Dr Jonathan Orlek
Liverpool School of Art and Design
Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies
Email: J.L.Orlek@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 904 6323
Studio Polpo
Artist-Led Housing
ORCID
I am an architectural researcher and practitioner, often working at the intersections of art, architecture, and ethnography. My research interests include artist-led organisations and spaces, critical spatial practice, embedded research methods, housing, and collective urban practices.
My edited book, Artist-Led Housing: Histories, Residencies, Spaces (2024) explores the role of artist-led organisations within the provision of housing. With a wide range of contributions—and expanding out of my embedded research and practice with East Street Arts—the book suggests future trajectories for living together creatively. It is an extension of a collaborative PhD between University of Huddersfield and East Street Arts (2021). Artist-Led Housing: Histories, Residencies, Spaces was accompanied by the exhibition No Going Back (2024, co-curated with Karen Watson) which investigated the role of art and artists in the city and civic practice, through the lens of East Street Arts’ archive. It is the most comprehensive exploration of East Street Arts’ archive to date.
I am currently a researcher on several interdisciplinary projects exploring care and high streets. This includes Caring—with Cities and Sonic Acts of Noticing.
I am a director of Studio Polpo, a social enterprise architecture collective based in Sheffield. With Studio Polpo I have undertaken several projects investigating high streets, shared living and social space. I was a designer for The High Street of Exchanges, an immersive installation for the British Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2021, curated by Unscene Architecture. This project combined design and research to explore the future of the British High Street. I have also initiated experimental sleepover performances and undertaken co-housing design workshops. I have worked on commissions for The Hepworth (Wakefield), The Tetley (Leeds), Bloc Projects (Sheffield), and Mostyn Gallery (Llandudno), which playfully explore connections between art, architecture and participation.
I warmly welcome enquiries from students considering a PhD related to my research areas.
Academic appointments
Senior Lecturer in Architecture, Liverpool John Moores University, 2023 - present
Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Caring—with Cities Project, Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University, 2021 - 2022
Lecturer in Architecture, Sheffield Hallam University, 2019 - 2023
Associate Lecturer for MA Urban Design, Sheffield School of Architecture, University of Sheffield, 2016 - 2019
Journal article
Quinn K, Cornish B, Orlek J. 2025. Between co and solo writing: experimenting with constraint, composition, and community through writing 100s Culture and Organization, :1-17 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Orlek J, Burke S, McKinlay J, Sharples V, Thompson J. 2024. Becoming Part of the Architecture: Embedded Artistic Research Sluice Magazine, Vernacular :20-29 Publisher Url Public Url
Orlek J, McAndrew C, Cerulli C, Ferreri M, Cavada M, Ratcliffe E. 2023. For a relational understanding of care in critical urban action lo Squaderno, :43-48 Publisher Url Public Url
Klasto C, Orlek J. 2021. Open Letter as reparative interior: expanding, making, participating Idea Journal, 18 :223-236 Publisher Url Public Url
Quinn K, Orlek J, Cornish B. 2020. Writing Alone Together: Making Sense of Lockdown Through Hundreds The Sociological Review Magazine, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Orlek J. 2020. Commoning Artist-led Housing Sluice Magazine, Publisher Url Public Url
Orlek J, Cerulli C, Parsons M. 2016. Prototyping Shared Living: Collective Residential Experiments BDC (Bollettino Del Centro Calza Bini), 16 :251-264 Publisher Url
Books (authored)
Orlek J, Cannon J, Rendell J, Watson K, Jefferis K, Lloyd-Wilson , Devlin J, Coombes L, Mary and Jiem , Sophie + Kerri , Liebig S, Connolly J, Upmeyer J, Cleary D, Holliss F, Mark L. 2024. Artist-Led Housing: Histories, Residencies, Spaces Orlek J. East Street Arts. United Kingdom 978-1-906470-18-0 Publisher Url
Report
Orlek J. 2023. Artist-Led Housing: Summary and Recommendations Report. Presented to Arts Council North Public Url
Ferreri M, McAndrew C, Cerulli C, Ratcliffe E, Cavada M, Orlek J. 2022. Caring—with Cities: Project Report Author Url
Chapters
Udall J, Orlek J, De Little A. 2023. Sonic Acts of Noticing Mao Y, van Dijck N, Smith R. Forest, City, Body, Flow. Landscapes of Care DPR Barcelona Publisher Url
Orlek J, Udall J, De Little A. 2023. Field Trip: Sonic Acts of Noticing x Landscape Lab Field Trip :12-12 Foundation Press 9781999953591 Publisher Url
Orlek J, Chan JJ, Wong S. 2022. When galleries aren’t just containers Bloc Projects , Chan JJ. Blowing Water, Critical Care Bloc Projects
Jones H, McKenna N, Delaney McNulty R, Nickols P, Orlek J, Wolfe B. 2021. Planning and Designing Decent Homes and Liveable Places for All in West Yorkshire Wilson A. AMPlify West Yorkshire: An Alternative Manifesto Process :9-12 Same Skies. Huddersfield
Bruno A, Aun de Azevedo Nascimento E, Milic P, Orlek J, Théréné M, Thielemans F, Tilman A, Van Ngoc H. 2018. Médecins du Monde Collective health Berger M, Moritz B, Carlier L, Ranzato M. Designing urban inclusion Université Catholique de Louvain/ Université Libre de Bruxelles
Orlek J. 2018. Between Utility and Uselessness Space, Place, Action . Huddersfield, Temporary Contemporary
Orlek J. 2017. Sharing the domestic through "residential performance" Cairns G, Artopoulos G, Day K. From Conflict to Inclusion in Housing: Interaction of Communities, Residents and Activists :180-198 UCL Press. London 978-1-78735-034-2 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Orlek J. 2017. An archaeology of a contemporary construction Gavin H, Kaasa A. Uncommon building Spirit Duplicator. London 978-0-907426-49-3
Internet publication
Orlek J, Udall J, Dobson J. 2022. High Streets Network Publisher Url
Orlek J, Jefferis K. 2022. Artist-Led Housing: Montez Press Radio Publisher Url
Udall J, Orlek J, De Little A. 2021. Sonic Acts of Noticing: Future Architecture Rooms Publisher Url
Orlek J, Baker R. 2021. Unreal Estates: 17.11.2021 Publisher Url
Orlek J. 2020. The Common Good (In a Time of Pandemic): Sluice Digital Encounters Publisher Url
Software/Code
Udall J, Orlek J, De Little A. 2021. Sonic Acts of Noticing Publisher Url
Conference publication
Orlek J, Udall J, De Little A. 2021. Sonic Environments AAD Sessions Publisher Url
Orlek J, Udall J, De Little A. 2021. Landscapes of Care: Transdisciplinary Session Future Architecture Creative Exchange Publisher Url
Orlek J. 2020. "In House” Research: Reflections on Moving In and Out of Artist-led Housing What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About The Artist-Led Publisher Url
Orlek J. 2019. Artist talk Episode 1: Tomorrow is Our Permanent Address Publisher Url
Books (edited)
2018. Multivoices: A Script by Researchers Orlek J. Spirit Duplicator. London 9780907426349
High street exchange(s): essays, ideas and artworks on the future of the high street Orlek J, Udall J, Dobson J, Machin T. Sheffield Hallam University
Other
Orlek J. 2017. Degree show review: Sheffield School of Architecture Architects’ Journal,
Exhibition
Orlek J, Udall J, Machin T. The High Street of Exchanges, Studio Polpo: The Venice Architecture Biennale at Sheffield Hallam University Publisher Url
Orlek J, Cerulli C, Udall J, Wakeford Holder A, Parsons M. The High Street of Exchanges, British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2021 Publisher Url
Orlek J. Moving In and Out, or Staying in Bed, Convention House, East Street Arts, Leeds
Orlek J, Vodicka G. P.S. A Postscript Before Concluding, From Brooklyn Works to Brooklynism, Kelham Island Museum, Sheffield Publisher Url
Orlek J, Cannon J. The Future of Artist-Led Housing Publisher Url
Orlek J, Watson K. No Going Back Publisher Url
Highlighted activities
Research Grants Awarded:
Grant value (£): 2100, Peak Cymru, Rural Artist-Led Housing. 2024
External collaboration:
Caring—with Cities Project: Dr Mara Ferreri (PI); Prof Cristina Cerulli; Dr Claire McAndrew; Dr Eleanor Ratcliffe; Dr Marianna Cavada, The British Academy; Beyond Inhabitation Lab, DiST Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy; Sheffield Hallam University; The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL; University of Surrey; Imagination Lancaster, Lancaster University, https://caringwith.city/. 2021
Other Professional Activity:
Plant: Embedded Research Network. Plant is a network to support embedded research within art, architectural and civic organisations. We investigate the creative spaces, objects, and practices surrounding, and produced through, embedded research projects. https://plant-er.net/. 2021
Industrial connections:
Studio Polpo, Director, http://studiopolpo.com/.
Professional activities
Other invited event:
Grizedale Arts, 'Soup Talk' at The Farmer's Arms, Artist-Led Housing – Sustaining a Creative Rural Life?, https://lakedistrictfarmersarms.com/whats-on/jon-orlek-2/. 2025
Liverpool School Of Art & Design, Talk and panel discussion facilitated by Sana Iqbal and Pete Thomas exploring design’s power to influence political narratives towards a just green transition. Other speakers included: Steve Connor (Co-founder of Creative Concern), Jenny Porter (Visual Artist and Director for Metal Liverpool), Abdi Suleiman (Political Affairs Manager for Friends of the Earth), Scott Starrett (Founder and Principal of Tandem NYC), Politics and Design: Climate Action. 2023
House of the Press / Cultural Centre of Belgrade, Serbia, From 17 to 26 September 2021, BINA hosted a ten-day film school. As part of this year’s Future Architecture Platform program, collectively entitled “Landscapes of Care”, the BINA Summer Film School “If These Walls Could Talk”, was focused on the Press Centre building (1958) https://futurearchitecturerooms.org/film-architecture-bina-belgrade, BINA Summer Film School: If These Walls Could Talk. 2021
Mansions of the Future, Lincoln, In August 2018, Mansions of the Future hosted the DIY Summer School, part of Kathrin Böhm’s Culture is a Verb commission, exploring ideas of commoning, co-working, co-making and co-using. The Summer School was co-curated and delivered / facilitated by Tom James, an artist and writer with a longstanding history of creating DIY projects that try to change the way people think about the structures, places and ideas around them https://mansionsofthefuture.org/events/diy-summer-school/, DIY Cultures Summer School. 2018
Media Coverage:
Corridor8 - Review of No Going Back exhibition by Benjamin Barra (opens in a new tab) 2024
e-flux Announcements: 21 Visions for Eco-social Renewal (opens in a new tab) 2021
Research Grants Awarded:
Grant value (£): 2100, Peak Cymru, Rural Artist-Led Housing. 2024
Conference organisation:
Session Lead, 'Sticking with the dance, caring over time', with Dr Claire McAndrew, Prof Cristina Cerulli, Dr Mara Ferreri, Architectural Humanities Research Association: Situated Ecologies of Care, https://ahra2023.org/sticking-with-the-dance-caring-over-time/. 2023
Co-organiser, Architectural Humanities Research Association PhD Symposium: Researching (in) the City: Embeddedness, Relations + Collaborations. 2021
Organiser, Multi-voices in Research: Co-Interpreting Art and Architecture. 2017
Conference presentation:
Oral presentation, Sheffield Hallam University, Architecture Librarians' Group (ARCLIB) Annual Conference, Libraries as architecture of mutuality, care and civic action. 2023
Oral presentation, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, EURA 2023 The European City: The practice of resilience in the face of an uncertain future, Entangled Acts: Caring—With the Situated Practitioner. 2023
Workshop, Sheffield, EASA Commoning Workshop 2: Derelict Building Atlas, EASA Commons Workshop. 2022
Oral presentation, Sheffield School of Architecture (via zoom), Lines of Flight Seminar, Artist-Led Housing and Embedded Research. 2022
Oral presentation, Royal College of Art (online), Radical Practice Symposium, Studio Polpo. 2021
Panel Discussion, Radialsystem, Berlin, Driving the Human: 21 Visions for Eco-social Renewal, Panel Discussion with Future Architecture Platform Fellows. 2021
Oral presentation, Flax Arts Belfast (online), Live/ Work/ Where? New Models for Artists, Artist-Led Housing. 2021
Oral presentation, Foodhall, Sheffield, EASA England National Gathering, Studio Polpo Housing and Artist-Led Housing. 2020
Oral presentation, Watershed, Bristol, CKC 2019: Rethinking, Resisting and Reimagining the Creative City Conference, Artists in residence: re-imagining spaces for artist-led practice in the city. 2019
Roundtable, Umeå School of Architecture, Sweden, UMA 10 Year Anniversary Roundtable, Architecture in Action. 2019
Oral presentation, The Hepworth Wakefield in partnership with the University of Sheffield, Modern Nature: Symposium, How do gardens/green spaces contribute to well-being and making better city spaces?. 2019
Oral presentation, East Street Arts, Leeds, Housing for Artists: Crisis Point or Vanity Project?, Artist-Led Housing. 2018
Oral presentation, Foodhall, Sheffield, Festival of the Mind: National Food Service, New Public Design. 2018
Workshop, University of Sheffield, British Association for Japanese Studies Conference 2018, Multivoices. 2018
Roundtable, Sheffield Print Club, Antiuniversity Now, Multivoices for the Antiuniversity Now festival. 2018
Oral presentation, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield, ROTOR: Culture Community Creativity, Artist-Led Housing: Mapping the boundaries of Life and Work. 2018
Poster presentation, Centre for Research Capability and Development at Coventry University, Rethinking Research: Disrupting and Challenging Research Practices, A Collaborative Excavation of an Artist Live/Work Project. 2018
Workshop, East Street Arts, Leeds, a-n Assembly, A day on Resilience. 2017
Roundtable, Theatrum Mundi and the University of Sheffield, Writing Cities, (Un)common Building: Collective Excavation of Fictional Structure. 2016
Panel Discussion, Humanities Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Festival of 10 Billion, Bubbles, foam and co-fragilities: the philosophical and architectural possibilities of living together in a world of 10bn. 2016
Oral presentation, Leeds Beckett University, Architectural Humanities Research Association: This Thing Called Theory, Developing a Critical Praxis: Inhabitation as Performance in the OPERA Project. 2015
Oral presentation, Museum of the Home, London, Home and Art: Creating, Performing and Researching Home, Performing Home. 2015
Oral presentation, Architecture_MPS, Liverpool University and Liverpool John Moores University, Housing—A Critical Perspective, Residential Performance as Architectural Research. 2015
External collaboration:
Caring—with Cities Project: Dr Mara Ferreri (PI); Prof Cristina Cerulli; Dr Claire McAndrew; Dr Eleanor Ratcliffe; Dr Marianna Cavada, The British Academy; Beyond Inhabitation Lab, DiST Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy; Sheffield Hallam University; The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL; University of Surrey; Imagination Lancaster, Lancaster University, https://caringwith.city/. 2021
Julia Udall and Alex De Little, Sheffield Hallam University, http://sonicactsofnoticing.org/. 2020
High Streets Research Network, Sheffield Hallam University, https://highstreets.network/.
Fellowships:
Future Architecture Platform, Future Architecture Platform Fellowship. 2021
AdvanceHE, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Other Professional Activity:
Plant: Embedded Research Network. Plant is a network to support embedded research within art, architectural and civic organisations. We investigate the creative spaces, objects, and practices surrounding, and produced through, embedded research projects. https://plant-er.net/. 2021
Member, Architectural Humanities Research Association.
Member, The British Academy Early Career Researcher Network.
Industrial connections:
Studio Polpo, Director, http://studiopolpo.com/.