ABOUT
Hiba Alobaydi is an acclaimed British-Iraqi historian, researcher and curator specialising in architecture and design. She is currently the Editor of The Architectural Historian, a biannual magazine published by the Society of Architectural Historians Great Britain.
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With over a decade’s experience in the industry, Hiba has contributed to numerous institutions and publications including Architecture Ireland, London Festival of Architecture, and Dezeen. Hiba was previously Managing Editor at Archello, Assistant Editor at world-renowned architecture and engineering firm Foster + Partners, Features Editor at the UK’s premier commercial architecture magazine OnOffice and formed an integral part of the Design Museum’s first publishing team as their resident Editorial Assistant.
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Throughout her career, Hiba has been a keen advocate for outreach programmes and volunteered her time at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), University College London (UCL) and St. Paul’s Cathedral Architectural Archive. Hiba is also passionate about the dissemination of architecture and design within museum environments. Her curatorial experience includes projects with the Zaha Hadid Gallery, Museum of Architecture, Valletta Contemporary and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Most recently, Hiba completed her two-year tenure as a Young Trustee at the Architecture Foundation; was selected as a Mentor for 2023’s Women in Architecture Annual Mentoring Programme and was awarded the Marchus Trust Grant (for an upcoming project!). Hiba was also named a Rising Star by the RIBA Journal and won the prestigious British School at Rome’s Giles Worsley Fellowship 2023-24.
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​Due to her extensive experience and esteemed expertise, she has sat on international juries for Archiol, Archiboo, FRAME and the RIBA Journal. Hiba holds a Master’s Degree in Architectural History from the Bartlett School of Architecture and a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from Kingston University.
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For her full CV please refer to her LinkedIn profile.
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
Historian​
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Hiba Alobaydi graduated from UCL's Bartlett School of Architecture's MA Architectural History programme with Distinction. As an architectural historian, she possesses a comprehensive understanding of architectural evolution, encompassing various styles, movements, and cultural contexts. Hiba's historical prowess was perhaps most notably recognised by the British School at Rome after winning the Giles Worsley Fellowship 2023-24.
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Researcher​
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As a researcher, Hiba's ability to conduct targeted research is a cornerstone of her skill-set. Projects include conducting extensive research for The Story of the Design Museum, co-published by Phaidon. Furthermore, her research capabilities serve her well as the Society of Architectural Historian's sole Editor for The Architectural Historian magazine and are marked by precision, thoroughness, and a commitment to academic rigour.​
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Curator
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Hiba's proficiency in curatorial practices allow her to translate historical perspectives into engaging exhibitions, fostering a broader appreciation for built heritage. Most recently, she was invited to be a 'Critical Friend' of the V&A + RIBA's Architecture Gallery as part of their pilot project 'Surfacing Stories'.
COLLABORATORS
TESTIMONIALS
Amy Frearson, Editor-at-Large, Dezeen
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“I first met Hiba back in 2015, when when we hired her for an internship at Dezeen. We quickly learned that she could be trusted to give 100% to any task she was assigned to. As well having a great attitude – she always has a smile on her face – Hiba has a strong sense of professionalism and a diligent work ethic. I have been thrilled to see how her career has progressed in the years since, although I never had any doubt she would succeed.”
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Robert Thiemann, Founder, FRAME
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"As a two-time serving Jury Member for the FRAME Awards, Hiba was responsible, punctual and highly engaging. On both occasions, Hiba combined sharp observation skills, empathy and design intuition to formulate influential judging decisions."
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Geethanjali Raman, Mentee
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"Hiba’s work ethic, self-driven nature and her love of architecture are just a few of the qualities that endear her to so many. She goes above and beyond to support her mentees, responding to queries promptly and tailoring advice to suit specific career aspirations."
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
The British School at Rome
Giles Worsley Fellowship
2023
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Marchus Trust
Grant for the Arts
2023
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Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Journal
Rising Star
2021