Stephen Willacy is an architect and urbanist working in practice and education. He was partner in internationally renowned architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects (2005-2012) and as Associate Professor at Aarhus School of Architecture, Visiting Professor Arizona State University (1992- 2012) and currently Honorary Professor at the University of Dundee, Scotland.
Between 2012-2020, Stephen worked as the Chief City Architect in Aarhus City Council, Denmark. Here Stephen had the overall responsibility for architectural quality and its stewardship in connection with larger plans and projects and thus the overall responsibility with respect for the city to develop in a way where architectural considerations are prioritised and contribute to continued innovation in relation to urban planning, urban design, landscape design and architectural quality.
Since his tenure as chief city architects concluded in 2021, he established Stephen Willacy Architecture + Urbanism. www.stephenwillacy.com. As agents of change, Stephen’s goal isto facilitate the careful collection of data and valuable inputs from all involved actors which enable more qualified and good decisions from the outset.
Understanding local conditions is of paramount importance when making sustainable places. Most value is created in the earliest phases of project work. Careful readings of environment, climatic, economic, social, cultural heritage, landscapes geology and its vegetation, built characteristics and traditions must be collated and combined with many different stakeholders viewpoints, local citizens knowledge and idiosyncrasies foster a meaningful foundation for a qualified project.