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Research Roadmap
Report for Discussion
Architectural Design
and Management
Title
Serial title
Year
Authors
Language
Pages
References
Key words
Architectural Design and Management
Research Roadmap Report for Discussion
CIB Publication 416
2019
Bob Giddings, Silvio Melhado, on behalf of CIB Working
Commission W096 - Architectural Design and Management
English
46
39
Research
Design + Architectural Management
Technology + Environment
Cultural Context
Communication + Digital Technology
Management, Practice + Law
ISBN
978-90-6363-095-9
Cover
Illustration by Bob Giddings
Publisher
CIB General Secretariat
2
Preface
Big societal and technological changes are impacting upon building and the built
environment and will request a professional transformation for many – if not all – involved
practices. For example the on-going shift from extending our building stock to maintaining
and improving it and the many innovations in digital technologies are having and will
continue to have far reaching impacts upon the process of planning for and designing,
constructing and the management and use of our buildings in general and upon the design
profession in particular.
There is a need for strengthening the relationships between architectural practices,
architectural education and architectural research in support of a required transition of this
profession.
Against this this background and based upon the perceived potential contribution to such
transformation from research, this report sets an agenda for this transformation oriented
research in the area of design of the built environment.
It is hoped that funding agencies for such research, as well as research institutes and
universities, will find inspiration in the report to be engaged in the research in general and
in particular to aim for international cooperation.
This report is far from a final product. It is meant to be a basis and a stimulus for discussion
between experts and stakeholder representatives worldwide. If successful this discussion
will result in a next version agenda that truly will be a joint agenda; one that provides a
new and stimulating context for international cooperation in this domain in support of doing
better and more relevant research.
Wim Bakens
CIB Program Advisor
3
Table of Contents
Preface………………………………………………………………………….………....…
Table of Contents…………………………...……...........……………………...………….
Executive Summary…………………………..……………………………………………..
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………….…….
Conceptual Framework……………………………………...………………………..…….
Article 46 and the Roadmap Reference Group……………..…...…….…………......
Initial Framework………...…………………………………………………………….…
State of the Art…………………………………………………………………………….…
National Societies, Associations, Institutes and Unions…………………………......
International Associations……………………………………………………………….
Research Organisations…………………………………………………………….......
International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction…
Main Themes in Research………………………………………………………………
Future Scenario………………………………………………………………….…………..
Education + Practice………………………………………………………….………….
Contexts………………………………………………………………………………......
Organisations……………………………………………………………………………..
Procurement………………………………………………………………………………
Processes…………………………………………………………………………………
Tools……………………………………………………………………………………….
Development Strategy………………………………………………………………………
Research Infrastructure………………………………………………………………….
Themes……………………………………………………………………………………
Research Contribution………………………………………………………………………
Research-based Organisations…………………………………………………………
Government Structures………………………………………………………………….
Practice……………………………………………………………………………………
Research Agenda……………………………………………………………………………
Purpose……………………………………………………………………………………
Issues………………………………………………………………………………….......
Contexts…………………………………………………………………………………...
References…………………………………………………………………………………...
Appendices…………………………………………………………………………………..
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Executive Summary
This Research Roadmap aims to establish the principal issues in Architectural
Design and Management. It is an advance for architectural research to be organised
in this way. It addresses the six themes:
Conceptual Framework
The Roadmap Reference Group considered that currently the interaction between
education and practice is not adequately expressed; and architectural and urban
contexts are not as coherent as they might be. In addition, cultural context is
understated. The last item is especially important when considering a world view.
Also, there is little recognition of the different lenses through which they might be
viewed. In order to respond to these deficiencies, the initial Conceptual Framework
is constructed to represent two poles – Education + Practice and Contexts; and four
primary headings of Organisations, Procurement, Processes, and Tools. The
concept of the profession as a learning community could be advantageous,
especially if it leads to innovative practice. The ultimate aim is the co-creation of
knowledge through research and practice.
State of the Art
Architectural research could be categorised in a myriad of ways. Therefore attempts
to summarise the landscape are prone to all kinds of difficulties. This is not least
because architecture does not take place in isolation or silos. Nevertheless, it is
important to summarise where most architectural research takes place, ie Design;
Technology and Environment; Cultural Contexts; Communications and Digital
Technology; and Management, Practice and Law. The demands have increased on
academics to become involved with research; but there is not a great tradition in
architectural research. To date, professional organisations have barely engaged with
it and there is a lack of an inclusive research agenda.
Future Scenario
There is substantial growth in building construction in some developing countries; but
in developed countries, there is a static situation. The demand for houses could
continue to struggle to be met, while the demand for commercial property and retail
outside capital cities is already declining. This may create an emphasis on re-use.
It might even include demolition with the re-assignment of land to non-built uses,
such as public space. The main reason for this rapid change is digital technology,
which is dramatically affecting the traditional use of buildings. The move from growth
to decline of building construction could also happen in developing countries within
the next ten years; as they are experiencing the digital revolution at an even faster
rate than the developed countries.
Development Strategy
W096 should be established as a research entity, with members of the Commission
acting as partners and/or initiators of research fund applications. They could also
create synergies with related working commissions to generate multi-disciplinary
teams. The Commission and the CIB in general, could be encouraged to connect
with schools of architecture, national and international associations; and other
research organisations. Architectural practices are increasingly being urged by their
associations to engage with research as a means of improving the quality of their
building designs. The World Congress could become an even more significant event
in terms of specific sessions for developing the future of its working commissions by
5
presenting available funding streams and acting as a series of trading posts where
prospective partners could gather. Dissemination through publications is another
vital issue. Academic journal papers remain significant but the CIB could also
commence its own publishing house.
Research Contribution
It is becoming apparent that research and innovation is no longer exclusively and
academic pursuit. Applied research and practice research are growing in
significance. Thus, the demand for research and innovation is increasing for a
number of reasons, and architectural research is just part of the mix. There needs
to be general lobbying with all the funding sources to recognise increasing demand;
and provide greater rather than lesser amounts of funding. The overall picture in
Government Structures is one of increasing demand for funding, with a reduction in
the number of sources and total sums. Ultimately, all funding originates with National
Governments and groups of Governments, such as the European Commission. In
the arena of research-based organisations, there could be a proposal for a Built
Environment Research Council to run alongside or join the Natural Environment
Research Council. CIB could assist this process by presenting the Research
Roadmaps as part of the evidence for increased research funding.
Research Agenda
The purpose is to map an agenda for Architectural Research and establish a network
of international researchers. The issues relate back to the Conceptual Framework
and are categorised under – Organisation, Procurement, Processes and Tools. The
contexts are Practice, Education and Pedagogy; and perspectives are Urban and
Cultural. The overwhelming objective of the Agenda is to improve the quality of the
built environment and the architectural design quality hierarchy is instrumental in this
respect. Contributors emphasised the importance of people in architectural
research. Communities, demographics and resilience were particularly noted.
This Research Roadmap is arguably the first coherent presentation of a Conceptual
Framework, State of the Art, Future Scenario, Development Strategy, Research
Contribution, and Research Agenda for Architectural Design and Management. It
sets out the scope for research and innovation and suggests how this may receive
more prominence on the international stage.
6
Introduction
The International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction
(CIB) has commenced a process of developing a series of research roadmaps, with
the intent of expressing the specifics of all the 50 permanent Working Commissions
and temporary Task Groups. The aim is to produce a series of high status and quality
publications that can be updated at each triennial CIB World Building Congress. The
Council trusts that the Research Roadmap for this Commission will set an agenda for
future activities, support the creation of new research and innovation projects, and
stimulate knowledge exchange within architectural design and management.
It is envisaged that the roadmaps will provide authoritative guidance for national and
international programmes. It will be beneficial for universities, research institutes and
practices amongst the CIB membership to use the roadmaps in their communication
with funding agencies. There will be added value for funded projects from being part
the roadmap methodology, and thus be able to profit from a structured approach. The
authority of this CIB Research Roadmap is derived from worldwide contributors,
including but not restricted to, the membership of the Commission, and a British
Reference Group that met in London.
The CIB Secretariat has developed the flowchart and commentary below to illustrate
how a CIB Research Roadmap could be designed:
7
1. Conceptual Framework: What are we talking about? The conceptual framework
may address questions such as: what are the issues, how do those interrelate,
what influences all of this, who are the stakeholders, what are the relevant areas
of expertise, what are the characteristics of the most relevant systems, processes
and technologies?
2. State of the Art: Where are we today? The Roadmap will describe the state of the
art on technology, best practices, differences in parts of the world, perceived
problems, challenges, needs for improvement, and the location of the world’s
leading centres of expertise.
3. Future Scenario: The Roadmap will unfold a vision on where we want to be in the
future, e.g. in ten years’ time; including stakeholders’ opinions on required and
envisaged future systems, processes and technologies, preferred future practices
and necessary skills.
4. Development Strategy: What is needed in terms of knowledge, information, tools,
concepts and applications to enable the respective systems, processes and
technologies to develop from where we are today to where we want to be in the
future?
5. Research Contribution: How can Research structures contribute to such a
development strategy, and what are the requirements for Research to make that
contribution?
6. Research Agenda: What is the agenda for research worldwide? What will be
relevant areas of science and technology development, required sequences of
development, priorities for research, international co-operation within the research
community, and interaction between research and practice.
8
1. Conceptual Framework
Article 46 and the Roadmap Reference Group
The nature of a Roadmap is that it provides different routes, which do not necessarily
culminate at the same place (Phaal and Muller 2009). In Europe, the Recognition of
Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36/EU is the central basis for the
qualification of architects (European Union 2005). Article 46 provides 11 points to
exemplify the requirements. Independently, the Roadmap Reference Group (see
appendix A) articulated its priorities, which map onto the Article 46 points, although
the Roadmap Focus Group appears to adopt a broader and more embracing stance.
Article 46
Roadmap Reference Group
education
1. Ability to create architectural designs that satisfy design processes, quality and
its evaluation
both aesthetic and technical requirements
2. Adequate knowledge of the histories and histories and theories of
theories of architecture and the related arts, architecture
technologies and human sciences
3. Knowledge of the fine arts as an influence on the architecture and the arts
quality of architectural design
4. Adequate knowledge of urban design, planning, urbanism
and the skills involved in the planning process
5. Understanding the relationship between people urbanism
and buildings, and between buildings and their
environment, and of the need to relate buildings
and the spaces between them to human needs
and scale
6. Understanding of the profession of architecture culture and communities
and the role of the architect in society, in
particular in preparing briefs that take account of
social factors
7. Understanding of the methods of investigation design processes
and preparation of the brief for a design project
8. Understanding of the structural design, technologies
construction
and
engineering
problems
associated with building design
9. Adequate knowledge of physical problems and technologies
technologies, and of the function of buildings, so
as to provide them with internal conditions of
comfort and protection against the climate
10. The necessary design skills to meet building practice
users’ requirements within the constraints
imposed by cost factors and building regulations
11. Adequate knowledge of the industries, practice
organisations, regulations and procedures
involved in translating design concepts into
buildings and integrating plans into overall
planning
9
Further to Article 46, the Architects Registration Board for the UK, and the Royal
Institute of British Architects, which operates both in the UK and overseas, issued their
joint framework. The headings are clearly derived from the 11 points. However, three
sub-points are identified in each case to encompass aspects that might otherwise be
neglected (ARB 2010).
1.0 Ability to create architectural designs that satisfy both aesthetic and
technical requirements
1.1 building design projects of diverse scale, complexity, and type in a variety of
contexts, using a range of media, and in response to a brief
1.2 constructional and structural systems, the environmental strategies and the
regulatory requirements that apply to the design and construction of a
comprehensive design project
1.3 conceptual and critical approach to architectural design that integrates
and satisfies the aesthetic aspects of a building and the technical requirements
of its construction and the needs of the user.
2.0 Adequate knowledge of the histories and theories of architecture and the
related arts, technologies and human sciences
2.1 cultural, social and intellectual histories, theories and technologies that
influence the design of buildings
2.2 influence of history and theory on the spatial, social, and technological aspects
of architecture
2.3 application of appropriate theoretical concepts to design projects,
demonstrating a reflective and critical approach
3.0 Knowledge of the fine arts as an influence on the quality of architectural
design
3.1 theories, practices and technologies of the arts that influence architectural
design
3.2 creative application of the fine arts and their relevance and impact on
architecture
3.3 creative application of such work to design projects, in terms of their
conceptualisation and representation
4.0 Adequate knowledge of urban design, planning and the skills involved in
the planning process.
4.1 theories of urban design and the planning of communities
4.2 influence of the design and development of cities, past and present on the
contemporary built environment;
4.3 current planning policy and development control legislation, including social,
environmental and economic aspects, and the relevance of these to design
development
5.0 Understanding of the relationship between people and buildings, and
between buildings and their environment, and the need to relate buildings
and the spaces between them to human needs and scale
5.1 needs and aspirations of building users
5.2 impact of buildings on the environment, and the precepts of sustainable design
5.3 how buildings fit into their local context
10
6.0 Understanding of the profession of architecture and the role of the
architect in society, in particular in preparing briefs that take account of
social factors
6.1 nature of professionalism and the duties and responsibilities of architects to
clients, building users, constructors, co-professionals and the wider society
6.2 role of the architect within the design team and construction industry,
recognising the importance of current methods and trends in the construction of
the built environment
6.3 potential impact of building projects on existing and propose communities
7.0 Understanding of the methods of investigation and preparation of the
brief for a design project
7.1 critical review of precedents relevant to the function, organisation and
technological strategy of design proposals;
7.2 appraisal and preparation building briefs of diverse scales and types, and
definition of client and user requirements and their appropriateness to site and
context
7.3 contributions of architects and co-professionals to the formulation of the brief,
and the methods of investigation used in its preparation
8.0 Understanding of the structural design, constructional and engineering
problems associated with building design
8.1 investigation, critical appraisal and selection of alternative structural,
constructional and material systems relevant to architectural design
8.2 strategies for building construction, and ability to integrate knowledge of
structural principles and construction techniques
8.3 the physical properties and characteristics of building materials, components
and systems, and the environmental impact of specification choices
9.0 physical problems and technologies and the function of buildings so as to
provide them with internal conditions of comfort and protection against
the climate
9.1 principles associated with designing optimum visual, thermal and acoustic
environments
9.2 systems for environmental comfort realised within relevant precepts of
sustainable design
9.3 strategies for building services, and ability to integrate these in a design project
10.0 The necessary design skills to meet building users’ requirements within
the constraints imposed by cost factors and building regulations.
10.1 critically examine the financial factors implied in varying building types,
constructional systems, and specification choices, and the impact of these on
architectural design
10.2 understand the cost control mechanisms which operate during the
development of a project
10.3 prepare designs that will meet building users’ requirements and comply with UK
legislation, appropriate performance standards and health and safety
requirements
11
11.0 Adequate knowledge of the industries, organisations, regulations and
procedures involved in translating design concepts into buildings and
integrating plans into overall planning.
11.1 the fundamental legal, professional and statutory responsibilities of the
architect, and the organisations, regulations and procedures involved in the
negotiation and approval of architectural designs, including land law,
development control, building regulations and health and safety legislation
11.2 the professional inter-relationships of individuals and organisations involved in
procuring and delivering architectural projects, and how these are defined
through contractual and organisational structures
11.3 the basic management theories and business principles related to running
both an architect’s practice and architectural projects, recognising current and
emerging trends in the construction industry.
The Roadmap Reference Group considered that a great number of issues had
become evident in the expansion to the sub-points. However, it felt that the interaction
between Education and Practice had not been adequately expressed; and although
the architectural and urban contexts were mentioned, they were perhaps not as
coherent as they might be; the cultural context was understated. The last item is
especially important when considering a world view. There was also a notion that the
issues derived from article 46 appeared rather static. They seemed to be about
understanding the current situation rather than seeking improvements and
alternatives. Also, there was no recognition of the different lenses through which they
might be viewed, such as demographics and resilience (Groat and Wang 2013 ).
Initial Framework
Thus the initial Conceptual Framework is represented by two poles – Education +
Practice and Contexts, and four primary headings of Organisations, Procurement,
Processes, and Tools.
Education
+ Practice
Processes
Organisations
Architectural
Design and
Management
Procurement
Tools
Contexts
12
Education + Practice
There is a constant debate about education in terms of its priorities and the extent to
which both other disciplines and practice could be involved in the architecture
education process. The studio culture has been at the core (Webster 2008) but
university executives are questioning its justification as political philosophies and
university economics continue to increase the number of students. Also, the location
of architecture programmes is often questioned – they could be associated with art
and design, built environment disciplines or technology and engineering (Williams,
Ostwald and Askland 2011). The integration of education and practice through
research was proposed by a significant number of the respondents and this remains
an objective. Practice-based research was also proposed (Samuel 2017). This needs
considerable further research, particularly as the Roadmap Reference Group noted
that there is a danger of the imperatives of practice dominating the research. There
is also debate about what constitutes research in practice as each design is an
individual construct. It may be difficult to determine how the research has influenced
a design. However, it does open-up the possibilities for interdisciplinary research. The
concept of the profession as a learning community could be advantageous, especially
if it leads to innovative practice (Fraser 2014). The ultimate aim is the co-creation of
knowledge through research and practice.
Contexts
These are perceived in different dimensions, and the three dimensions identified by
the Roadmap Reference Group are architectural, urban and cultural. The architectural
dimension focuses on the project and predominantly building design and
management. The primary elements are bounded by the process and the product,
each of which should be a major theme for architectural research (Dyrssen 2011).
Urbanism ranges from specific urban designs to the social, economic, political and
environmental frameworks that shape towns and cities (Carmona 2014). The world is
becoming increasingly urbanised and this requires particular research attention. This
could include the form, size and distribution of future settlements that satisfy the needs
of their communities; with particular respect to the composition and change in
populations. Thirdly, there is the major issue of how the cultural context, humanities
and the arts contribute to design and development (Ingold 2013). There may be a
celebration of different cultures around the world and how the resulting architectural
and urban design is influenced. However, this is set against a background of
increasing globalisation with all its threats and promises (Sklair 2010). The arguments
range from the homogenising of world cultures through electronic media, which is
having a similar effect on built environments; to the opportunities in the modernisation
of cultures to enable them to respond to 21st Century demands.
Organisations
The style and arrangements of organisations have fundamental effects on
architectural design, urban and rural environments, communities; as well as employers
and employees in the organisations themselves (Chappell and Dunn 2015). There is
a strong clamour for multi-disciplinary practice, but it appears that most remain as
separate disciplines. It may be that multi-disciplinary approaches require economies
of scale to operate, while the vast majority of architectural studios are small scale.
Integrated Design and Delivery Solutions (IDDS) claim that bringing the design and
construction phases together into one organisation is always beneficial; but the
evidence is almost exclusively related to performance attributes and economic
13
benefits. There is also a case that distinctive organisations offer greater professional
integrity. Other industries are often highlighted in terms of bringing design and
manufacture together. Yet, the nature of the individual project in the built environment
is a distinctive arrangement that is unlike designs in other industries. In these cases,
once a design is refined, it is produced multiples of times. Thus research is necessary
to determine the effects of various types of organisations on the quality of contributions
to the built environments. One theme could be the correlation between the type of
organisation and award-winning designs. Alternative practice styles for resilience
could be investigated eg architect as entrepreneur, architect as developer, or
partnerships with others such as developers. The composition of organisations in the
21st Century could be studied in terms of the spectrum of hierarchy and democracy in
a context where all the architects are similarly qualified. There is also diversity and
equality, in which there have been criticisms of the architecture profession. Gender,
demography and supporting diverse career paths without discrimination, are all worth
researching.
Procurement
There has been substantial criticism of traditional procurement but perhaps its
advantages have not been sufficiently explored (CIOB 2010). Neither have new
procurement systems have escaped criticism, especially for delivering a lack of design
quality. The new systems have also created significant complexity as they have
spawned numerous variations, limiting market opportunity through increased
specialisation. In particular, it is limiting the prospects for younger practices. Without
increasing complexity, there could be an opening for increasing diversity in the
architectural profession. Some researchers have suggest that building information
management (BIM) has the potential to restore the central role in building procurement
that architect feel they have lost. One of the objectives may be to rationalise the
number of systems into a small group of well-understood methods (Walker and
Hampson 2003). This could be enhanced by specifying systems for particular types
of projects. Possibly, there could be a generation of procurement that emphasises
design quality; linked to architectural and urban design. There is considerable
research that could be undertaken into procurement and design processes; and much
has been published about industrial design but architecture and urban design has
been comparatively neglected.
Processes
There was an underlying theme in the Roadmap Reference Group, of improving the
built environment. This is mostly achieved through research to inform the processes
in enhancing design quality (Carmona et al 2017). The objectives can be expressed
in terms of a design quality hierarchy, which leads to quality evaluation. The processes
of creating architecture and urban design can be examined in a variety of contexts;
ranging from expanding globalised capitalism to shrinking cities with poor marginalized
urban communities. Approaches can be tested from an international perspective
through the use of networks. In this way, world-wide views on the processes that
generate architecture and urban design can be comparatively analysed (Emmitt et al
2009). The interface between organisation and process, in terms of the culture
affecting ways of working, is regarded as a critical issue. In particular, designers'
behaviour in design, communication and collaboration within different technological,
cultural or organisational environments is emphasised as an important research area.
This may also be set against the relationship between sectors – ie between public,
14
private and NGOs at international, national, regional and local levels. Crowd sourcing
for ideas has been evident in other creative disciplines but the potential is yet to be
explored in architectural design. In addition, co-creative design could be investigated
with disciplines such as the arts, industrial design, software design and engineering
design. While sustainability may have morphed into resilience, there is still scope for
examining the perspectives of sustainable development. User feedback has been
employed only tentatively in the past, together with measurable and limited postoccupancy evaluation. It is now understood that the qualitative is just as valuable and
the quantitative and that they should stand together in these kinds of appraisals.
Finally, there is still research to be undertaken in energy efficiency, carbon footprinting,
climate change etc.
Tools
The advantages of virtual reality, building information modelling and building
information management for design integration, clash detection and data retrieval are
well documented (Nisztuk and Myszkowski 2018). However, there are also concerns
about the casual adoption of component libraries; and the danger of unqualified and
poorly qualified staff these tools. Design quality evaluation is becoming a major issue.
The appraisal of existing design quality tools and development of new ones is a major
research area; together with the impact of digital design tools on people and
processes. The involvement of communities in decision-making processes has had a
chequered history. Further research into public engagement tools may assist (Jenkins
and Forsyth 2009). Social maps, collating oral testimonies, re-photographing spaces,
etc. are tools that should help to define social and urban issues, by co-creating
knowledge, which can then be used to inform design decisions. Augmented reality in
the representation, perception and understanding of architectural design, could reveal
it as a set of dynamic spaces that can be experienced. Mobile technologies can be
developed to provide interaction between augmented reality and building information
management to monitor onsite construction progress and predict possible clashes.
Interoperability between digital tools is an important element throughout design and
construction. Big data and city modelling are starting to be incorporated to support
urban design and planning (Charlton et al. 2015); and parametric modelling is a tool
to support architectural design exploration from early stage of design. There also
needs to be critical reflection on success factors related to both traditional and digital
tools in architectural design.
15
2. State of the Art
This component charts the national and international societies, associations,
institutes, and unions for architects and architecture related to CIB members. It notes
that a number of these organisations have existing research agendas, and sets out
the research themes from one of them as an example, from which generic themes
may be derived. International research centres will be explored before identifying
synergies between architectural design and management, and other CIB working
commissions and task groups.
Architectural education developed in Schools alongside Fine Art. It was late to move
into university structures and when it did, there was still a strong emphasis on practice.
As well as a requirement for part-time educators from practice, full-time members of
staff were actually encouraged to engage in their own architectural businesses
(Comunian, Gilmore and Jacobi 2015). By the second half of the 20th Century,
emerging architectural research was fragmented. Those involved in History and
Theory tended to write books and chapters; whereas funded research projects mainly
resulted from small technical groups in the Schools. These were generally focussed
on building science, the growing concern with energy, and latterly digital technology
leading to building information management. This continued a dominant positivist
doctrine in research.
At the end of the 20th Century, the expansion of universities affected state financing
and dramatically changed the situation in three ways:
Exclusivity of contract made it difficult for academics to develop outside businesses
Research Assessment Exercises introduced selective research funding rather than
the block grant in a number of countries
There became a need to demonstrate an appropriate level of academic endeavour.
As school teachers earnt postgraduate qualifications and occasionally doctorates,
universities needed to show that their staff were highly qualified. It was quite rare
for architecture academics to hold PhDs, but it has now become a basic
requirement.
As a result of the above issues, the demands increased on academics to become
involved with research; but as demonstrated, there was not a great tradition in
architectural research. The professional organisations had barely engaged with it and
there was a lack of an inclusive research agenda. In the 21st Century, academics from
practice tried to re-orientate their position by generating practice-based research,
although its validity is still much contested (Till 2004). In all built environment
education, the project is perceived as a unifying activity. This is clearly related to the
project as focus of design and construction in practice. On many educational
programmes, multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary projects are used to enable students
to experience working in teams of different disciplines as preparation for practice. The
fundamentals of research are analysis, synthesis, application and testing.
Architectural design projects are subject to all of these stages. While there is more
permanency in the products – ie drawings, models, and even actual structures and
buildings; the research process is not really evident in the product, and aspects such
as methodology cannot be appreciated. So there needs to be well-considered records
of the decision-making during the development of designs. An original contribution to
16
knowledge demands that design projects exceed the knowledge base that could be
expected in practice. There is much debate about contribution to knowledge, with
practitioners asserting that originality is integral to all architectural design. However,
the standards are more demanding than those implied by such an assertion. The
creation and interpretation of new knowledge, through original research or other
advanced scholarship should be of a quality to satisfy peer review; extend the forefront
of the discipline and merit publication. Recording the current state of knowledge, and
what is being added to it; together with a rigorous and justifiable methodology are
essential.
Often hypotheses are tested and the work generates academic
publications. Due to the debate about what constitutes originality, this level of activity
can be difficult to prove unless accompanied by a convincing thesis. As stated above,
the product is insufficient to demonstrate the research – the process needs to be
recorded in terms of methodology and decision-making, in order to determine what
happened and why; and to enable replication and generic applicability. The
deliberations within academia and practice about contribution to knowledge can
impede the application of projects as higher level research. An alternative strategy
has been to associate practice with teaching-only contracts and create a division
between teaching and research (Shin et al. 2014). Another aspect that has hampered
the development of research in Architecture has been association with funders. It
always appears on the edge of research council agendas – never feeling at the centre
of physical sciences, socio-economic priorities, or arts and humanities (AHRC, ESRC,
EPSRC 2018). Nevertheless, architectural research has spread out from the positivist
origins to incorporate behavioural, community and user studies. In addition urban
issues have developed, especially in various manifestations of urban design.
Professional institutes, associations and societies are now starting to recognise the
role of research, and this is evident in the following national groups:
National Societies, Associations, Institutes and Unions
Albania
Albanian Union of
http://www.unioniiarkitekteve.org/
Architects and Urban
Planners
Australia
Australian Institute of
http://architecture.com.au/
Architects
Belgium
Flanders Architecture
https://www.vai.be/en
Institute
Brazil
Instituto de Arquitetos
do Brasil
Brunai
Institution of
http://www.puja-brunei.org/
Surveyors, Engineers
and Architects
Bulgaria
Association of
http://bacea-bg.org/en
Architects and
Engineers Consultants
Canada
The Royal
https://www.raic.org/
Architectural Institute
of Canada
China
China Architecture
http://en.cadreg.com/index.asp
Design and Research
Group
17
Costa Rice
Czech
Denmark
Ethiopia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Iran
Ireland
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
Korea
Latvia
Malaysia
Mongolia
Nepal
Federal Association of
Engineers and
Architects
Czech Chamber of
Architects
Danish Association of
Architects
Association of
Ethiopian Architects
Finnish Association of
Architects
National Council of the
Order of Architects
The Association of
German Architects
Ghana Institute of
Architects
Hellenic Institute of
Architecture
The Hong Kong
Institute of Architects
Association of
Hungarian Engineers
and Architects
Indian Institute of
Architects
Indonesian Institute of
Architects
Society of Iranian
Architects and
Planners
The Royal Institute of
Architects of Ireland
Jamaican Institute of
Architects
Japan Institute of
Architects
The Architectural
Association of Kenya
The Korea Institute of
Registered Architects
Latvian Architects
Union
Malaysian Institute of
Architects
The Union of
Mongolian Architects
Society of Nepalese
Architects
http://www.cfia.or.cr/
https://www.cka.cz/
https://www.arkitektforeningen.dk/
http://associationofethiopianarchitects.org/
https://www.safa.fi/eng/
http://www.architectes.org/
https://bda-bund.de/
http://gia.org.gh/
http://www.heliarch.gr/
http://www.hkia.net/
http://tmsz.org
https://indianinstituteofarchitects.com/
http://www.iai.or.id/
http://www.siap.org/
https://www.riai.ie/
http://jamaicanarchitects.com/
http://www.jia.or.jp/
http://www.aak.or.ke/
http://www.kira.or.kr
http://www.latarh.lv/
http://www.pam.org.my/
http://www.uma.org.mn/
http://sona.org.np/
18
Netherlands Royal Institute of Dutch
Architects
New
New Zealand Institute
Zealand
of Architects
Nigeria
The Nigerian Institute
of Architects
Norway
Norwegian Architects
Association
Pakistan
Institute of Architects
Pakistan
Singapore
Singapore Institute of
Architects
South Africa South African Institute
of Architects
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Institute of
Architects
Sweden
Swedish Association of
Architects
Switzerland The Swiss Society of
Engineers and
Architects
Tanzania
Architects Association
of Tanzania
Thailand
Association of
Siamese Architects
Trinidad
Trinidad and Tobago
Institute of Architects
Turkey
Chamber of Architects
of Turkey
Uganda
Uganda Society of
Architects
UK
Royal Institute of
British Architects
USA
American Institute of
Architects
Zambia
Zambia Institute of
Architects
http://www.dutcharchitects.org/
https://www.nzia.co.nz/
https://nia.ng/
https://www.arkitektur.no/
http://iap.com.pk/
http://www.sia.org.sg/
http://saia.org.za/
https://www.slia.lk/
https://www.arkitekt.se/
http://www.sia.ch/en/the-sia/
http://aat.archi/
http://asa.or.th/
http://ttia-architects.org/
http://www.mimarlarodasi.org.tr/
http://architects.ug/
https://www.architecture.com/
https://www.aia.org/
http://zia.org.zm/
19
International Associations
Countries not list listed often have their own associations but act through the following
international groups:
International Union of Architects
Association of Enterprise Architects
Commonwealth
Association
of
Architects
Architects Council of Europe
African Union of Architects
Organisation of Arab Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
International
American Institute of Architects
International
Research Organisations
Africa Research Institute
http://www.uia-architectes.org/
https://www.globalaea.org/
http://www.comarchitect.org/commonwealth/
https://www.ace-cae.eu/
http://m.auaarchitects.org/
http://www.arabarchitect.org/
https://www.architecture.com/my-localriba/riba-international
https://www.aia.org/pages/21906international-associate-membership
https://www.africaresearchinstitute.org/new
site/?s=Architecture
European http://www.arena-architecture.eu/
Architectural Research
Network
Building
Research
Information https://www.brikbase.org/
Knowledgebase
Drawing Research Network
http://www.drawing-researchnetwork.org.uk/
European
Architectural
History https://eahn.org/
Network
20
As an example of the kinds of research themes being identified by national and
international associations, a summary of the Royal Institute of British Architects
themes is set out below:
RIBA Research Themes
History and Theory
Historical research of direct relevance to a project, e.g. conservation plans and
reports
Cultural studies relating to architecture, professionalism and the built
environment
Histories of construction, science and technology
Historical and/or theoretical research on place, space and urban planning
History and/or theory of practice and praxis, including professionalism,
architectural education, procurement and non-design aspects of architectural
practice
Design and Technical
Design quality
Computational Design and BIM
Spatial integration
Sustainability, low carbon solutions and/or ‘systems’ performance
Materials, detailing and construction methods
Project management
Cities and Community
The role of the architect and architecture in social, cultural and economic
sustainability
Analysis and contextual studies of architecture in the cityscape
Community engagement
Health, wellbeing and sustainability in the city
Learning from Projects
The briefing, design, and/or construction processes
Project use/user interaction
Building Performance and Post-occupancy Evaluation
Organisational performance
Strategy
Information Structuring
Terminology
OECD skill sets
Knowledge Management
Aligning education and research – research-led criteria
Process
• Ethics – especially practitioners
• Insurance and Risk – arrangements to permit different kinds of practice and
new alliances
(Martindale and Tait 2016)
21
International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction
CIB has currently established 35 Working Commissions. It is the nature of the breadth
of Architectural Design and Management that it relates to numbers of these
Commissions. However, there are clear synergies with the following twelve:
W69 Residential Studies
Housing – residential buildings – have been the most vulnerable objects of architecture
at all ages, albeit the most abundant in evidences of cultural identities
W86 Building Pathology
The systematic treatment of building defects, their causes, their consequences and
their remedies
W089 Education in the Built Environment
High quality academic debate about the way knowledge is generated, codified, taught
and learnt to promote stronger links between research, scholarship, teaching and
practice
W092 Procurement Systems
The social, economic and legal aspects of contractual arrangements, appointment
systems and tendering procedures used in relation to construction projects
W101 Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Development
Cities and built environment for social inclusion; informal cities; theoretical approaches
to planning and development; spatial survey and assessment for sustainable
development
W102 Information and Knowledge Management in Building
The flow of information, by which research results can be usefully translated into
innovation and further adapted to provide the knowledge-base for best practice
W104 Open Building Implementation
Design of the built environment that supports both stability - in respect to long term
community interests; and change - in respect to individual preferences
W110 Informal Settlements and Affordable Housing
The creation of sustainable livelihoods incorporating residents’ participation, and how
stakeholders can transfer technology to assist communities to develop the settlement;
physically, socially and economically
W111 Usability of Workplaces
The promotion, development and sharing of methods, processes and techniques for
the evaluation of the built environment in use
W116 Smart and Sustainable Built Environment
The identification, collection, creation, discussion, evaluation and dissemination of
information and knowledge on strategies and best practices for developing smart and
sustainable buildings and infrastructure
W118 Clients and Users in Construction
The definition of clients and users, identification of procurement and management
strategies, classification methods for engaging users in decision-making processes,
and development of appropriate guidance material
W122 Public Private Partnership
Financial models, risk allocation and management, transparency and accountability,
public policy and private-public sector behaviour, project evaluation, contractual
structure and performance indicators
For more information on the CIB Commissions, please consult the website
https://www.cibworld.nl
22
Main Themes in Research
Architectural research is organised and categorised in a myriad of ways. Therefore
attempts to summarise the landscape are prone to all kinds of difficulties. Not least
because architectural research does not take place in isolation or silos, and cause and
effect scenarios through interdisciplinary activity are evident in many research
projects. Nevertheless, it is important to attempt a summary of where most
architectural research takes place:
Design
As the key activity in Architecture, design forms the first category. It is about the
process and products of design (Yaneva 2016). However, it must be acknowledged
that different disciplines have their own perceptions of what is meant by design, and
how it is undertaken (Carlgren, Rauth and Elmquist 2016).
It has connections and overlaps with all the other categories.
Technology and Environment
These categories often appear together but arguably they are distinctive separately.
The first relates to building construction, the use of materials, process of assembly
and structural principles (Canas-Guerrero et al. 2014). The second has been a
growing area in recent years. Originally, it was about heat, light and sound but has
now moved into a more holistic arena with human well-being (Hanc, McAndrew and
Ucci 2018); sustainable built and natural environment; and climate change (CABE
2007). In addition, there are considerations about the impact on design of legislation,
codes of practice, and health and safety, both during construction and occupation of
a project.
Cultural Context
This section includes the tradition research areas of history and theory of architecture
(Roth 2018); the history of ideas (Daglioglu 2015), and the related disciplines of art,
cultural and landscape studies (Courage 2017). The overlap with design lies in the
spatial, aesthetic, and social qualities of design, but within the scope of the wider built
and natural environment. The context also involves the study of specific architects
and their seminal buildings. This category may be a little too inclusive, as it contains
the influences of the contemporary built environment; urban design; the design of
cities, past and present societies; and wider global issues.
Communication and Digital Technology
In the past, research in communication was quite limited. The focus was on the visual,
verbal and written, through media such as sketching, drawing and modelling (Jackson
2006). The expansion has occurred through the huge growth of digital and electronic
techniques. Some is within the critical appraisal of design. However, the major
development has been in virtual reality, building information modelling (Gokuc and
Arditi 2017), and even three-dimensional printing (Mathur 2016).
23
Management, Practice and Law
This category includes the appraisal of working practices, the principles of business,
and management of the practice and the project (Emmitt 2014). It involves the great
development of procurement systems, changes in the framework of the construction
industry, and the legal implications (Wevill 2013). A major aspect is the processes by
which buildings are designed and constructed in the context of professional practice
(Bryant et al. 2018).
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3. Future Scenario
There is likely to be substantial growth in building construction in some developing
countries; but in developed countries, there may be a fall. The demand for houses
could continue to struggle to be met, while the demand for commercial property and
retail outside capital cities is already declining. This may create an emphasis on reuse. It might even include demolition with the re-assignment of land to non-built uses,
such as public space. The main reason for this rapid change is digital technology,
which is dramatically affecting the traditional use of buildings. The move from growth
to decline of building construction could happen in developing countries within the next
ten years; as they are experiencing the digital revolution at an even faster rate than
the developed countries.
Thus, there will be considerable challenges related to the conceptual framework:
Education + Practice
The objective over the next ten years will be the integration of education and practice
through research. Yet, there is a danger that the imperatives of practice may dominate
research and adversely affect education. Any change to the pattern of architectural
education therefore needs to be very carefully assessed. Research in practice should
be defined, and a structure devised for the process. The concept of the profession as
a learning community should be enacted, especially if it leads to innovative practice.
The ultimate aim remains the co-creation of knowledge through research and practice.
Contexts
The three dimensions identified by the Roadmap Reference Group are architectural,
urban and cultural. The architectural dimension focuses on the project. In future, the
nature of the project may change, with a lowering of demand for commercial building
and an uneven demand for houses. Urbanism may become more significant and
social, economic, political and environmental frameworks need to become established
to help shape towns and cities. In the cultural dimension, the 20th Century ideal of
think global and act local will be increasingly significant over the next ten years. It will
be important to continue to celebrate different cultures around the world, while
embracing the opportunities provided by global electronic media.
Organisations
In ten years, research should have been completed on the contribution of various
types of organisations to enhance the quality of the built environment. One theme
could be the correlation between the type of organisation and award-winning designs.
Alternative practice styles for resilience will have been investigated eg architect as
entrepreneur, architect as developer, or partnerships with others such as developers.
Also, there should be work on the types of organisation and functions in the context of
declining demand for new building. Gender, demography and supporting diverse
career paths without discrimination, will have been researched and strategies put in
place.
Procurement
Over the next decade, there should be a consolidation of procurement methods with
greater clarity when each might be used. This would include traditional procurement,
as well as the more recent forms. There should be a re-emphasis on the quality of the
25
built environment in procurement; as well as a specific recognition of procurement for
re-use. In ten years, Building Information Management (BIM) should have reached
maturity, and there will be recommendations on where it would be most effectively
employed, rather than the notion that it will be a panacea.
Processes
World-wide views on the processes that generate architecture and urban design will
have been comparatively analysed. The interface between organisation and process,
in terms of the culture affecting ways of working, will have been regarded as a critical
issue. This will be set against the changing relationship between sectors – ie between
public, private and NGOs at international, national, regional and local levels. There
will be the outcome of research into sustainable development. It is hoped that user
feedback will be routinely fed-back into the design process, but increasingly, there may
be a divergence between the owners and users of property.
Tools
To date, there has been a general enthusiasm for the new digital tools. The next ten
years are an opportunity to re-appraise. It is hoped that there will be critical reflection
on success factors related to both traditional and digital tools in architectural design.
Interoperability between digital tools will become an even more important element
throughout design, construction and re-use. Further research into public engagement
tools may assist greater community involvement. Social maps, collating oral
testimonies, re-photographing spaces, etc. are tools that should help to define social
and urban issues, by co-creating knowledge, which can then be used to inform design
decisions.
26
4. Development Strategy
Research Infrastructure
The first part of enacting the Future Scenario is research infrastructure development.
W096 should be established as a research entity, with members of the commission
acting as partners and/or initiators of research fund applications. They could also
establish synergies with related working commissions to generate multi-disciplinary
teams. The commission and the CIB in general, could be encouraged to connect with
schools of architecture, national and international associations; and other research
organisations.
Architectural practices are increasingly being urged by their
associations to engage with research as a means of improving the quality of their
building designs. Universities are becoming increasingly unwilling to fund conference
attendance. The World Congress could therefore become an even more significant
event in terms of an opportunity for academics and practitioners from different
countries to meet in person. The Congress could have specific sessions for
developing the future of its working commissions by presenting available funding
streams and acting as a series of trading posts where prospective partners could
gather. Dissemination through publications is another vital issue. Academic journal
papers remain significant but the CIB could also commence its own publishing house.
The second part is to consider how the specific themes might be developed.
Themes
Design
The first aspect is that increased formalised interaction with schools of architecture,
national and international associations, other research organisations and W096
members would be advantageous in addressing the future scenario. Architectural
practices are being urged to engage with research by their associations. Thus
practice-based research in architectural and urban design may become significant.
This could involve practices investing in research and joining academics in
applications for funding. The objective is to co-create knowledge by integrating
education and practice through research. This will help the profession to act as a
learning community but care is needed to ensure that practice does not dominate
education. There may be a change in the nature of design services. The possible
reduction in demand for new buildings may move the design emphasis to urban
design, especially with the potential for the re-assignment of land to non-built uses,
such as public space. These methods may be especially valuable in developing
countries, due to the unpredictability in the rapid intervention of digital technology.
Technology and Environment
Traditional research in technology has tended to be in materials and based in a
laboratory. This approach remains valid in the development of standards but recent
building failures have indicated that research into composite construction insitu, may
play a greater role in the next ten years. Funding may continue through research
councils and governments, but other sources could also be needed. Manufacturers
have a responsibility but the use of world-wide networks to seek less expensive
materials than can be achieved in some national supply chains, is complicating
accountability. Another proposal could be that the contractors should instigate the
research for their construction. However, this introduces a number of difficulties. First
is the timescale – contractors would have insufficient time to sponsor research after
27
their appointment. Secondly, the cost of any research by contractors would be an
additional cost to the projects. In addition, it raises questions about who is responsible
for the specification. There is also a clear relationship with procurement, which is
considered under Management, Practice and Law. With the internal environment,
there has been considerable research into energy conservation. Yet, this is generating
discord with individual users in terms of human comfort. Post occupancy evaluation
and user feedback is required to investigate these matters but it is unclear who would
fund them, whereas there are numbers of sources for funding energy conservation.
Arguably, the relationship of inside and outside, and the comfort of external spaces
will create increased research activity. In particular, studies into optimum microclimate
will invariably be necessary. This may involve regional and local government in
funding research into the public realm. Nevertheless, it should be recognised that in
many countries, regional and local government is subject to substantial budget cuts.
Cultural Contexts
As countries throughout the world are increasingly accessible, knowledge of different
cultures and their complexities offer substantial research opportunities. Architectural
and urban design will be boosted by the application of cultural influences; which can
be analysed through social, economic, political and environmental perspectives. The
United Nations has emphasised that quality of life depends on these perspectives.
The desire for community and an aspiration for more liveable neighbourhoods could,
in part, be derived from culturally significant buildings. At the same time, encouraging
design with cultural influences, could meet the diversity of needs and expectations of
communities. An architecture and urban design based on cultural context will
construct social settings. This can enable a local constellation of ideas to contribute
to the legacy of a place. Involved in urban culture are: sustainable tourism, heritage
and conservation, the arts, city beautiful – a planned city of culture, and the
intercultural city with multiple communities. Social justice is the basis of culture with
inclusivity avoiding exclusion of certain groups of people. This should be accompanied
by access to resources, economic opportunities, and the right to shelter, education,
health care, physical and social mobility. These matters could be explored through
national associations and research organisations. The concept of thinking global
through international research of different cultures around the world, and acting locally
will enhance the culture of people and places.
Communications and Digital Technology
Architectural practices who are looking beyond the drafting and visualization solutions
offered by digital technology are finding that they are changing work practices in the
course of this interaction. An emerging generation of graduates who understand how
digital technologies can be applied to architectural design, as well as anticipating
future applications, may be crucial in the development of architectural practice, and its
re-structuring in the digital era. Arguably, some of the biggest opportunities for digital
technologies can be found in the design of external spaces, as it is even more difficult
to evaluate proposals for external spaces than those for buildings. In addition to
modelling the external spaces themselves, there are now developing technologies that
can simulate a range of environmental conditions generated by the designs and may
be investigated through virtual models. Research can establish how digital
28
technology affects the built environment, and offer clear definitions of what it is. This
could include online shopping and workplace flexibility. It may also involve some
aspects of leisure – perhaps not theatre or gallery, but possibly cinema. So, it would
be helpful to have a clear image of what constitutes centres, which could be city or
neighbourhood scale, so that there is an identifiable focus. Its activities could then be
recorded and how the balance of these activities could be affected by increased digital
technology. By contrast, there is recognition that the increased use of electronic
communication has actually enhanced the need for people to meet together in person.
There is some very interesting literature about events in city centres and the use of
public space. Observations on the use of public spaces could bring this concept to
life. An additional perspective could be the way that electronic effects can produce
exciting features in cities for the enjoyment of people assembling there. It also opens
up the way for community involvement through public engagement tools. Finally, there
is an opportunity to re-appraise digital tools, and particularly the comparison between
traditional and digital tools. One point could be how and where to employ building
information management to make it most effective.
Management, Practice and Law
Architectural practice will not remain static, and alternative practice styles will be
necessary to ensure resilience. Gender, demography, and diverse career paths in
particular, will specifically need to be taken into account. This may necessitate funding
through national associations; for whom research into management could be an
innovation. Procurement is evolving into a major research area. This is due to a move
away from traditional procurement to a variety of new forms. This has generated
considerable fragmentation. Thus, consolidation of methods could be a focus of
attention; with the intent of re-emphasising quality in the built environment. Such work
would be appropriate for co-operation with other commissions, and notably W092.
Further co-operation will harness world-wide views on the processes that generate
architecture and urban design. The context in many countries is the changing
relationship between sectors, ie public, private and NGOs at international, national,
regional and local levels. Sustainable development has been on research agendas for
a number of years; yet there is much to be done. There are various interpretations
that would benefit from classification, and construction of a taxonomy. This work could
lead to research fund applications with W096 members and other commissions.
29
5. Research Contribution
The contribution from research structures to the Development Strategy falls into a
number of different categories:
Research-based Organisations
As the only world-wide organisation for research and innovation in the built
environment, CIB has a considerable role in lobbying for specific research funding.
The Research Roadmaps offer evidence for where the effort could be placed. CIB
itself could apply for research funding to co-ordinate the Roadmaps and chart the
potential interaction between the Working Commissions. This could create core
groups within CIB. One of the objectives of the World Building Congress could be to
formalise relationships between particular Commissions and develop embryonic
consortia for funding applications. Members of W096 could also form groups for
applications, established in co-operation with the Schools of Architecture. Most
countries throughout the world have established Research Organisations such as
Building Research Establishment (UK), The Council for Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR Built Environment, South Africa), and The Sustainable Built
Environment Research Centre (Australia). Some are sponsored by their national
governments, whereas others are self-supporting through their own funding
applications. CIB already liaises with a number of these Organisations but the
Roadmaps provide openings for more direct relationships. They tend to focus on
technological issues but could be part of a broader arrangement that combines them
with cultural and managerial matters. In this respect, Architecture is a difficult discipline
to define. This is exemplified by the way it moves position within universities;
sometimes appearing in Arts Faculties, or Engineering or Environment or Design.
National Research Councils in many countries are similarly arranged. In the UK, they
are the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Economic and Social
Research Council, Arts and Humanities, and Natural Environment Research Council.
While increasingly they are involved with multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary
research, the Councils maintain primary interest in their original constituencies.
Architecture does not fit neatly into any of these constituencies. The themes of Design;
Technology and Environment; Cultural Contexts; Communications and Digital
Technology; and Management Practice and Law encompass a considerable scope of
topics. Also, there is no Research Council that is centred on Management. Perhaps,
there could be suggestions for a proposal for a Built Environment Research Council
to run alongside or join the Natural Environment Research Council. Trusts and
Charities are an additional source of funding, where the proposal does not fit the
Research Council descriptors.
Governmental Structures
The European Commission operates a number of funding programmes. Some are
regionally-based, such as Interreg North Sea Region, where all the participants are
required to be based in those regions. The major funding stream currently, is Horizon
2020. This is for large-scale proposals that involve numbers of partners. The minimum
number of countries is generally four, but in many applications the number can be in
the teens, and the participants can be double that figure. As well as universities, they
can include research institutes and organisations, companies and particularly small
and medium-sized enterprises, non-governmental organisations,
30
charities and local authorities. Often the calls are for innovation action, which means
that demonstration projects are required. In principle, funding is for those in European
countries but partners in countries throughout the world can be included where it can
be justified. National Governments have been a traditional source of research funding.
This varies in quantity between different nations and is dependent on the economic
prosperity of the country. In some nations, Governments have delegated all funding
to research councils or their equivalents. Regional and Local Governments have also
funded research at a sub-national level. These sources are less beneficial for
international co-operation as promoted by CIB. Nevertheless, it can be useful pumppriming funding that enables projects to be developed for subsequent international
applications. In some parts of the world, sub-national Government does not have this
kind of capability. In other parts, the balance between National and Local Government
is changing in favour of National Government. In addition, some places are
experiencing a reduction in the public sector, with more activities being undertaken by
the private sector. The overall picture is one of increasing demand for funding, with a
reduction in the number of sources and total sums.
Practice
It is becoming apparent that research and innovation is no longer exclusively and
academic pursuit. Applied research and practice research are growing in significance.
International Associations include the International Union, as well as Commonwealth,
European, African and Arabic Associations. Countries that do not have their own
associations are generally affiliated to an international one. They do not tend to fund
research but act as repositories for publications and are therefore useful as agencies
for dissemination. In addition there are numerous National Societies, Associations,
Institutes and Unions, and they are now starting to recognise the role of research and
innovation. Some are beginning to establish their own research priorities and are
making demands on their members in this respect. They state that members should
undertake research into a number of aspects of their design projects. It could be
viewed as an extension to the programmes of Continuous Professional Development.
Research funding by National Associations has been for relatively small amounts and
not particularly well structured. Especially if demands are to be made on members,
Associations’ roles made need to be developed. However, it unlikely that the
Associations will be able to fund sufficient practice research themselves. Larger
Architectural Practices are already engaging external consultancies to assist with
limited research. Yet, this is presenting them with considerable costs and beyond
smaller Practices. In some cases, Practices are working with their local universities
with Government sponsored arrangements, such as Knowledge Transfer
Partnerships. Alternatively, Regionally organised National Associations are planning
applications with their universities. Nevertheless, they will be in competition with all
the other applicants.
Thus, the demand for research and innovation is increasing for a number of reasons,
and architectural research is just part of the mix. There needs to be general lobbying
with all the funding sources to recognise the increasing demand; and provide greater
rather than lesser amounts of funding. Ultimately, all funding originates with National
Governments and groups of Governments, such as the European Commission. CIB
could assist this process by presenting the Research Roadmaps as part of the
evidence for more research funding. Within the setting of support for the research
31
agenda, Architectural Research requires clearer and more targeted funding streams.
In many cases, the scale of the calls creates overcomplicated arrangements and it is
argued that greater participation and more effective results could be achieved by
reducing the size and expenditure of each project. For example, Horizon 2020 is
nearing the end of its period of operation. In constructing its replacement,
consideration for smaller projects may be appropriate.
32
6. Research Agenda
Purpose
To map an agenda for Architectural Research and establish a network of international
researchers to:
facilitate partnerships for authoring academic journal papers and developing
research funding bids
fund research with practices – in which practices do not need to make high
financial/time commitments
investigate the way that design research might be funded and given legitimacy both
through industry and government partners
expand dissemination activities to maximise impact and reach
define and guide impact generation from research activities and output
Issues
Organisations
Investigate different styles of organisation, including:
• separate disciplines and multi-disciplinary practices
• integration or separation of different professionals
• composition of organisations
• debates regarding the amalgamation of the design and construction phases
within one organisation or whether distinction between the phases offers
more professional integrity
• the effect of different types of organisation on quality of products
• the correlation between organisational types, vision statements and award
winning designs
• Alternative practice models for economic resilience of a practice - including
architect as entrepreneur - as developer - as partner with developer
• composition of organisations – is creativity impeded by strictly hierarchical
practices. What should be the level of democracy in well-structured
organisations?
• Does integration or separation of professionals produce high quality and
effective products
• diversity and equity: achieving greater representation in gender and
demography in the building industry and creating an environment that supports
diverse career paths without discrimination
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Procurement
• new procurement systems – criticism for lack of architectural design quality
• rationalising procurement systems
• selecting appropriate procurement systems for particular types of projects
• Processes
• architectural design process
• – different types of design
Engineering Design
Architectural Design
Prescriptive
Rational
Linear
Algorithmic
Theoretical
Problem focused
Descriptive
Intuitive
Cyclic
Heuristic
Empirical
Solution focussed
Research is needed as to how to maintain performance attainment while also
achieving amenity objectives
•
•
•
can a design based procurement method be introduced?
could BIM has the potential to restore the central role in building procurement
most architects seem to feel that they have lost?
procurement systems - how younger practices in architecture can be given
more opportunities; and to create a greater diversity within the architecture
profession
Processes
• interpretations of Sustainability and Sustainable Development
• materials and construction
• energy efficiency, carbon footprints etc.
• architectural design quality hierarchy
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•
•
•
•
•
•
testing approaches in other locations, use of networks
the interface of process and organisation as a critical issue
research informing design quality
the process of architecture and urban design, in the context of globalised
capitalism or shrinking cities with poor marginalized urban communities
The relationship between sectors - relationships between public, private and
NGOs at international, national, regional and local levels
Designers' behaviour in design, communication and collaboration within
different technological, cultural or organisational environments
crowd sourcing and collective design via the internet for other design disciplines
such as industrial design, software design, engineering design etc. yet the
potential for architectural design has not been adequately explored
Tools
• advantages of VR and BIM for design integration, clash detection etc.,
• but concerns about the casual adoption of component libraries; and the
danger of unqualified and poorly qualified staff using them.
• Appraisal of existing design quality tools and development of new ones
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•
the impact of digital design tools on people and processes
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incorporation of communities in the decision making process, introducing a
variety of public engagement tools
development Strategy: social maps, collating oral testimonies, re-photographing
spaces, etc. These tools should help us to define social and urban issues, by
co-creating knowledge, which will be then used to inform design decisions .
augmented reality in the representation/perception and understanding of
architectural design as a set of dynamic spaces that can be experienced
BIM/AR/Mobile technologies: interaction of AR and BIM to monitor onsite
construction progress and predict possible clashes
big data and city modelling to support urban design and planning
parametric modelling as a tool to support architectural design exploration from
early stage of design. Interoperability between digital tools is an important
element
drawing and thinking in architectural design
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Contexts
Practice
• Analysis of different status in architectural practice, such as the privileged and
the professional
• starchitects and communities
• global and local influences
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•
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practice-based and interdisciplinary research in support of launching urban
development projects
evidence-based practices – can post-occupancy evaluation studies become
routine? – can the profession become a learning community?
innovative practice and practices, future practices
research and practice. Co-creation of knowledge, which will influence the
development of design solutions
to develop more practice-based research to develop and deliver research by
design methodologies in schools of architecture
practice-education think tank to identify priorities
the culture of architectural practices
future practice scenarios could build upon existing expertise
Education
• architecture and the built environment and greater association with Schools of
Architecture
• teaching of critical and creative thought
• the potential of collaboration between practice and academia
• Interdisciplinary activity as part of the education for the production and
dissemination of knowledge
• architectural education and studio pedagogy - to build greater connections to
practice
• the location of architecture – is the base in art and design or built environment
or technology and engineering?
Pedagogy
• the nature of architectural education
• studio culture
• the concept of the project
39
Urban
• how can a multidisciplinary research on architecture, urban spaces, and resiliency
contribute systematically to the urban development practice?
• social sustainability of cities - using new digital ways to understand cities –
including designing and managing cities based on quantitative and qualitative data
• livable cities (W101) with digital information and scenarios for future cities - urbanity
and the city as experiential phenomena
• the impact of devolution second tier cities across Europe
• ‘identity’ - ‘place’ and ‘place attachment’ at the urban design and architectural
levels. What are the future concepts of home and workplace and their identities?
Cultural
• how the cultural context, humanities and the arts contribute to the development of
a critical and research led practice
• cultural impact on design and spatial cognition has been a recent focus with
international collaboration in design and construction
• art and architecture
• changing demographics
40
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Appendix A: Reference Group
Professor Bob Giddings (Chair): Joint Co-ordinator W096
Associate Professor Silvio Melhado: Joint Co-ordinator W096
Dr Saul Golden: University of Ulster
Professor Karim Hadjri: University of Sheffield
Professor Ben Medjdoub: Nottingham Trent University
Professor Andre Viljoen: University of Brighton
Professor Peter Walker: University of Salford
Mr Ian Wroot: Liverpool John Moores University
Appendix B: Contributors
Professor Annmarie Adams: McGill University
Mr Branislav Antonic: University of Belgrade
Professor Michael Chapman: University of Newcastle NSW
Associate Professor Philip Crowther: Queensland University of Technology
Professor Harry Edelman: Tampere University of Technology W096
Professor Ning Gu: South Australia University
Associate Professor Iva Kovacic: Vien TU W096
Dr Tarja Makelainen: VTT Finland
Professor Alan Penn: University College London
Associate Professor Matthijs Prins : Delft TU W096
Professor Flora Samuel: Reading University
Professor Guven Arif Sargin: METU University
Dr Robert Smidt III: Loughborough University
Mr Roger Tyrrell: Portsmouth University
Professor Patricia Tzortzopoulos: Huddersfield University W096
Dr Derya Yorgancioglu: Istanbul Kemerburgaz University
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