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Staff Profile

Kati Blom

Lecturer in Architecture

  • Email: katriina.blom@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6003
  • Address: School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape
    The Quadrangle
    Newcastle University
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

Introduction

Kati was born in Finland and studied architecture and philosophy in Helsinki. She practiced in architecture from the 1980s onwards and had written numerous articles. She has previously taught in Finland, Canada, and Ireland.

Background

Architect, worked in architectural practice, held several administrative and teaching roles in universities, published architectural articles since 1981. Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA): member from 1988, since then Member of the board (1993-1995); Assistant Chair woman (1995); Member of the committee of Education and Research (1993-1994); Chairman in the committee of working relationships (1994).

Roles and Responsibilities

Module Design Leader in Stage 1/BA 2022-2023, 2021-2022, 2020-2021, 2019-2020, 2018-2019, 2017-2018, 2016-2017, 2015-2016, 2014-2015, 2008-2009, in Stage 3/BA , semester 1 in ,2007-2008, 2006-2007, 2005-2006, both semesters in 2004-2005. Design Project Leader in Stage 3, BA (both semesters in 2023-2024, 2019-2020, 2018-2019, 2017-2018, 2016-2017, 2007-2008, 2006-2007, 2005-2006, 2004-2005, 2003-2004 and second semester in 2015-2016, 2014-2015, 2013-2014, 2012-2013, 2011-2012, 2010-2011, 2002-2003).Design Project Leader in Stage 1/BA (2022-2023, 2021-2022, 2020-2021, 2019-2020, 2018-2019, 2017-2018, 2010-2011, 2009-2010, 2003-2004 ). Design tutor in Stage 2/BA (2023-2024, 2022-2023, 2013-2014, 2003-2004, 2002-2003). Unit leader in BA/MARC 2016-2017. Module leader in professional studies/architectural presentation (communication in analogical media) in the first semester of the first year (2022-2023, 2021-2022, 2020-2021, 2019-2020, 2018-2019, 2017-2018, 2016-2017, 2015-2016, 2014-2015, 2013-2014, 2012-2013, 2011-2012, 2010-2011, 2009-2010). International liaison in BA (2014-2015, 2012-2013, 2011-2012).

Qualifications

Architect, (SAFA) Helsinki University of Technology, 1987

Bachelor in Arts, Helsinki University, 2003 (aesthetics, semiology, theoretical philosophy, comparative literature).

Masters of Philosophy, Newcastle University, 2018. Separate studies in Pedagogy, and Philosophy in Finland.

Previous Positions

Senior and junior design assistant in various Finnish architectural offices from 1974 onwards.

Project leader and instructor in various projects in Helsinki University of Technology, Department of Architecture from 1984 onwards, latest 1997. Administrative work within the deapartment (exchange studies), and in the Study Office in the University of Technology (pedagogical studies and curriculum development).

Visiting Project Leader in Manitoba University, Winnipeg, Canada (1996)

Lecturer in Dublin Institute of Technology (2002)

Memberships

SAFA, ARCHITECTA, Rakennustaiteen seura

Honours and Awards

The Foundation for Finnish Visual Arts in the United States, awards 1998, 2003. Finnish Cultural Foundation, a grant in 2003.

Languages

Finnish, Swedish, English, German

Informal Interests

Contemporary architecture, arts, drawing.

Research

Research Interests

Contemporary architecture, glass in architecture, phenomenology, environmental aesthetics

Other Expertise

Finnish Architecture

Current Work

Main research interest is spatial imagination, especially perceptual collisions in environmental experience and their philosophical interpretations.  Philosophical interests lie in phenomenological 'realism' of Roman Ingarden and Edit Stein, Edmund Husserls' Ideen ii, Gernot Böhme's notes on atmosphere, and the notions of freedom or revolt in Julia Kristeva. When applied to architectural criticism spatial experience can be interpreted as series of kinaesthetic and sensuous incidents. This method is useful especially when studying Finnish architecture where spatial sequential thinking is prevalent, e.g. architectures of Juha Leiviskä, Alvar Aalto, Reima Pietilä, and Lahdelma-Mahlamäki.

Kati Blom has been involved in organising ispa Straining Pulp-Theory from Architectural Discourse -symposium June 2010 together with Dr Carolyn Fahey, ispa EAAE two and a half days conference July 2012 together with Dr Carolyn Fahey, and starting a network under the title Architecture's Unconscious from summer 2013 onwards (own initiative). My PhD supervisors Dr Nathaniel Coleman and prof Andrew Ballantyne have been supporting me in these processes.

Kati Blom is also interested in activating BA students in their own theoretical thinking- organising occasional ASKKATI sessions (academic years 2010-11 and 2011-12).

Funding

Finnish Cultural Foundation, grant in 2003
Finnish Foundation for Visual Arts in New York, grant 2003

Teaching

Undergraduate Teaching

Current 2023-2024: Tutor in stage 2, AUP stage 1 and Studio leader for Stage 3 in BA.

Publications