About Dr. Bill Thompson
Research on the production of a pedagogy for higher education regarding creativity, tradition, politics, and economics.
Dr. Bill Thompson is the son of a factory worker. He trained to become an architect, qualifying in 1978. With an MSc in architecture at UCL in 1996 and candidature for a PhD. In 1999 he was awarded the degree of PhD [at Heriott Watt] for his research about people in life threatening situations [escape in case of fire realising the limitations of machine intelligence and the importance of individual and social knowing]. Since then, he has taught cultural contexts to students in higher architectural education, travelled quite a bit globally, and written about embodied comprehension and the hard problems of infrastructure – calling it MetaPhenomenalism, the need for a pragmatic political and economic philosophy at all levels of comprehension. At present individuals are often encouraged to hold on to an outmoded model of comprehension [transubstantiation] that asks us to be ‘whole individuals’, a contradiction in and of itself when put into the context of the bio-cosmos the comprehension is immersed in, and thus this hubris of transubstantiation must be understood and managed under the rubric of diversity and individuality that aligns with questions regarding human rights as individual aspirations and thus essential issues for those institutions seeking to be democratic as some are and all need to be for commensalist relationships with Earth to work well or at all.
Featured articles and news
BSRIA Sentinel Clerk of Works Training Case Study
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Impact report from the Supply Chain Sustainability School
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The Building Safety Forum at the Installershow 2025
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The UK’s largest air pollution campaign.
Future Homes Standard, now includes solar, but what else?
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BSRIA Briefing: Cleaner Air, Better tomorrow
A look back at issues relating to inside and outside air quality, discussed during the BSRIA briefing in 2023.
Restoring Abbotsford's hothouse
Bringing the writer Walter Scott's garden to life.
Reflections on the spending review with CIAT.
Retired firefighter cycles world to raise Grenfell funds
Leaving on 14 June 2025 Stephen will raise money for youth and schools through the Grenfell Foundation.
Key points for construction at a glance with industry reactions.
Functionality, visibility and sustainability
The simpler approach to specification.
Architects, architecture, buildings, and inspiration in film
The close ties between makers and the movies, with our long list of suggested viewing.
SELECT three-point plan for action issued to MSPs
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UCEM becomes the University of the Built Environment
Major milestone in its 106-year history, follows recent merger with London School of Architecture (LSE).
Professional practical experience for Architects in training
The long process to transform the nature of education and professional practical experience in the Architecture profession following recent reports.
A people-first approach to retrofit
Moving away from the destructive paradigm of fabric-first.
New guide for clients launched at Houses of Parliament
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The impact of recycled slate tiles
Innovation across the decades.
EPC changes for existing buildings
Changes and their context as the new RdSAP methodology comes into use from 15 June.