Teresa Hoskyns

Teresa Hoskyns, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. Her architectural practice and research focuses on the intersection between art, temporary architecture, performance, participation and public space. As well as an architectural theorist she is the designer of a series of world class portable theatre venues that have been used to create major events throughout the UK and USA over the last 20 years. Much of her theory and practice work is expressed in her book, The Empty Place: Democracy and Public Space published by Routledge New York (2014).

Since being at XJTLU Hoskyns has initiated and chaired the 2019 International Conference: Architecture Across Boundaries and has developed a new master’s programme in International Professional Practice to Ministry of Education approval. She is a founding member for the establishment of RIBA Chapter China and on the steering committee for the Chapter. She has received two research grants, one to continue public space research in China and the other to develop research in international professional practice.  

Hoskyns first studied Interior Design at the London Metropolitan University where she was awarded a scholarship to study an MA in Architecture and Interiors under Nigel Coates at the Royal College of Art. She completed a part-time Ph.D. in Architecture (architectural design) at the Bartlett, UCL, supervised by Jane Rendell and Jonathan Hill. Before starting at XJTLU she lectured at the University of Sheffield and the University of Cambridge. 

In her practice with partner Mat Churchill she has completed a number of major temporary theatre projects including:  

A temporary venue for the Royal National Theatre (2000) to house Joan Littlewood’s ‘Oh What a Lovely War’.

Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, (2009), Peter Pan tour of the USA (2010-2012), Theatre in the Park for Chichester Festival Theatre (2013). The venue received widespread acclaim in both the architectural and theatre press, described as ‘magical’ by Hugh Pearman in the RIBA Journal (Sept 2013).
Apollo Los Angeles (2019). 

She is a co-founder of the art/architecture collective Taking Place.