Bio: Mr Louis du Plessis joined the Department of Architecture at the Durban University of Technology in 2014 and was appointed as Head of Department in 2016. Between graduating with his Masters in Architecture from the University of KwaZulu-Natal until joining DUT he was engaged in private practice and part-time lecturing. He has lectured in the Architectural fields of History, Theory, Design & Technology.

In addition to his lecturing role, he has also being an external moderator, a Master’s Thesis examiner and arbitrator and has also been an international programme reviewer for the Lesotho Council for Higher Education. He has been engaged in international academic activities in the form of European Union Erasmus Plus Staff Mobility grants, is part of the AGORA International research coalition, and was an international guest lecturer for the Koblenz University of Applied Sciences International week in 2018.

He has served as a Regional Committee Member for the South African Institute for Architecture, KwaZulu-Natal region (SAIA-KZN) from 2014 to 2016, and since 2015 is an Editorial Board member for the Journal of SAIA-KZN. He was a Reviewer for Academic Journal ‘Town & Regional Planning’ in 2018 and served on the scientific review committee for the XXV International Union of Architects (UIA) World Congress, Durban in 2014. Since 2012 He has presented papers at national and international conferences and has published in local and international journals on the topics of sustainability, public space and architecture.

His experience in professional practice prior to focusing on an academic career has been wide ranging. This includes being involved in numerous projects, comprising of technical assessment; investigations and interventions into broader urban environments and social situations; as well as design, works inspection and contract administration on a broad range of institutional, educational, governmental and domestic projects.

Courses Currently Teaching: Bachelor of Technology: Architectural Technology programme: Theory of Design IV

Research and Innovation focus: Mr Du Plessis is currently registered for a PhD with the Gdańsk University of Technology in Poland. His thesis topic deals with the architectural and streetscape character of the Berea in Durban.

Bio: Roz McCarthy has practiced architecture in London and Uruguay and is a lecturer in the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at Durban University of Technology, South Africa. She has been lecturing for the past 18 years and has a Higher Diploma in Architecture and a Masters in Town and Regional Planning.

Courses Currently Teaching: Planning Design I, CAD III, Construction Technology II

Research and Innovation focus: Research interests include Programmes of Community Upliftment and the Integration of ICT into rural areas in South Africa. New methods, tools (especially ICT) and solutions that facilitate and accelerate the development of innovation in marginalised communities via existing Community Halls.
Further research interests; Power and space in the drone age and how drones are able to manage urban space. This research would also focus on zoning regulations for the remote sensing drone in urban applications and the impact on privacy, security and uncontrolled pervasive surveillance.