Sophie Lanigan

Director
Designer, researcher, writer
MA Architecture Association
B.Arch USYD

Sophie Lanigan is the founder of Sophie Lanigan Projects, a studio working across coastal research, public art and resilient design.

In 2025, she completed a PhD in Architecture at the University of Cambridge, which explored oysters, urban seascapes, and the potential of design to mediate rising coastlines. Her background includes an MA in critical theory from the Architectural Association in London and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Sydney. She has held editorial, curatorial, and advocacy roles throughout her career.

Sophie was previously Editor-in-Chief of UNION magazine, and has led or contributed to projects with institutions including the Australian Institute of Architects, Melbourne Design Week and University of Cambridge. Her work has been recognised with the Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship, the Henry J Cowan Prize for Architectural Science, the Levy Plumb Fund for the Humanities at Christ’s College, Cambridge and the Ascham Leadership Scholarship.

She works independently and in collaboration with a network of designers, researchers, and institutions.

Exhibitions
Melbourne Design Week, 2024
Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe, WA, 2024
Salone del Mobile Sydney, Tin Sheds Gallery, 2024
Rockpool Residency: Unseen Worlds, Woollahra Gallery, 2024
Architecture: Late, Speaker, Powerhouse Ultimo, 2023
Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, 2023
Montalto Sculpture Prize, Mornington Peninsula, 2022
Powerhouse Late: Architecture, 2022
Semi-Permanent Festival, Sydney, 2022
The Australian Design Centre, 2022
Melbourne Design Week, 2022
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, 2021-2022
New Generations Festival Rome, 2021
Sir John Soane Museum London, 2018
London Festival of Architecture, 2018
Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, 2017

Select Prizes & Scholarships
Levy Plumb Fund for the Humanities at Christ’s College, Cambridge, 2023
Windex Artists Award, Sculpture by the Sea, 2023
Poor Toms x Supper Sessions Grant, 2022
Christ’s College Cambridge Award, 2022
Ascham Leadership Scholarship, 2021
Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship, 2019
Clitheroe Emerging Sculptor Prize, 2017
Henry J Cowan Prize for Architectural Science, 2017

Leadership & Advisory Roles
Convener, City Seminars, University of Cambridge, 2022 - 2023
EmAGN Committee Member, Australian Institute of Architects, 2021
Soane Youth Panel, Sir John Soane Museum London, 2017 - 2018
Treasurer, Sydney University Designers’ Association, 2015 - 2016

Clients & Collaborators
Powerhouse Museum
TerraCycle
University of Cambridge
TonkinZulaikhaGreer
Cave Urban
Defy Design
Sir John Soane Museum
London Festival of Architecture
Architecture Association Summer School
Australian Design Centre