Section: Overview
Overview
Key publications
Research funding
Supervising & teaching
Career

Key details

Areas of expertise

  • Sustainability and Built Environment
  • Architectural design
  • Urban Design
  • Inclusive design and design for ageing
  • Design for health & wellbeing

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

About Hing-Wah Chau

Dr Hing-Wah Chau is the Course Chair in Architectural Design and Senior Lecturer in Built Environment. Before joining Victoria University in 2019, Dr Chau taught architectural design at the University of Melbourne at undergraduate and postgraduate levels for eight years (2011-2019). He completed his doctoral research and the Graduate Certificate in University Teaching at the University of Melbourne in 2014 and 2018 respectively.

Dr Chau received the Teaching Excellence Award at the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne in 2018 and the Citation for Learning and Teaching Excellence at Victoria University in 2022. His research interests lie in sustainable built environment, architectural and urban design, design for ageing and inclusive design, as well as design for health and wellbeing. He has published numerous refereed journal articles, refereed conference papers and book chapters.

Dr Chau received his architectural education in Hong Kong. He has more than ten years of professional practice experience in Hong Kong as a registered architect in an interdisciplinary environment involving in various projects from small public structures and public housing to large infrastructure.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Architecture), The University of Melbourne
  • Graduate Certificate in University of Teaching, The University of Melbourne
  • Master of Arts in Philosophy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Bachelor of Laws, The University of London
  • Master of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong

Key publications

Year Citation
2024 Norouzi, M., Chau, H. W., & Jamei, E. (241201). Design and Site-Related Factors Impacting the Cooling Performance of Urban Parks in Different Climate Zones: A Systematic Review. Land, 13(12),

doi: 10.3390/land13122175

2024 Yan, S., Geng, S., Chau, H. W., Wang, T., Jamei, E., & Vrcelj, Z. (241201). Adaptive Reuse of Russian-Influenced Religious Architecture in Harbin: Architectural Identity and Heritage Tourism. Heritage, 7(12), (7115-7141).

doi: 10.3390/heritage7120329

2024 Geng, S., Chau, H. W., Jamei, E., & Vrcelj, Z. (241201). Demystifying the Use of Open-Access Data in Smart Heritage Implementations. Tourism and Hospitality, 5(4), (1125-1150).

doi: 10.3390/tourhosp5040063

2024 Chau, H. W., Chan, M., Jamei, E., & Lattman, K. (241101). The Impacts of Perceived Safety and Service Quality on Perceived Accessibility by Public Transport in Melbourne. Land, 13(11),

doi: 10.3390/land13111928

2024 Sandanayake, M. S., Vrcelj, Z., Bouras, Y., Chau, H. W., & Hastings, P. (240904). Simplified rating tool to evaluate sustainable practices of small-scale infrastructure projects in Australia - a comparative review. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 13(5), (1260-1280).

doi: 10.1108/SASBE-05-2022-0089

2024 Nguyen, C. N., Chau, H. W., & Muttil, N. (240901). Addition of Biochar to Green Roof Substrate to Enhance Plant Performance: A Long-Term Field Study. Buildings, 14(9),

doi: 10.3390/buildings14092775

2024 Nguyen, C. N., Chau, H. W., Kumar, A., Chakraborty, A., & Muttil, N. (240801). Biochar Amendment in Green Roof Substrate: A Comprehensive Review of the Benefits, Performance, and Challenges. Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 14(16),

doi: 10.3390/app14167421

2024 Nguyen, C. N., Chau, H. W., & Muttil, N. (240801). A Field Study to Assess the Impacts of Biochar Amendment on Runoff Quality from Newly Established Green Roofs. Hydrology, 11(8),

doi: 10.3390/hydrology11080112

2024 Chau, H. W., Gaisie, E., Jamei, E., Chan, M., & Lattman, K. (240801). Perceived Accessibility: Impact of Social Factors and Travel Modes in Melbourne s West. Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 14(15),

doi: 10.3390/app14156399

2024 Chau, H. -W., Jamei, E., Chan, M., Gaisie, E., & Lattman, K. (240723). 10.3390/ app14156399. Applied Sciences, 14 (1-17).

Research funding for the past 5 years

Please note:

  • Funding is ordered by the year the project commenced and may continue over several years.
  • Funding amounts for contact research are not disclosed to maintain commercial confidentiality.
  • The order of investigators is not indicative of the role they played in the research project.

Knowledge Exchange-Adaptive greening solution to tackle climate change
From: Council for Australian-Arab Relations Grant
Other investigators: Mr Nitin Muttil, Aspr Elmira Jamei, Dr Ashok Sharma
For period: 2023-2024
$45,000

Digital transformation of construction industry for improved quality and safety
From: Victorian Higher Education Strategic Investment Fund
Other investigators: Prof Zora Vrcelj, Prof Yuan Miao, Dr Malindu Sandanayake, Dr Ayad Turky, Dr Le Li, Mr Nima Izadyar, Dr Hongen Lu, Mrs Shuo Chen, Dr Melissa Chan, Prof Hua Wang
For period: 2021-2022
$1,249,911
Social Value Creation for Transport and Infrastructure
From: Victorian Higher Education Strategic Investment Fund
Other investigators: Dr Malindu Sandanayake, Dr Xiaocui Lou, Aspr Elmira Jamei, Aspr David Goodwin, Prof Zora Vrcelj, Dr Riccardo Natoli, Dr Melissa Chan, Dr Jonny Bouras
For period: 2021-2022
$593,000

Quantifying and Optimising the Impact of Green Roof Coverage on UHI, Energy Consumption and Outdoor Comfort
From: Green our Rooftop Research Grant
Other investigators: Aspr Elmira Jamei, Prof Zora Vrcelj
For period: 2020-2021
$25,000

Supervision of research students at VU

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

Currently supervised research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
2 PhD Associate supervisor

Currently supervised research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD (2) Associate supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
1 PhD Associate supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD (1) Associate supervisor

Teaching activities & experience

NAD3001 Professional Architectural Practice
NAD3002 Architectural Design Studio 3
NAD3003 Architectural Design Studio 4
NBD3002 Residential Sustainable Design
NBD300e Commercial Sustainable Design
NEA2102 Architectural Design and Theory
NBD3104 Building Design Studio 2
NBC3005 Construction Law

Key academic roles

Dates Role Department / Organisation
Jul 2016 - Jul 2019
Academic Fellow
The University of Melbourne
Jul 2019 - Dec 2021
Course Co-Chair in Building Design & Academic Teaching Scholar
Victoria University
Jan 2022 - Present
Course Chair in Building Design
Victoria University
Jan 2023 - Present
Senior Lecturer in Built Environment
Victoria University
Show more academic roles
Dates Role & Department/Organisation
Jul 2016 -
Jul 2019
Academic Fellow
The University of Melbourne
Jul 2019 -
Dec 2021
Course Co-Chair in Building Design & Academic Teaching Scholar
Victoria University
Jan 2022 -
Present
Course Chair in Building Design
Victoria University
Jan 2023 -
Present
Senior Lecturer in Built Environment
Victoria University
Show more academic roles

Awards

Year Award
2018

Teaching Excellence Award - The University of Melbourne