RESEARCH THROUGH DESIGN: AN ARCHITECTURAL RESPONSE TO PRACTICE-LED RESEARCH

Abstract

There is a growing trend across the field of architectural research towards a practice-led approach. This has seen researchers move beyond the established limits of quantitative and qualitative research, in pursuit of a new distinct paradigm called 'performative research' [Haseman, 2009]. This type of research allows practitioners to explore and question the issues that they believe are relevant through practice. As such, an architectural researcher may deploy a method called 'research through design', with a view to developing new knowledge. This paper gives an overview of performative research in architecture schools across the world, before discussing forms of design research. It gives an outline of the diverse field in which practice-led research can take place and an insight to the broad spectrum of practices that can supplement practice-led research and the different degrees and balance of methods that may be supported. In turn, this enables a discussion regarding the type of knowledge that can be developed through research by design. 'Relational knowledge' does not necessarily seek a formula or hypothesis, but aims to work in context and between tensions. This type of knowledge can help us to explore connections across a broad field and work across disciplines, in order to gain a deeper understanding of relationships in context and with society

Keywords

• practice-led research
• research through design