Claudia Westermann Ph.D.

Senior Associate Professor

Claudia Westermann is a Senior Associate Professor in Architecture and licensed as a practising architect with the German Chamber of Architects. She holds post-graduate degrees in Architecture and Media Art from the Karlsruhe University of Technology (KIT) and the Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design (HfG) at the Center for Art and Media (ZKM) in Germany respectively, obtaining a Ph.D. from the Centre for Advanced Inquiry in Integrative Arts (CAiiA), Planetary Collegium, University of Plymouth, UK. Her Ph.D. was supervised by the renowned pioneer in telematic art, Prof. Roy Ascott.

Dr. Westermann worked in architectural practice for several years before founding her own studio with a focus on trans-disciplinary projects at the threshold of art, technology and architectural design. Her works have been widely exhibited and presented, including at the Venice Biennale (Architecture), the Moscow International Film Festival, ISEA Symposium for the Electronic Arts, the Center for Art and Media (ZKM) in Karlsruhe, Germany. The project Seats For Seeing, which she created in collaboration with colleagues at XJTLU, was installed in Fujian, China, in 2019.

Claudia Westermann’s research is informed by second-order cybernetics, actualising in inter-disciplinary projects concerned with the ecologies, poetics, and philosophies of art and architectural design. In recent years, her research has increasingly engaged with Asian/Chinese positions. The research aims to advance the understanding of Art, including Design, as a performative process that creates limits rather than limitations and, is, therefore, a discipline of radical communication that always seeks to extend itself towards an Other – the unknown – addressing it without pre-quantifying it to render it scientifically verifiable.

Claudia Westermann is a member of the Editorial Organism of the ESCI listed journal Technoetic Arts, founded by Prof. Roy Ascott. She was elected to the Executive Board of the American Society for Cybernetics (ASC) as Member-at-Large for the 01.2021-12.2023 three year term.

Administrative posts at XJTLU have included the Programme Director of the BEng(Hons) Architecture and the Chair of the Departmental Learning and Teaching Committee with shared membership in the University's Learning and Teaching Committee from 2015 to 2018. She is currently the designated marketing and alumni coordinator.

Her website is at https://www.litra-design.com.


  • Ph.D., Center for Advanced Inquiry in the Integrative Arts (CAiiA), Planetary Collegium, University of Plymouth, UK - 2011
  • Postgraduate Diploma, Media Art (Fine Art), University of Arts and Design at the Center for Art and Media (ZKM), Karlsruhe, Germany - 2003 // postgr. qualification at the Masters level
  • Dipl.-Ing. Architect, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT formerly University of Karlsruhe TH), Germany - 1999 // RIBA Part 2 equivalent


  • EMPLOYMENTS, higher education and practice
  • Senior Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University - 2016 to Present
  • Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University - 2012 to 2016
  • Univ.Ass. postdoc. (Senior Lecturer), Institute of Architecture and Design, Faculty of Architecture, Vienna University of Technology - 2006 to 2010
  • Architect (in Practice), Rossmann & Partner Architekten, Karlsruhe, Germany, 1999-2001
  • Architectural Assistant, Rossmann & Partner Architekten, Karlsruhe, Germany, 1994-1998 (PT)
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  • LITRA, CEO
  • Founder, LITRA :: Laboratory for Inhabitable Theories and Research in Architecture, 2001 to present
  • Professional licensure and registration, German Architects Chamber section Baden-Wuerttemberg, 2001
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  • ART IN PUBLIC SPACE
  • 07.2021 | Westermann, Claudia and Siqi Deng with Y. Yao, S. Wang, H. Gao and Z. Qin, “Reweaving Shuangta” (educational project, installation in public space), Suzhou, Shuangta, in the framework of Exploring the Histories of Shuangta: Heritage and Community, July 04, 2021–July 21, 2021.
  • 11.2019-present | Westermann, Claudia with Adam Brillhart, Fanyun Chen, Yiping Dong, Ominda Nanayakkara, Thomas Wortmann (team members listed in alphabetical order), “Seats for Seeing” – installation in public space, Beikeng village, Yanping district in Fujian province, China.
  • 1998 | Westermann, Claudia, “blue room” – temporary multi-media installation in public space, Karlsruhe, Germany.
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  • WORK IN EXHIBITIONS AND ART/FILM FESTIVALS
  • 2021 | Westermann, Claudia and Siqi Deng with Y. Yao, S. Wang, H. Gao and Z. Qin, “Reweaving Shuangta” (educational project, art installation) exhibited within the framework of “Exploring the Histories of Shuangta: Heritage and Community” at Suzhou Design Week, December 3 – 7, 2021.
  • 2021 | Westermann, Claudia and Siqi Deng with Y. Yao, S. Wang, H. Gao and Z. Qin, “Reweaving Shuangta” (educational project, art installation) exhibited at XJTLU Design School at ADE Future Lab, Shanghai, November 28 - December 5, 2021. With catalogue entry.
  • 2021 | Westermann, Claudia, invited by Clarissa Ribeiro to contribute a ’contaminant’ (video) to her Data-Confluences (2021) exhibition at the Re-Fest 2021 Virtual Gallery, UCLA Art | Sci Center, March 12 – May 1, 2021, online, Los Angeles, USA.
  • 2019-2020 | Westermann, Claudia with Adam Brillhart, Fanyun Chen, Yiping Dong, Ominda Nanayakkara, Thomas Wortmann (team members listed in alphabetical order), “Seats for Seeing” – installation in public space, in: 2019 China Yanping Art Harvest, November 30, 2019 - February 29, 2020, Fujian, China.
  • 2014 | Westermann, Claudia, “Inhabitable Theories Exhibited” – multi-media installation, exhibited in: Shared Territories, an international exhibition of XJTLU’s Design Research Institute; October 2014.
  • 2009 | Westermann, Claudia and Sean Reed “btd x” – video composition, in: 50 years Studio for Electronic Music (1959 - 2009), Group Exhibition, University Mozarteum, Salzburg, Austria, Nov. 11-13.
  • 2007 | Westermann, Claudia and Sean Reed, “btd x” – video composition, in: Benefit for the Austrian Child Cancer Foundation, Group Exhibition, Kapitelsaal, Salzburg; Oct. 05.
  • 2007 | Westermann, Claudia and Sean Reed, “btd x” – video composition, in: Musica Viva, Group Exhibition, Gotischer Saal, Salzburg; April 07.
  • 2006 | Westermann, Claudia, ”you_are” – video installation / online, in: Artificial A.Gender, online exhibition, (Australia).
  • 2005 | Westermann, Claudia, ”post communist condition no.01” in: Capturing Utopia, Group exhibition, Fournos, Centre for Digital Culture, Athen, Griechenland, Sept. 19-25.
  • 2005 | Westermann, Claudia, “I am…/waiting” – site-specific video installation, in: Project X Theatre + Planetary Collegium, Group exhibition; Project X, Dallas, USA, Sept. 05.
  • 2003 | Westermann, Claudia and Sean Reed, “btd x” – video compostion, in: International Festival of Cinema and Technology, New York, USA, Dec. 06-10.
  • 2003 | Westermann, Claudia and Sean Reed, “btd x”, Westermann, C. and Hecker, F., “widerhall”, and Westermann, C., “you_are”, in: Neues Cinema, Schauspielhaus Hamburg, Klub Katarakt, Hamburg, Germany.
  • 2002 | Westermann, Claudia and Sean Reed, “btd x” – video composition, in: ISEA, International Symposium for the Electronic Arts, Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 27-31.
  • 2002 | Westermann, Claudia and Sean Reed, “btd x” – video composition, in: Praterfernsehen, Volksbühne im Prater, Berlin, Germany.
  • 2002 | Westermann, Claudia and Sean Reed, “btd x”, and Westermann, C., “city”, in: mediaterra – touring exhibition, Athens and Lavrion in Greece, Sofia in Bulgaria, Belgrade in Yugoslavia, Maribor in Slovenia and in Frankfurt a.M. in Germany, Sept. 14 - Oct. 15.
  • 2001 | Westermann, Claudia and Florian Hecker, ”widerhall/~sh0wables” – video composition, in: trans oo4, Chicago, USA.
  • 2001 | Westermann, C. and Florian Hecker, ”widerhall/~sh0wables” – video composition, in: impact, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
  • 2001 | Westermann, C. and Florian Hecker, ”widerhall/~sh0wables” – video composition, in: Stuttgarter Filmwinter, Stuttgart, Germany 2.
  • 2001 | Westermann, Claudia, ”city” – light print installation, in: HfG Karlsruhe, opening exhibition at the ZKM, Germany.
  • 2001 | Westermann, Claudia and Sean Reed, “btd x” – video composition, in: screening 06, Hauptzollamt, Museum for Modern Art (MMK), Frankfurt a.M., Germany, March 9 -11.
  • 2001 | Westermann, Claudia and Sean Reed, “btd x” – video composition, in: media forum, XXIII. Moscow International Film Festival, Russia.
  • 2001 | Westermann, Claudia and Sean Reed, “btd x” – video composition, in: anima, Maison de la culture Plateau Mont-Royal, Montréal, Canada.
  • 2000 | Westermann, Claudia ”city” – four digital 3D images, competition entry, in: Less Aesthetics, More Ethics – Città Terzo Millennio, Architecture Biennale, Venice, Italy, June 18 - Oct. 29.
  • 2000 | Westermann, Claudia, ”format” – installation with video still, in: S/He’ll Survive, Montevideo, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, April 08 - May 03.
  • 2000 | Westermann, Claudia and Sean Reed, “btd x”, and Westermann, C. and Hecker, F., ”widerhall/~sh0wables” – video compositions, ZKM - Center for Art and Media Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.
  • 2000 | Westermann, Claudia and Kerstin Wagener, “Composition for a Web Page Quartet” – internet performance, in: Steirischer Herbst, Graz, Austria.
  • 2000 | Westermann, Claudia and Sean Reed, “btd x”, and Westermann, C. and Wagener, K., “Composition for a Web Page Quartet”, in: Videomedeja, Novi Sad, Serbia.
  • 1997 | Westermann, Claudia, “Fly” – competition entry, a Monument for the Karhumäki brothers, Kuorevesi, Finland.
  • 1997 | Westermann, Claudia, “La petite Ceinture” – architectural proposal, Helsinki, Finland and Paris, France.
  • 1997 | Westermann, Claudia, “Moving Information Belt” – architectural proposal – Tidal Variations, Tampere, Finland.
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  • NETWORKS | NETART
  • 2001-2010 | Westermann, Claudia -- Member of the administration team for “Syndicate Mailing List for Media Culture - for the fostering of exchange between Eastern and Western Europe” ~400 subscribers, The list’s main years of activity were from 2001 to 2007. Diverse online-community- projects. Syndicate was funded by Atelier Nord in Oslo from 2001 to 2009, and by Kuda in Novi Sad from 2009 onwards.
  • 2002-2006 | Westermann, Claudia -- Co-Author of “2balles/voir-venir” net.art project and collaborative blog with 5 authors. First French blog according to net.art anthology. Initiated by Frédéric Madre.
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  • ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTS, BUILT
  • 2017 | Westermann, Claudia -- Vienna, Austria, refurbishment of an apartment, re-design kitchen and living room including custom-made kitchen furniture.
  • 2009-2010 Westermann, Claudia -- Vienna, Austria, refurbishment of the facade, the entrance and the staircase of a building from 1904, planning and monitoring.
  • 2008-2009 Westermann, Claudia -- Vienna, Austria, reconstruction of two traditional workers’ apartments built in 1904 (73 sqm); building survey, calculations of heat demand (low temperature heating), commissioning of structural engineer (enforcements according to the earthquake regulations, closing of the aeration courtyard), building permission, construction and detail planning, tender processes, monitoring.
  • 2005 Westermann, Claudia -- Leimen, Germany, roof extension to a one family house – scheme planning, building permission.
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  • EXHIBITION DESIGN
  • 2021 | Westermann, Claudia -- Exhibition Design for the XJTLU Design School exhibition at Art and Design Education Future Lab, West Bund Dome, Shanghai, November 28 – December 5, 2021.
  • 2021 | Westermann, Claudia -- Exhibition Design and Coordination Architecture Futures exhibition in the XJTLU Design Building, October 20 – November 17, 2021.


  • Claudia Westermann’s research is informed by second-order cybernetics, actualising in interdisciplinary projects concerned with the ecologies, poetics, and philosophies of art and architectural design. In recent years, her research has increasingly engaged with Asian/Chinese positions. It aims to advance the understanding of Art, including Design, as a performative process that creates limits rather than limitations and, is therefore, a discipline of radical communication that always seeks to extend itself towards an Other – the unknown – addressing it without pre-quantifying it to render it scientifically verifiable. Since August 2020, Dr. Westermann is a member of the Editorial Organism of the ESCI listed journal Technoetic Arts, founded by Prof. Roy Ascott. She was elected to the Executive Board of the American Society for Cybernetics (ASC) as Member-at-Large for the 01.2021-12.2023 three year term.
  • Claudia Westermann welcomes ideas and proposals from potential PhD students in all areas of her research expertise. She specifically encourages candidates to get in touch who are interested in exploring themes related to art, architecture and urban development in China. In this context, one could imagine studies exploring the relations between art and architectural design, between Western and Eastern Aesthetics, studies related to place making in the networked city, and to urbanisation and heritage (memory), just to name a few. Candidates with an interest in digital tools for place making, and in the design of augmented spaces could also be linked to recent research conducted with Hai-Ning Liang of the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering. The Department has a limited number of scholarships available for outstanding PhD applicants, covering the tuition fees and providing a monthly stipend of 5000 RMB.


  • Westermann, Claudia, 2022, “On Globes, the Earth, and the Cybernetics of Grace”, Technoetic Arts: A Journal of Speculative Research, 19.1/2 Global Conversation special issue, pp. 29–47. doi:10.1386/tear_00049_1. (ESCI listed journal)
  • Berstrand, Tordis and Amir Djalali, Yiping Dong, Jiawen Han, Teresa Hoskyns, Glen Wash Ivanovic, Siti Balkish Roslan, Claudia Westermann (authors in alphabetical order), 2022, “A Conversation on a Paradise on Earth in Eight Frames”, East Asian Journal of Philosophy, Special issue: Philosophy of the City, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 95–116. https://doi.org/10.19079/eajp.1.3.95
  • Westermann, Claudia, 2021, ‘Poiesis, ecology and embodied cognition’, Technoetic Arts: A Journal of Speculative Research, 18:1, pp. 19–29 (ESCI)
  • Westermann, Claudia, 2020, 'The art of conversation: design cybernetics and its ethics', Kybernetes, Vol. 49 No. 8, pp. 2171-2183. (SCI) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/K-03-2019-0186
  • Westermann, Claudia 2019 'Design: Necessity or Desire' She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 396–98. (Scopus) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. sheji.2019.11.016.
  • Westermann, Claudia 2019 'An Eco-poetic Approach to Architecture Across Boundaries', KnE Social Sciences. (Web of Science) DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v3i27.5533
  • Raonic, Aleksandra and Westermann, Claudia 2018 ‘Framing indeterminacy: Pedagogical journey into experimental architectural thinking’, Technoetic Arts: A Journal of Speculative Research, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 137–151. (ESCI) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1386/tear.16.2.137_1
  • Westermann, Claudia 2018 'On Delight: Thoughts for Tomorrow', Technoetic Arts: A Journal of Speculative Research, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 43-51. (ESCI) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1386/tear.16.1.43_1
  • Westermann, Claudia 2011 'Resonances of the Unknown', Kybernetes, vol. 40, no. 7-8, pp. 1189-1195. (SCI)
  • Westermann, Claudia 2011 'Myths of Complexity', Design Ecologies, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 266-284
  • Westermann, Claudia 2010 'Cybernetics: Art, Design, Mathematics', Leonardo Reviews Quarterly 1.02, December 2010, pp. 24-26.
  • Westermann, Claudia 2006 'Situationist International by Simon Ford', Leonardo, vol. 39, no. 3, pp. 259-260. (AHCI)
  • Westermann, Claudia 2006 'Waiting', Thresholds, vol. 31, no. Ephemera, p. 4


  • forthcoming: Deng, S., C. Westermann and Y. Dong “Reimagining the Peach Blossom Spring” in: EAHN 2022, European Architectural Historians Network Conference, S13 – Poetry Designing Architecture: A Global Exploration of Structures Arising from Poetry, Madrid, Spain, June 15 – 18, 2022.
  • Westermann, Claudia, 2021, “Constructing the hybrid city: Shanghai”, In: Griffin, H. (ed.) AMPS Proceedings Series 20.2. Connections: Exploring Heritage, Architecture, Cities, Art, Media. University of Kent, UK. 29 – 30 June (2020), pp. 44-53
  • Westermann, Claudia, 2019, Poiesis, Ecology and Embodied Cognition (abstr.), In: Sentient States: Bio-mind and Techno-nature, Consciousness Reframed, CITAR Research Center for Science and Technology of the Arts, Universidade Catolica Portuguesa, Porto, June 6-8, 2019.
  • (2015-2016) Inhabitable Theories. Re-Initiation. (Book of Abstracts) In: This Thing Called Theory, 12th international conference of the AHRA - Architectural Humanities Research Association, 19th-21st November 2015, Leeds, United Kingdom, pp.
  • (2014-2015) Blank Spaces, an Excursion to Another Future (abstract) In: 20th International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA), International Conference, Dubai; October 30 - November 8, pp.
  • (2012-2013) Open Future. Design as Infinite Drawing Forth (abstract) In: Di-Egyfest 0.1, Behind the Image and Beyond, International Conference, Cairo, Egypt; March 31- April 2, pp.
  • (2012-2013) Addressing the Future – The Tactics of Uncertainty (conference stream abstract) In: Muta Morphosis, Tribute to Uncertainty, International Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, pp.
  • (2010-2011) Towards a Poly-Valued Logic of a Real Dream. (abstract) In: Consciousness Reframed 11, Making Reality Really Real, Trondheim, Norway; Nov. 4-6, pp. 200-201
  • (2009-2010) Perfectly Designed. A Gift from the Absent Author. (abstract) In: Experiencing Design – Behaving media, München, Germany; Nov. 19-21, pp. 25-26
  • (2008-2009) The Architect's Circle, or The Geometrical Incline of Truth In: New Realities: Being Syncretic, IXth Consciousness Reframed Conference, Vienna, 2008, pp. 315-319
  • (2006-2007) Lucid Orders for an Infinite World. A Topological Theory of Architecture. (abstract) In: Reviewing the Future: Vision, Innovation, Emergence, University of Quebec in Montreal, Canada, April 19-22, pp. 79
  • (2005-2006) Order of Speech. In: Consciousness Reframed: art and consciousness in the post-biological era. University of Plymouth, UK; July 21-23, pp. 53-54
  • (2005-2006) A Research into Inhabitable Theories. In: ESF - LiU Conference on Cities and Media. Cultural Perspectives on Urban Identities in a Mediatized World, Vadstena, Sweden, October 25-29, 2006, pp. 6 pages
  • (2004-2005) Spaces and Non-Spaces. In: Altered States: transformations of perception, place, and performance, International Conference, University of Plymouth; July 22-24, pp. 9 pages
  • (2003-2004) Greed. Love. Wisdom, and Labeling of the Self. In: Qi and Complexity - Consciousness Reframed 2004: The 6th International Research Conference - Conference Proceedings, pp. 449-458
  • (2003-2004) Tactics for the Urban and the Virtual Space. Play. (Published in Portuguese translation: Táticas para o espaço urbano e virtual: um jogo ) In: Redes sensoriais: arte, ciência, tecnologia., pp. 91-100
  • (2000-2001) zone_01 In: Cast 01– Living in Mixed Realities, International Symposium, pp.


  • Bardakos, I., C. Jacques, D. Honorato, C. Westermann, and P. de Filippi, (eds.)(forthcoming), Technoetic Arts: A Journal of Speculative Research, 19.3. On Modes of Participation. (ESCI listed journal)
  • Raonic A., Herr C. M., Wash G., Westermann C., Zhang C, (eds.) CAADRIA 2017 – Protocols, Flows and Glitches: Short papers, posters, workshops. The Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA), Hong Kong. ISBN: 978-988-19026-9-6.
  • Wollscheid, A. and C. Westermann et al (eds.) 1999, MUZARC, CD-ROM on music and architecture, SELEKTION, Frankfurt a.M., Germany


  • Bardakos, Ioannis, Claudia Jacques, Dalila Honorato, Claudia Westermann, and Primavera de Filippi, (forthcoming), “Editorial: On Modes of Participation”, in: Technoetic Arts: A Journal of Speculative Research, 19.3. On Modes of Participation. (ESCI listed journal)
  • Westermann, Claudia and Siqi Deng, and Y. Yao, S. Wang, H. Gao and Z. Qin, 2021, “Reweaving Shuangta” (educational project, installation in public space) in: Art and Design Education ADE Future Lab, West Bund Dome Shanghai, exhibition catalogue, p. 43.
  • Westermann, Claudia., 2020, 'Chinese Landscape Aesthetics: the Exchange and Nurturing of Emotions', in: Kehrer, J. (ed.), New Horizons: Eight Perspectives on Chinese Landscape Architecture Today, Basel: Birkhäuser, pp.34-37.
  • Brillhart, Adam, Fanyun Chen, Yiping Dong, Ominda Nanayakkara, Claudia Westermann and Thomas Wortmann [alphabetical order], 2019, 'Seats for Seeing – installation in public space' In 2019 Yanping Art Harvest (catalogue), Nanping City: People's Government of Yanping District, Nanping City, Fujian Province (peer reviewed; published: 30-Nov-2019), p.11.
  • Westermann, Claudia 2019, 'A Poetics of Designing' In: T. Fischer, C. M. Herr (eds.) Design Cybernetics – Navigating the New, Springer: Wien, New York. pp. 233-245. ISBN 978-3-030-18557-2.
  • Westermann, Claudia 2012, 'Start, Three Geese, and Hopscotch of Change' in (eds) Trojan Horses; A Rattle Bag from the "Cybernetics: Art, Design, Mathematics; A Meta-Disciplinary Conversation"; post-conference workshop, echoraum, Vienna, pp. 34-34,40,44,54,62,65
  • Westermann, Claudia & Hulstein, Aartje 2012, 'The Folded Boat and Other Stories you can play with' in (eds) Trojan Horses; A Rattle Bag from the "Cybernetics: Art, Design, Mathematics; A Meta-Disciplinary Conversation"; post-conference workshop, echoraum, Vienna, pp. 29-99
  • Westermann, Claudia 2009, 'An entry without inscription, a letter, and a map' in Design2- Context (eds) Des-/Orientierung, Dis-/Orientation, Des-/Orientation 2, Lars Mueller, pp. 364-368
  • Westermann, Claudia 2009, 'The Architect’s Circle, or the Geometrical Incline of Truth'. In: Ascott R., Bast G., Fiel W., Jahrmann M., Schnell R. (eds) New Realities: Being Syncretic. Edition Angewandte. Springer, Vienna.
  • Westermann, Claudia & Reed, S 2009, 'btd x' in (eds) Catalogue: 50 Jahre Studio fuer elektronische Musik (1959-2009), Mozarteum Salzburg.
  • Westermann, Claudia 2006, 'Who plays the nightingale?' In: Ascott, R. (ed.), Engineering Nature: Art and Consciousness in the Post-Biological Era, Bristol, UK: Intellect Ltd.
  • Westermann, Claudia 2000, 'City (competition entry)' in: Città:Terzo Millennio, La Biennale di Venezia, Marsilio Editiori, Italy, 2000; ISBN 88-208-0416-6
  • Westermann, C., 'Moving Information Belt' (architectural proposal), in: Tampereen Arkkitehti - Osasto 9, TTKK/TUT, Finland, 1997; ISBN 951-722-827-9


  • INVITED TALKS
  • 2021-2022 with Iannis Bardakos and Claudia Jacques, A Cybernetic Picnic at the 2021 autumn lecture series of the American Society for Cybernetics. November 21, 2021.
  • 2021-2022 Echoes of Colour. Presentation for the Shanti Sadan Foundation in Ahmedabad, India. September 18, 2021.
  • 2020-2021 Cybernetic Agents for an Ecology of the Far/Near. Presentation for the Design Informatics Research Webinars, Institute for Design Informatics, Edinburg College of Art, University of Edinburgh, Scotland. February 04, 2021. Recording available from the Design Informatics video archives, video no. 26 or directly from vimeo https://vimeo.com/512954980.
  • 2020-201 Living in Landscapes of Uncertainty. Presentation for the Radical Uncertainty: Design beyond solutionism webinar. University of Brighton Radical Methodologies Research and Enterprise Group, RaMREG. July 23, 2021.
  • 2017-2018 The Industrialisation of the Romantic Spirit. Presentation for the Hong Kong University (HKU) International Summer Programme in Architecture: Cities in Asia, Shanghai – Tokyo. Industrial Transfers. June 28, 2018.
  • 2016-2017, 武汉大学 探索之路:中国建筑学专业本科教学改革实验 研讨 // A road to explore: teaching reform experiments in China for the Bachelor of architecture; seminar at Wuhan University / Creating Spaces of Possibilities -- The Bachelor in Architecture at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
  • 2010-2011 Performing Architecture, AA Symposium - The Unprimed Canvas: Burgeoning fields in practice. Architectural Association, London, UK; Februar 04; available in AA’s video archive.
  • 2007-2008 Inhabitable Theories, Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Design2Context, series: Orientation / Disorientation, Switzerland; May 15
  • 2005-2006 Kunst der Konstruktion (Art of Construction) – University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Kaiserslautern, Germany, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Virtual Design
  • 2004-2005 Spaces – Introduction, Department of Art and Technology (Tiffany Holmes), School of the Art Institute, Chicago, USA; Apr. 28
  • 2004-2005 Greed, Love, Wisdom, and the Labeling of the Self – HfG Karlsruhe (University for Art and Design) at the ZKM, Germany; in coop. with G. Dan; Febr. 02
  • 2004-2005 From Form to Sound to Space. From Fixed to Mobile, HfG Karlsruhe (University for Art and Design) at the ZKM, Germany
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  • ORGANISATION, AND CO-ORGANISATION OF LECTURES AND SYMPOSIA
  • 2021-2022 Co-organisation and participation, with Iannis Bardakos. Technoetic Arts at Open- COP hosted A Cybernetic Picnic on November 10 and 12, 2021.
  • 2021-2022 Co-organisation and participation. New Macy #3, facilitated by the American Society for Cybernetics, Analogic Frameworks – Alternatives to Today’s AI, October 16, 2021.
  • 2021-2022 Co-organisation and participation. American Society for Cybernetics Speakers Series: Cybernetics and humans’ knowing. New Macy #2. How do we create organic frameworks for AI that are based in human and ecological values? September 19, 2021.
  • 2018-2019 Member of the Organsing Committee, The International Conference on Water Ecological Civilization and Green & Integrated Urban-rural Development, October 27- 28, 2018. Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China.
  • 2016-2017 Member of the Organising Committee for CAADRIA 2017: Protocols, Flows, and Glitches, 5–8 April 2017, XJTLU, Suzhou.
  • 2007-2008 Co-organisation of “Consciousness Reframed 9 - New Realities : Being Syncretic - A transdisciplinary inquiry into art, science, technology and society”, International Conference, Vienna, 3-5 July 2008.
  • 2006-2007 Member of the Organising Committee for the program of the ICAMT (International Committee for Architecture and MuseumTechniques) Annual Meeting and Symposium in the framework of the ICOM 2007 in Vienna
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  • CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
  • forthcoming, 2021-2022, Deng, S., C. Westermann and Y. Dong Reimagining the Peach Blossom Spring presented at EAHN 2022, European Architectural Historians Network Conference, Stream 13 – Poetry Designing Architecture: A Global Exploration of Structures Arising from Poetry, international conference, Madrid, Spain, June 15 – 18, 2022.
  • 2021-2022 The Logics of Initiation: cybernetics and art presented at World Organisation of Systems and Cybernetics, 18. Congress-WOSC2021, international conference, Moscow (online), 27. to 30. September 2021.
  • 2020-2021 with Iannis Bardakos and Claudia Jacques, 'Playshop: A Cybernetic Picnic,' presented at ISSS2021: 65th Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Systems Sciences, international conference, July 8, 2021-July 13, 2021.
  • 2020-2021 with CRAC (China Research in Architecture Collective) 'Dialogue on a Paradise on Earth' presented at Philosophy of the City, international conference, organised by POTC Research Group, University of Twente, NL, May 17, 2021.
  • 2020-2021, with Adam Brillhart and Yiping Dong, Seats for Seeing, presented at Public Space Forum, international symposium, Department of Architecture, Xi'an-Jiaotong-Liverpool University, January 8, 2021.
  • 2020-2021, Thoughts on Time, Ecology, and Art, ASC 2020 Global Conversation, online, September 12-13, 2020.
  • 2019-2020, Constructing the Hybrid City: Shanghai. Presented at: Connections: Exploring Heritage, Architecture, Cities, Art, Media, Kent School of Architecture and Planning, Canterbury, UK, June 3-5, 2020. Accessible online at: https://youtu.be/gjBn9mcHfxQ
  • 2018-2019, An Eco-poetic Approach to Architecture Across Boundaries, Architecture Across Boundaries, International Conference, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China, June 19-21, 2019.
  • 2018-2019, Poiesis, Ecology and Embodied Cognition, Sentient States: Bio-mind and Technonature, Consciousness Reframed, CITAR Research Center for Science and Technology of the Arts, Universidade Cató-lica Portuguesa, Porto, June 6-8, 2019.
  • 2018-2019 The International Conference on Water Ecological Civilization and Green & Integrated Urban-rural Development, October 27-28, 2018 / Ecology, Cultural Perspectives in Dialogue with Science
  • 2017-2018, Consciousness Reframed XX, Subtle Cybernetics and the Art of Mind, China Central Academy of Fine Art (CAFA), Beijing, November 25-26, 2017 / On Delight: Thoughts for Tomorrow
  • 2016-2017, CONSCIOUSNESS REFRAMED art and consciousness in the post-biological era. Nov. 26-27, 2016 - DeTao / M50, Shanghai, China. / The Order of Blandness: Rethinking performance, potentiality and interaction
  • 2014-2015, The RUSSELL GROUP CHINA WORKSHOP on SUSTAINABLE CITIES Russel Group; China Collaborative Programme, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 3-5 June, 2015 / Thinking Intuitive Interaction: An Eastern Journey
  • 2015-2016, This Thing Called Theory, 12th international conference of the AHRA - Architectural Humanities Research Association, 19th-21st November 2015, Leeds, United Kingdom / Inhabitable Theories. Re-Initiation.
  • 2014-2015, CHI 2015 (ACM SIGCHI), 18-23 April, Workshop - W27: Leveraging and Integrating Eastern and Western Insights into Human Engagement Studies in HCI, April 19, Seoul, South Korea / The Potentiality of Blandness: A Journey via the East to Rethinking Interaction
  • 2005-2006, Symposium, Dec. 01-02 / Transmodalities: Mind, Art, New Media
  • 2004-2005, International Symposium, Dallas Museum of Art. April 06-07 / Shaping Consciousness: New Media, Spirituality, and Identity
  • 2014-2015, MEDIACITY 5 - Reflecting on Social Smart Cities, 1-3 May 2015, Plymouth, UK / Speculations on the Poetic City, with a Skyscraper Skyline in View and WeChat on Stand-By
  • 2012-2013, International Conference, March 31- April 02 / Di-Egyfest 0.1, Behind the Image and Beyond
  • 2012-2013, International Conference, Dec. 06-08 / MutaMorphosis, Stream of Interest Moderator
  • 2010-2011, Conference Presentation. Nov. 04-06 / Consciousness Reframed 11, Making Reality Really Real
  • 2009-2010, 10th Planetary Collegium International Research Conference, Nov. 19-21 / Consciousness Reframed, Experiencing Design – Behaving media
  • 2009-2010, Conference Presentation. July 30-Aug 02 / Cybernetics: Art, Design, Mathematics – A Meta Disciplinary Conversation
  • 2007-2008, Conference Presentation. July 03-05 / Consciousness Reframed 9, New Realities : Being Syncretic
  • 2006-2007, European Science Foundation, Linkoeping University Conference on Cities and Media. Oct. 25-29 / Cultural Perspectives on Urban Identities in a Mediatized World
  • 2006-2007, Planetary Collegium Summit. April 19-22 / Reviewing the Future – Vision, Innovation, Emergence
  • 2005-2006, 8th International Research Conference. July 21-23 / Consciousness Reframed: art and consciousness in the post-biological era
  • 2004-2005, The 6th International Research Conference. Nov. 24-27 / Qi and Complexity - Consciousness Reframed 2004
  • 2004-2005, International Conference, University of Plymouth. July 22-24 / Altered States: transformations of perception, place, and performance
  • 2003-2004, International Research Conference. Nov. 23-31 / Redes Sensoriais: arte, ciência, technologia (Sensorial Nets)
  • 2003-2004, International Festival of New Technologies, Art & Communication,Symposium. April 25-29 / CiberArt Bilbao
  • 2002-2003, University of Wales College. July 02-08 / Art and Consciousness in the Post-biological Era
  • 2001-2002, International Conference, Sept. 21-22 / Cast 1, Living in Mixed Realities


  • Salvaggio, Eryk (USA)(PI), Claudia Westermann (ARC, XJTLU), Vinny Montag (IND, XJTLU), and Hao Liu (EnvSc, XJTLU). Appetite for Deconstruction, research and installation project for the exhibition and linked workshops 1.5° Celsius (the Anthropocene) in the Michigan State University Science Gallery. Grant from the MSU Science Gallery of 3000 USD. Awarded 09 March 2022.
  • Westermann, Claudia 2019. Principal Investigator, Actualizing Chinese Conceptions of Space: Theories and Strategies for the Design of Resonant Architecture. Funding for PhD scholarship. Co-supervisors: Thomas Fischer (Arc XJTLU), Yiping Dong (Arc XJTLU), Christina Malathouni (Arc UoL). PGRS1906008; ~450 000 CNY
  • Westermann, Claudia 2019. Principal Investigator, Strategies for integrating empirical approaches to embodied cognition into architectural design processes. Co-Is: Hai-Ning Liang (Dep. of Computer Science and Software Engineering) and Richard Carciofo (Dep. of Health and Environmental Sciences). PhD co-supervisor: Christina Malathouni ( Arc UoL). RDF 18-01-35 and associated PhD scholarship PGRS 1819-1-035; 100 000 CNY + ~450 000 CNY.
  • Westermann, Claudia 2008, Conference Co-Organizer. Consciousness Reframed 9 International Conference, the University of Applied Arts and the City of Vienna. 16 000 Euro.
  • Westermann, Claudia 2006, Presenter, ESF-LiU Conference: Cities and Media, Linkoeping, Sweden; Invitation / Travel Grant. The European Science Foundation. 2 000 Euro.
  • Westermann, Claudia 1999, Artist, with Reed, Sean & Hecker, Florian. Production Grant for the production of btd x and Widerhall, video compositions. Genesis grants of the ZKM.


  • 08.2020 - present Editor, Member of Editorial Organism, Technoetic Arts: A Journal of Speculative Research, Intellect, Bristol, UK. ISSN 1477965X. ESCI listed.
  • 10.2015 - present Member of the peer review panel for Leonardo, the journal of the International Society for the Arts, Sciences and Technology (A&HCI)
  • 2021-2022 Member of the International Review Committee for CAADRIA 2022: Post Carbon. 27th International Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia, 09–15 April 2022, The University of Sydney, The University of Technology Sydney, University of New South Wales Sydney.
  • 05.2021 External reviewer / examiner, Member of the Graduation Committee, BA Technoetic Arts, 4th year Graduation Defense, Roy Ascott Technoetic Arts Studio, DeTao / Shanghai Institute of Visual Art, Shanghai, China. 22 students. Course leader: Roy Ascott. May 7 and 8, 2021.
  • 2020-2021 Member of the international Peer Review Committee for CAADRIA 2021: Projections. 26th International Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia 29 March to 1 April 2021, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
  • 09.11.2020 Guest Reviewer, Central Saint Martins (CSM), London, UK. Interim Review, MA Biodesign. Course leader: Nancy Diniz.
  • 2019-2020 Member of the International Peer Review Committee, 25th International Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA 2020)
  • 04.2011-12.2019 Editorial Advisory Board, Ubiquity, peer reviewed journal, Intellect, Bristol, United Kingdom. 2011-present.
  • 2019 Member of the Scientific Committee for Architecture Across Boundaries, international conference, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China, June 19-21, 2019.
  • 2019 Member of the Scientific Committee for Sentient States: Bio-mind and Techno-nature, Consciousness Reframed, international conference, CITAR Research Center for Science and Technology of the Arts, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, June 6-8, 2019.
  • 2018-2019 Member of the International Peer Review Committee, 24th International Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA 2019)
  • 2018 Member of the Organzing Committee, The International Conference on Water Ecological Civilization and Green & Integrated Urban-rural Development, October 27-28, 2018. Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University.
  • 2011-12.2019 Editorial Advisory Board, Ubiquity, peer reviewed journal, Intellect, Bristol, United Kingdom.
  • 2017-2018 Member of the international peer review committee for CAADRIA 2018, Learning, Prototyping and Adapting 17-19 May, 2018 Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
  • 2017 Member of the internationals peer-review committee for eCAADe, The virtual and the physical - 5th Regional International Symposium, 27-28 April 2017, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, Wales, UK..
  • 2016-2017 Member of the international peer-review committee CAADRIA 2017: PROTOCOLS, FLOWS AND GLITCHES, 5-8 April 2017, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China.
  • 2014 External Advisor to a consortium of European universities, including the IT University Copenhagen, University College London, TU Delft, and the University of Edinburgh, on a Horizon 2020 research proposal on "Adaptive Environments"..
  • 2012 Muta Morphosis, Tribute to Uncertainty, International Conference, Prague, Czech Republic.
  • 2008 Inhabitable Theories – Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Design2 Context, series: Orientation / Disorientation, Switzerland; May 15.
  • 2007 Member of the Planning Committee for Consciousness Reframed 9 - New Realities : Being Syncretic - A transdisciplinary inquiry into art, science, technology and society, International Conference.
  • 2007 Member of the Scientific Committee for Consciousness Reframed 9 - New Realities : Being Syncretic - A transdisciplinary inquiry into art, science, technology and society, International Conference.
  • 2006 Member of the Planning Committee for the program of the ICAMT (International Committee for Architecture and Museum Techniques) Annual Meeting and Symposium in the framework of the ICOM 2007 in Vienna.
  • 2006 The Bartlett, University College London, UK. Final Crit, Diploma Unit 20. Course leaders: ShaunMurray,Marjan Colletti.
  • 2006 School of the Art Institute Chicago, Chicago,USA; Architecture Faculty. Informal critique, 3rd year BFA (Architecture), Course leader: Anders Nereim.


  • ARC308 Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics (module leader)
  • ARC204 Small Urban Buildings (tutor)
  • ARC407 Architectural Theory and Criticism (module leader)
  • ARC305 Small and Medium Scale Buildings (tutor)
  • ARC001 Introduction to Architecture and Visual Culture (tutor)


  • ARC407 Architectural Theory and Criticism (module leader)
  • ARC413 Design Studio 3 (tutor)
  • ARC411 Practice Based Enquiry and Architectural Representation (module leader)
  • ARC410 Design Studio 4 (tutor)
  • ARC308 Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics (module leader)
  • ARC305 Small and Medium Scale Buildings (module leader / tutor)
  • ARC205 Design and Building Typology (tutor)
  • ARC304 Final Year Project (module leader / tutor)
  • ARC204 Small Urban Buildings (tutor)
  • ARC105 Small Space Design (module leader)
  • ARC101 Design Thinking and Articulation (module leader)
  • ARC001 Introduction to Architecture and Visual Culture (tutor)


  • Editor, Member of Editorial Organism, Technoetic Arts: A Journal of Speculative Research, Intellect, Bristol, UK. ISSN 1477965X. ESCI listed, since 08-2020
  • Architectural Humanities Research Association, since 2015
  • American Society for Cybernetics, Executive Board, Member-at-Large since 2021; member since 2010
  • German Chamber of Architects, section Baden-Wuerttemberg, since 2001 - licence no. 12004


  • 2020 XJTLU Best Final Year Project (Part 1) in Architecture award for the FYP project The Re-Enchantment of Nature in the Post-Anthropocene by Zuo Annan. Tutor recognition. Shared first prize. Project nominated for the RIBA Bronze Medal and available from the RIBA President’s Medals website.
  • 2018 Final Year Project of Li Shaokang, co-tutored with A. Raonic in 2016-17, awarded with a second prize in the Jiangsu Province Department of Education Final Year Project Awards. Tutor award.
  • 2017 Outstanding Design Brief award for Final Year Project studio brief: Framing Indeterminacy, co-author with Aleksandra Raonic, 2017 National Architectural Education Annual Symposium in Shenzhen, China.
  • 2017 Outstanding Design Studio Coursework award for Li Shaokang’s FYP ’A Palimpsest of Old Shanghai’, tutor award, co-tutored with Aleksandra Raonic, 2017 National Architectural Education Annual Symposium in Shenzhen, China.
  • 2017 Outstanding Design Studio Coursework award for Shao Fuwei’s FYP ’Shifting Perspectives in the Urban Theatre’, tutor award, co-tutored with Aleksandra Raonic, 2017 National Architectural Education Annual Symposium in Shenzhen, China.
  • 2017 Best Final Year Project in Architecture award for Li Shaokang (FYP co-tutor with Aleksandra Raonic), Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
  • 2016 Final Year Project of Wang Siyao, tutored in 2014-15, awarded with a third prize in Jiangsu Province;, Department of Education, Jiangsu Province, PR China
  • 2016 Best Final Year Project in Architecture award for Bian Zhifan - shared with two other students (FYP co-tutor with Aleksandra Raonic), Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
  • 2015 Best Final Year Project in Architecture award for Wang Siyao (FYP tutor), Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
  • 2014 Best Final Year Project in Architecture award for Huang Chien-hua (FYP tutor), Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
  • 2014 SIP Excellent Educator Award, Suzhou Industrial Park
  • 2014 Nomination by year 4 students for the 'Best Teacher' Award, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
  • 2014 Most Innovative Teaching Practice - University Award 2014 (winner), Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
  • 2003 Nomination of the video composition 'btd x' in the category animation, International Festival of Cinema and Technology, New York, USA
  • 2002 Good design medal Hugo Häring Preis - while employed at Rossmann&Partner Architects, received as a member of the design team responsible for the reconstruction of Mann Mobilia Karlsruhe, BDA (German RIBA equivalent)
  • 2001 First Purchase, competition entry, Two New Buildings for the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hildesheim, Germany (3600 sqm / 10 Mio Euro), lead designer, in cooperation with Planum Architects, Baden-Baden, Germany
  • 1997 A Monument for the Karhumäki Brothers, competition, 4th Prize, City of Kuorevesi, Finland
  • 1996 Erasmus scholarship, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
  • 1986 , Canada scholarship of the Ministry of Culture and Education Baden-Württemberg, Germany – 3 months
Claudia Westermann