Artists

James Peplow Powell is an architect and researcher with a specialist interest in more-than-human design based in London, UK.

His work takes an ecological perspective to the challenges of climate breakdown and biodiversity loss, exploring how we might co-design our built environments for and with the multiple species that call them home.

James is a co-founder of the research collective Feral Partnerships and the Animal Architecture Collective. He was a Design Researcher in Residence for 2022-23 at the Design Museum, London and International Artist in Residence at Spreepark Art Space Berlin in 2024, with the Animal Architecture Collective. With Feral Partnerships, he has iteratively developed a series of internationally exhibited archival and curatorial projects which aimed to inspire mutually supportive relationships between humans and other species.
He is an Associate Lecturer in Architecture at Sheffield Hallam University, and director of architectural practice Peplow Studio.

In Residence at Bundanon

James’ residency will be inspired by the incredible knowledge and creativity found the in the more-than-human world. From ants and termites to birds and beavers, other species demonstrate artistry, creativity and skill in transforming their environments. How might this “animal architecture” be observed and recognised at Bundanon, and what might we learn by doing so?

Working between archival research, site survey and material experimentation, James will ultimately develop a more-than-human material artefact or building component incorporating the material practices of an animal at Bundanon, which could be integrated into the site’s buildings and landscape.