What is the role of design research in the types of insight and knowledge that architects create? That is the central question raised by this book. It acts as the introductory overview for Ashgate’s major new series, ’Design Research in Architecture’ which has been created in order to establish a firm basis for this emerging field of investigation within architecture. While there have been numerous architects-scholars since the Renaissance who have relied upon the interplay of drawings, models, textual analysis, intellectual ideas and cultural insights to scrutinise the discipline, nonetheless, until recently, there has been a reluctance within architectural culture to acknowledge and accept the role of design research as part of the discourse. However, in many countries around the world, one of the key changes in architecture and architectural education over the last decade has been the acceptance of design as a legitimate research area in its own right and this new series provides a forum where the best proponents of architectural design research can publish their work. This volume provides a broad overview on design research that supports and amplifies the different volumes coming out in the book series. It brings together leading architects and academics to discuss the more general issues involved in design research. At the end, there is an Indicative Bibliography which alludes to a long history of architectural books which can be seen as being in the spirit of design research.
Biography
Murray Fraser is Professor of Architecture and Global Culture at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College, London, UK.
’Recently in many architectural schools efforts intensified to further develop architectural research. Exciting new avenues are being explored, relying upon the design skills of architects and urban designers, combining them with intellectual rigor and in-depth thinking, in order to imagine new spatialities and to unfold hitherto unknown spatial experiences. This series highlights the innovative results of these explorations, opening up a new world of path-breaking research.’ Hilde Heynen, University of Leuven, Belgium ' ... well laid out with a good balance between text and relevant high quality images. This book would be a good starting point for anyone considering undertaking design research in architecture.' RIAS Quarterly ’Recommended.’ Choice 'An interesting asset of the volume is how it opens new possibilities for further research. For instance, with Richard Coyne’s suggestion that design research should adopt ethnographic disruption as its method in a wholly new concept of architectural theory, regardless of its many anthropological implications. This assertion is a ground breaking point of the volume with endless possibilities which may produce vivid discussion for the benefit of design research in the architectural field'. Histara
