For the last episode of our current Summer Season, our guest is someone who has been involved in architecture in Belfast since she first came here more than twenty years ago. Dr. Sarah Lappin is an architect originally from Colorado in the United States. Her career has included several years as a practising architect, and work in various architectural organisations. She now teaches theory and design at Queen’s University, where she has just been appointed Head of Architecture.

As well as her busy teaching career, Sarah researches architectural history, with a special interest in 20th century architecture. More recently, she joined the sound art scholar Gascia Ouzounian to set up a research group into sound and the city.

In this conversation with Conor McCafferty, Sarah reflects on Irish architecture ten years on from the publication of her book, Full Irish: New Architecture in Ireland (Princeton University Press, 2009), her PhD research into architecture centres, what makes for a good architecture degree course, and more.

The Infinite City is produced by PLACE. This special Summer Season of episodes was made possible by an Arts and Heritage project grant from Belfast City Council.