Developing Architectural Research through Design 1(11) Developing Architectural Research through Design – Experiences with Research Training Sessions.

Architecture is a field of enquiry that is characterised by a multi-disciplinary and holistic scope. It is influenced by knowledge and methodologies from the Humanities, as well as from the ‘Exact ’ Sciences. Moreover, the design activities have traditionally had a strong link to the arts, inspiring and stimulating the creative conceptual work. Because of this situation, different methodologies are being applied in research. The design process is seen as the core process during education, as well as later in practice. Most current research activities, however, are related to either the ‘Exact ’ Sciences or the Humanities. Focus on the design process as the core process and methodology in research seems to be underdeveloped, though recently it is receiving a great deal of attention. Architectural practices have up till now been the place for real life experiments and innovations. Critics have been stating that current academic research has very little relevance for these design practices. For more than a decade now, discussions and conferences on research in the field of architecture have seemed to focus on research by/through design. Consensus seems to be growing that this type of research (although stil