EMBEDDED RESEARCH WITHIN ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE
SIAL Team:
Mark Burry
Andrew Maher
Arianna Wilson
Rory Hyde
Sarah Benton
Paul Nicholas
Marcus White
Embedded Research within Architectural Practice
SIAL has been awarded an ARC Linkage grant Technology Transfer through Embedded Research within Architectural Practice: the creation of an Australian practice-based architectural research and development network.
This research project is for a three year period commencing 1 March 2005.
Prof. Mark Burry is the Chief Investigator. Andrew Maher is the Research Associate.
Three aims of the research
» The first aim of this project is to investigate four different routes to design practice innovation in four different and unique practice contexts through project-based research.
» The second aim is to create a better understanding of the factors that lead to change and innovation in architectural design practice.
» The third aim is to initiate a forum composed of key members of each of the participating practices for dialogue leading to new areas of research and development that will help maintain the competitive position of Australian architectural design and its role in the construction industry in the world market.
Background
Architecture and structural design practices undertake research usually on a per project basis, but are unlikely to sustain dedicated research and development to capture what is known formally as 'tacit' or inexplicit disciplinary knowledge. International research has found that systems for knowledge capture from project to project have been generally nonexistent or where they did exist, were inadequate. The effect is that despite large amounts of new knowledge generated through collaborative project work, most is not retained within individual firms.
Practices contribute directly to schools of architecture through tutoring, and help mentor young architects but it is generally difficult for universities to reciprocate by contributing significantly to the research and development within practice except with regard to building science issues. Research in architecture is often seen as unrelated to the practice of architecture. While many practices welcome the opportunities for their staff to undertake concurrent postgraduate study, and assist wherever possible, this has to be undertaken in an ad hoc part-time manner, and almost certainly will not go beyond the level of Masters.
Industry Partners
The grant has four leading Australian architectural and engineering practices as industry partners. Together with SIAL, through the direct and continuous involvement of PhD scholars, these practices will explore how their processes can be mapped onto new digitally-supported and supportive ways of working.
The Industry Partners are:
Arup Melbourne | Black Koslof Knott | McGauran Giannini Soon | Terroir
PhD candidates
The PhD candidates are:
» Sarah Benton
» Rory Hyde
» Paul Nicholas
» Marcus White
The candidates are enrolled within the School of Architecture and Design which operates at the leading edge of design education nationally and internationally with over one hundred and fifty candidates enrolled in Master and PhD by research. The highlight of the research year are the Graduate Research Conferences held every May and October where postgraduate students present their work to a panel of invited national and international critics, and informally discuss aspects of their research with colleagues and visitors.
Chief Investigator Mark Burry is the candidate's principal supervisor.
Practice research topics supported within SIAL
SIAL staff and existing practice collaborators have internationally recognised research expertise in a range of areas, summarised, although not exhaustively, under the seven headings below. Each of these areas relates to creative applications for digital technologies covering the full range of practice activity.
» Design (ideation and conceptualisation)
» Design development and productivity
» Design representation and communication
» Design decision support
» Design management
» Design realisation
» Design performance and post-occupancy evaluation
Contacts
Research Associate Andrew Maher regarding further information about the grant.
Phone: 03 9925 3469
School Postgraduate Coordinator Liam Revell regarding further information about applications and enrolment in the School of Architecture and Design.
Phone: 03 9925 1875
Further Links
2006 Symposium: How do we know what we don't know?
Research at the School of Architecture and Design
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