Academic and professional qualifications

Bachelor Architecture

BA(Hons) Architecture

Master of Engineering (Structural Engineering with Architecture and French)

Previous Employment

Matt joined MSA in 2016 and was formerly Associate at Foster + Partners in London, bringing with him experience of large, complex, design projects. He has worked internationally on high-end projects of all scales, sectors and design stages ranging from small domestic, mixed-use, flagship retail and office campuses, airports and aviation facilites, high-rise developments and sports venues. Matt has contributed to winning high profile, international competitions and has significant experience in detail design, production information and delivery on site in the UK and abroad.

Before beginning in architectural practice in 2003, Matt gained his Master of Structural Engineering with Architecture and French from the University of Manchester and Hautes Etudes Industrielles, Lille, France. He subsequently gained his architectural qualifications in Manchester alongside full-time professional experience at small, medium and large practices, before joining Foster + Partners in 2009, becoming a qualified architect in 2011.

As an architect, Matt is interested in all facets of the architectural design discipline. His particular research interest at the interface of architectural geometry and structural design- how algorithmic thinking and computational methods integrate material and environmental performances in the design and delivery of architecture.

Matt’s research has been published in books, papers and film and has been presented and exhibited in the UK and internationally at conferences, symposia and at the Venice Biennale 2018.

Languages

French

Academic service (administration and management)

Matt teaches across all units and programmes at MSA.

On the BA (Hons) Architecture programme, Matt leads the Technologies unit across the three years, is an atelier leader of the Studio unit MAKING and is acting Programme Leader for the 2018/19 academic year.

On the Master of Architecture programme Matt co-leads atelier MAKING in Professional Studio and thesis projects as well as supervising dissertations. Matt provides research questions and supervises MSc students at University of Manchester School of Mechanical Aeronautical and Civil Engineering (MACE). He liaises with MACE to run joint peer review sessions between post graduate Architecture and Engineering students.

Atelier teaching projects draw upon design research questions arising in academia, industry or the professional practice of architecture and explores these through making as the primary mode of design enquiry. This allows explorations and experimentation in the field of research to inform teaching projects and vice-versa.

Matt sits on the Manchester Town Hall university engagement committee, the digital fabrication steering committee for PrintCity at MMU and acts as peer reviewer for the International Jounal of Rapid Manufacturing.

Undergraduate courses

BA(Hons) Architecture

Postgraduate teaching

Master of Architecture

Research

Artefacts

Ault, M., Shaw, A., 2018. 'Southbank Undercroft Knitted Columns', Southbank Centre Undercroft, London..

Book Chapters

Ault, M.D., Richards, D., 2010. 'Scripted drawings and urban design.'. In Architectural Drawing (Portfolio Skills), Laurence King.

Media

Miller, S., 2024. 'What We Do Here'.

Conference Papers

Ault, M., Shaw, A., Beecroft, M., 2018. 'New Behaviours in Material Form', Transitions 2: Material Revolution, Huddersfield University, UK., 11/4/2018 - 12/4/2018.

Ault, M., Shaw, A., Beecroft, M., 2018. 'The 'Re-fabrication' of Knitted Textile and its Architectural Potential', Advanced Building Skins, Bern, Switzerland., 1/10/2018 - 2/10/2018.

Presentations

Ault, M., 2024. 'Through an Architectural Lens', University of the Third Age, Alsager, UK..

Ault, M., 2021. 'Shape Your Space', The Building Centre, London, UK..

Ault, M., Beecroft, M., Shaw, A., 2018. 'Architectonic Textiles', Lancaster University.

Ault, M., 2018. 'Architectonic Textiles - The Architectural Potential of 'Re-Fabricated' Knit', Palazzo Rossini, Venice..

Ault, M., Shaw, A., Beecroft, M., 2018. 'Architectonic Textiles - The Potentials in the 'Re-Fabrication' of Knit', RIBA Research Matters Conference, Sheffield University.

Ault, M., Shaw, A., Beecroft, M., 2018. 'The 'Re-fabrication' of Knitted Textile and its Architectural Potential', Bern, Switzerland.

Ault, M., Shaw, A., Beecroft, M., 2017. 'New Behaviours in Material Form', Huddersfield University.

Ault, M., Shaw, A., Beecroft, M., 2017. 'New Kniteriality', Manchester School of Art.

Ault, M.D., 2016. 'Aviation, infrastructure and the appropriate use of contemporary technology in developing countries. A case study of the drone port by Foster + Partners.', British Pavilion, Venice Biennale..

Other Outputs

Ault, M., 2024. 'Augmented Reality Installation'.

Ault, M., 2024. 'Digital Tectonics - Knitted Stitch as a Proliferated Component System'.

Ault, M., 2024. 'Informed Tectonics'.

Ault, M., 2024. 'Persistent Design Frameworks - Locating the Transformative Impact of the Digital in Architectural Tectonics'.

Ault, M., 2024. 'Structuring Stitch: exploring knitted stitch as a proliferated component system through applications in architectural structures.'.

Research project details