Orlek, J. (2022). Artist-Led Housing and Embedded Research. Presented at: Lines of Flight Seminar, Sheffield School of Architecture (via zoom)
Orlek, J., Boys, J., & Rich, D. (2021). Radical Practice Symposium. Presented at: Radical Practices, Royal College of Art
Sonic Acts of Noticing, , Soft Agency, , & À la sauvette, (2021). Panel Discussion with Future Architecture Plaform Fellows.
Sonic Acts of Noticing, (2021). BINA Summer Film School: If These Walls Could Talk. Presented at: Future Architecture Platform / BINA Summer Film School, Cultural Centre of Belgrade
Orlek, J. (2021). Artist-Led Housing. Presented at: Live/ Work/ Where? New Models for Artists, Flax Arts Belfast
Orlek, J., Udall, J., & De Little, A. (2021). Landscapes of Care: Transdisciplinary Session. Presented at: Future Architecture Creative Exchange, Museum of Architecture and Design Ljubljana (via Zoom)
Orlek, J., Udall, J., & De Little, A. (2021). Sonic Environments. Presented at: AAD Sessions, London Metropolitan University
Orlek, J. (2020). Studio Polpo Housing and Artist-led Housing. Presented at: EASA England National Gathering, Foodhall, Sheffield
Orlek, J. (2019). Artist talk. Presented at: Episode 1: Tomorrow is Our Permanent Address, Convention House, East Street Arts, Leeds
Orlek, J. (2019). Artists in residence: re-imagining spaces for artist-led practice in the city. Presented at: CKC 2019: Rethinking, Resisting and Reimagining the Creative City Conference, Watershed, Bristol
Orlek, J. (2019). Architecture in Action. Presented at: UMA 10 Year Anniversary Roundtable, Umeå School of Architecture, Sweden
Orlek, J. (2019). How do gardens/green spaces contribute to well-being and making better city spaces? Presented at: Modern Nature: Symposium, The Hepworth Wakefield
Orlek, J. (2018). Artist-Led Housing. Presented at: Housing for Artists: Crisis Point or Vanity Project?, East Street Arts, Leeds
Orlek, J. (2018). New Public Design. Presented at: Festival of the Mind: National Food Service, Foodhall, Sheffield
Vainio, A., Becke, C., & Orlek, J. (2018). Multivoices. Presented at: British Association for Japanese Studies Conference 2018, University of Sheffield
Cerulli, C., & Orlek, J. (2018). DIY Cultures Summer School.
Orlek, J., Cheeseman, M., & Cannon, J. (2018). Multivoices for the Antiuniversity Now festival. Presented at: Antiuniversity Now, Sheffield Print Club
Orlek, J. (2018). Artist-Led Housing: Mapping the boundaries of Life and Work. Presented at: ROTOR: Culture Community Creativity, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield
Orlek, J. (2018). A Collaborative Excavation of an Artist Live/Work Project. Presented at: Rethinking Research: Disrupting and Challenging Research Practices, Centre for Research Capability and Development at Coventry University
Orlek, J. (2017). An invitation to lunch. Presented at: Waterworks Artist in Residence, Edgbaston Reservoir, Birmingham
Orlek, J. (2017). A day on Resilience. Presented at: a-n Assembly, East Street Arts, Leeds
Orlek, J. (2017). Introducing ’Multi-voices’. Presented at: Multi-voices in Research: Co-Interpreting Art and Architecture, East Street Arts, Leeds
Orlek, J. (2016). (Un)common Building: Collective Excavation of Fictional Structure. Presented at: Writing Cities, University of Sheffield
Orlek, J. (2016). Bubbles, foam and co-fragilities: the philosophical and architectural possibilities of living together in a world of 10bn. Presented at: Festival of 10 Billion, Humanities Research Institute, University of Sheffield
Orlek, J., & Cerulli, C. (2015). Performing Home. Presented at: Home and Art: Creating, Performing and Researching Home, Museum of the Home, London
Orlek, J. (2015). Residential Performance as Architectural Research. Presented at: Housing—A Critical Perspective, Liverpool University
Software / Code
Spencer, J., Orlek, J., & De Little, A. (2021). Sonic Acts of Noticing. https://sonicactsofnoticing.org/
Other publications
Orlek, J., Udall, J., & Dobson, J. (2022). High Streets Network. Sheffield Hallam University: https://highstreets.network/
(2022). High street exchange(s) : essays, ideas and artworks on the future of the high street. Sheffield Hallam University
(2022). High street exchange(s) : essays, ideas and artworks on the future of the high street. Sheffield Hallam University
Orlek, J., & Jefferis, K. (2022). Artist-Led Housing. New York and London: Montez Press Radio: https://radio.montezpress.com/#/show/2569
Orlek, J. (2020). The Common Good (In a Time of Pandemic). via Zoom: Sluice Magazine: https://sluice.info/articles/thecommongood.html
Orlek, J. (2017). Degree show review: Sheffield School of Architecture. Architects' Journal
Quinn, K., Orlek, J., & Cornish, B. (n.d.). Writing Alone Together: Making Sense of Lockdown Through Hundreds. Sociological Review Foundation: http://doi.org/10.51428/tsr.ivly2297
Other activities
Co-founder of 'Plant: Embedded Research Network'
Part of the organising committee for 'Researching (in) the City: Embeddedness, Relations and Collaborations' AHRA PhD Symposium 2021, hosted by Sheffield Hallam University School of Architecture.