Kerstin Thompson (born 1965) is an Australian architect. She is the principal of Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA), a Melbourne-based architecture, landscape and urban design practice with projects in Australia and New Zealand. She is also Professor of Design at the School of Architecture at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and adjunct professor at RMIT University and Monash University.
Kerstin Thompson's career as an architect commenced with studies at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) where she earned her Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1989. During her undergraduate studies she worked in the Milan-based studio of Matteo Thun (1987) and the Melbourne-based practice of Robinson Chen (1988âÂÂ89). In 1990 she worked for Perrott Lyon Mathieson Pty Ltd as an Assistant Site Architect for the Telecom Corporate Tower project. From 1990 to 1994 she was a lecturer in architectural design at RMIT. In 1998, Thompson completed a master's degree in Architecture at RMIT.
In the decade from 2000 to 2010, Thompson's projects broadened to include civic projects. The first of many emergency and community services buildings received recognition including local, national, and international shortlistings. During this decade, Thompson's design thinking was the subject of exhibitions, and a significant body of critique, âÂÂNew Trends of Architecture in Europe and Asia-PacificâÂÂ,âÂÂLiving in the Modern: Australian ArchitectureâÂÂ. The National Portrait Gallery's inclusion of KTA in âÂÂThinking about Architecture and Portraitureâ by Dr Christopher Chapman, in 2009.
In 2005, Thompson was appointed as the Creative Director for the RAIA National Conference and one of the Creative Directors for Australia's 2008 Venice Biennale exhibition, Abundant Australia. Her contribution to education was recognised by her appointment as an adjunct professor in architecture at RMIT in 2009. Thompson was appointed as a member of the Federal Government's BEIIC Advisory Committee in 2008.
In years from 2010 to 2020, Thompson's academic contribution was recognised by appointments to Monash University as an adjunct professor in architecture (2012âÂÂ) and to Victoria University Wellington as Professor of Design in Architecture (2010âÂÂ2018). Her contribution to the profession was recognised by appointment as a Life Fellow by the Australian Institute of Architects in 2017. Thompson's design leadership was also recognised by her appointment as a panel member of the Victorian Design Review Panel (VDRP) with the Office of the Victorian Government Architect in 2012. Thompson has also curated multiple exhibitions, including âÂÂArchitectural Urbanism: Melbourne/SeoulâÂÂ, âÂÂDiverse Practiceâ Exhibition and Symposium at Victoria University of Wellington and âÂÂRepair: Australian Pavilionâ at the Venice Biennale 2018.
As part of her ongoing engagement in the industry, Thompson continues to write and deliberate on ethics and design, 'Spatial Continuums: Linear, Radial, and Clustered Architectures in Practiceâ âÂÂThe Burden of LandscapeâÂÂ, Architect Victoria, âÂÂFeeling Climateâ Architecture Australia and âÂÂMuseum as Place-makerâÂÂ. Her commitment also extends to various speaking opportunities including Keynote Speaker, Heritage Address Open House Melbourne, Symposium Contributor, RMIT âÂÂEdmond and Corrigan + Peter Corrigan: INFLUENCEâ and Robin Boyd Foundation: Ethics of Architecture.