Speaking as part of the University’s free public lecture series, George spoke to a packed audience of 600 people about his experiences in architecture, design and media.
His lecture proved so popular that the University had to move it from the original venue to its Students’ Union, which has capacity for an extra 200 attendees.
George used his public lecture to speak about his professional practice; the success of TV series such as George Clarke’s Amazing SpacesԻRestoration Man and his views on British domestic architecture, innovation and the UK construction industry.
It was the first time he has returned to Northumbria after being awarded an honorary degree last summer, when he praised the University’s architecture courses, which are regularly ranked in the top 20 in the UK.
The renowned architect, who runs his own practice alongside his broadcasting career, said: “A lot of architectural schools do theoretical pieces of architecture that just stay on paper and never get realised. Everyone involved in this University are trying to create real projects out there in industry that are being planned and developed and built, so the students are constantly getting the chance to work on a real-life project. I think this makes Northumbria very distinctive because there aren’t many other places that are doing it.”
Each year, the University arranges a number of free lectures which are open to members of the public, as well as its staff and students. Past speakers have included conservationist David Bellamy; House of Commons Speaker John Bercow; former Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion and leading politician Lord Heseltine.
For more information on public lectures at the University, visit
