Steven has a PhD in architectural history, and an extensive publication record. In the course of a lengthy academic career, he researched and taught architectural styles and their meanings, from antiquity to the present, in both the Western and Eastern traditions. He has developed and led 6 architectural history study tours of Europe, relating canonical buildings to Australian versions. Through his own research and ethics guidance to peers, he has extensive experience working with primary oral and archival sources.

Early in his career he documented repairs after the 1989 Newcastle earthquake, then reviewed heritage items for Cessnock, Dungog, Great Lakes, Maitland, Muswellbrook and Port Stephens local councils. He helped compile The Pender Index, chronicling Australia’s longest running intergenerational architectural practice. Designing alterations and additions to his own (originally crumbling) Georgian style terrace in Newcastle, gave him hands-on experience with restoration techniques.

Characterising his heritage work is his rare knowledge of architectural styles and what each meant to architects and designers in their day. This knowledge enables Steven to look beyond broad classifications like “Italianate”, “Gothic”, and “Art Deco”, to styles within styles, because that is the level at which questions of meaning, innovation, mastery, and ultimately architectural significance, can be approached.

As an internationally known author of books and press articles, Steven is practiced in communicating with specialist and interested readers, with his engaging literary style. He prides himself on producing reports and representations that, as well as being accurate and informative, are a pleasure to read.

Though he is a solo practitioner, he calls on a network of academic and professional peers to ensure an extra level of thoroughness and balance accompanies the research and judgements he offers.