Presentation on

Architectural Research & Design

Research

120113, 120116, 120128, 120132, 110101, 100102, 100123

KUAD, Khulna University, Bangladesh
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What is Research

Research = Re + search
Over again to examine closely and
and again carefully, to test and try, or to
probe

A term describing a careful, systematic, patient study and

investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to establish
facts or principles (Grinnell 1993: 4).
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• Research is one of the ways to find answers to your questions.

• Undertaking a research study is to find out answers to a question through systematic

process(es) that
▫ is being undertaken within a framework of a set of philosophies;
▫ uses procedures, methods and techniques that have been tested for
their validity and reliability·
▫ is designed to be unbiased and objective.
Kumar, 2005

• Research process
▫ involves scientific methods that consist of systematic observation, classification
and interpretation of data.
▫ is one in which nearly all people may engage in the course of their daily lives.
• What is the difference between our day-to-day generalisations and the conclusions
usually recognised as scientific method?
▫ It lies in the degree of formality, rigorousness, verifiability and validity
of the latter (Lundberg 1942: 5).

Lundberg, George A., 1942, Social Research-A Study in Methods of Gathering Data (2nd ed.), New York,
Longmans, Green & Co.
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So Research is…

Research Issue
Solve
problems

Methodology

Create new
Inquiry knowledge
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Architectural Research
Architectural research requires a global or holistic understanding of
architecture. It is linked to the central activity of architects: design. It is
conditioned by the fact that there are no determinist theories of which
the design would be the application; the design itself is what
connects/translates them.

It is a development/extension/ innovation of architectural practices.

It is interested in the generally recognized practices, subjects, and themes of

architecture. Architecture is a creative discipline oriented towards practice. It
is engaged, creative, reflexive practice
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Design Research

Research through design embraces creative production, with the design process itself as a
form of discovering new knowledge.

The most and least understood

area of architectural research
involves that which works
through design, which
engages design itself and
itself a form of research.
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Research through design takes different forms, depending on the project and
context:
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Architectural Research &

Design Research:

Facets of similarity
Design Research
Models of reconstructed logic Systematic design process Scientific Method

Abductive(research design/hypothesis
Abductive
formation)
Multiple logics Inductive
Inductive
Deductive
Deductive

Multiple Sequences of Logics,

Generator/conjecture model
Logics in use Dependent on Research questions and
Problem/Solution
purposes

Scope Macro/micro and mid-level applied Big/Medium/Small Theory

Social context Situated Practice Situated Research

Similarity between Design & Research

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Architectural Research &

Design Research:

Factors of Difference
Design Research
Proposal for artifact(from Knowledge and/or
Contribution small to large scale Application that is
interventions) Generalizable

Generative
Dominant Process Analytical & Systematic

Future
Temporal Focus Past and/or present

Impectus Problem Question

Difference between Design & Research

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Design Research Process

Research Design
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1. Research & Discover:

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2. Strategize
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3. Develop:
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4. Document:
Produce the actual thesis documents describing your discoveries,
insights, ideas, or assertions clearly and succinctly.
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Types of Architectural Research:

*Divided by method
*Divided by content
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HISTORICAL RESEARCH
• The systematic • No manipulation or • Focuses primarily
collection of data to control of variables - on the Past.
explain something
occurred sometimes in differ with experimental
the past. research.

The Purpose of Historical Research

• Awareness of past
• Learn from past failures and successes.
• To test hypothesis
• To assist in prediction.
1. Scholz, R. W., Tietje, O. 2002. Embedded case study methods: Integrating quantitative and qualitative knowledge. Thousand Oaks, CA, USA: Sage Publications.
2. Weatherford, R. 2011. “Anime for Architects.” D. Arch. thesis, University of Hawaii at Manoa, School of Architecture.
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Stages of
Historical Research

1. Identify a researchable phenomenon

2. Developing Hypotheses

3. Collection of Data

4. Check and Verify

5. Writing of the Report

1. Rieh, S. 2007. “Creating Sense of Place in School Environments: The Lived Experience of Elementary School Children in Hawaii.” D. Arch. thesis,
University of Hawaii at Manoa, School of Architecture.
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Types of Historical Research

1. Life History
2. Autobiography Narrative
3. Oral history
4. Case Study
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Historical Research

Characteristics:

• History research brings into view something

from the past
• Interpretation
• Narrative
• The cultural turn – Multiple point of view
• The spatial turn

Tactics:
• On‐site familiarity.
• Use of documents.
• Visual comparison
• Material evidence.
• Comparison with conditions elsewhere.
• Local informants and lore.
• Reenactment/testimonial.
• Identification of remaining questions.
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Implementation in Design

1. Formulate an idea
to find the idea and figure out the research
question.

2. Formulate a plan
where to find sources and how to approach
them.

3. Gather data
try to get everything that relates to the
question.

4. Analyze data
go through the collected data and try to
answer the question more directly.

5. Analyze the sources of data

analyze the veracity of the data. primary
source, secondary source.
1. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22, 2017, from http://study.com/academy/lesson/historical-research-design-definition-advantages-limitations.html
2. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22, 2017, from https://www.ischool.utexas.edu/~palmquis/courses/historical.htm
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Example: Imagination Of Somapura Mahavihara

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Strength

• study evidence from the past

• wider range of evidence than most other methods
• provides an alternative and richer source of information on topics
• Permits the investigation of topics

Weakness

• possibility of biasness.
• Only give a fractional view of the past
• Requires a different method and interpretation because of its
elusive subject matter
• Absence of technical terminology
• Historians cannot agree on generalizations
• derived from the surviving records,
• depends on valuable materials which are difficult to preserve.
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QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Characteristics:
 The natural setting is a direct source for the research.
 Data collection is in the form of words or pictures.
 Special interest in the participants’ thoughts.

Tactics:
 Interviews & Open-Ended Response Formats.
 Observations.
 Artifacts and Sites.
 Archival Documents.

Implementation in Design:

Design Design
Information Outcome
Inquiry
(Variables)
Source
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Strength:
 Interpretation in particular settings, situations and conditions.
 Data rich in description.
 Concepts derives from the data itself.

Weakness:
 Challenge of dealing with vast quantities of data.
 Access to samples.
 Time consuming.
 Relationship between the researcher and the participant.
 Verification.
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CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
Characteristics
•It investigates the possibility of relationships between variables
•Describes the degree to which two or more quantitative variables are related
Tactics:

Focus on Measurement Use of statistics to

naturally of specific clarify patterns of
occurring variables relationships among
patterns. variables.

Demograp
hical Ordinal Interval and
study Scale ratio scales.
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Implementation in Design:

Deduction Induction Hypothetically

• Starts with • Works from a Deductively
generalization, particular
moves towards situation • Works back and
observation to a general one. forth in an
iterative process
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Examples:

Space hierarchy in
multilevel dwelling

Four Major
Elements
Q1: Community
attachments
Q2: Pedestrianism
Q4: Social
interaction
Q7: Community
identity

Plans of Brownville and

Van Dyke Houses
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Strength
• It allows the researcher to analyze the relationship among a large
number of variables
• Correlation coefficients can provide for the degree and direction of
relationships

Weakness
• Can Clarify the relationship among variables. Can not control the two or
more naturally occurring variables.
• Suitable for a broader perspective, not in depth analysis.
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EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
Characteristics:
• The use of independent variables & measurement of outcome or dependent variables
• A clear unit of assignment (to the treatment) [random assignment-experimental; non
random-quasi-experimental]
• The use of a comparison (or control) group
• A focus on causality

Tactics:

Treatment or
Study Setting Outcome Measures – Design decision
Simulation

Fig: experiment in Fig: Modelling of a Fig: ‘Structure and Experiment’ at Headquarters of the Marcedez Benz (MBVD)
pentagonism modular Lighthouse by Virginia
residential Woolf
construction
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Implementation in Design (Achten, H. H.:2009)

Fig: Traditional experimental

design process

Fig: Simulation as Design

• Achten, H. H. (2009). Experimental design methods—a review. International Journal of Driver
Architectural Computing, 7(4), 505-534.
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Examples

1. Croxford, B., Penn,A. and Hillier, B. (1996). Spatial distribution of urban pollution: civilizing urban traffic.The science of the total
environment 189/190 (october): pp. 3-9.
2. Hillier, B. and Hanson, J. (1984).The social logic of space, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
3. Davis, L.S. and Benedikt, M.L. (1979). Computational models of space: isovists and isovist fields, Computer graphics and image processing
11(1): pp. 49-72.
4. Tabak,Vincent (2008). User Simulation of Space Utilisation – System for Office Building Usage Simulation. PhD Thesis, Eindhoven:
Eindhoven University of Technology.
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Examples

1. Gün, Onur Yüce (2007) Composing the Bits of Surfaces in Architectural Practice, In Kieferle, J. and Ehlers, K.(eds.): Predicting the Future: Proceedings of
the 25th International Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe. Frankfurt: Fachhochschule Frankfurt,
pp. 859-868.

1. Achten, Henri and Joosen, Gijs (2003).The Digital Design Process – Reflections on a Single Design Case. In Dokonal,W. and Hirschberg, U. (eds.): Digital
Design - Proceedings of the 21st International eCAADe Conference. Graz: Graz University of Technology. pp. 269-274.
2. 53. Bonwetsch,Tobias; Bärtschi, Ralph; Kobel, Daniel; Gramazio, Fabio; Kohler, Matthias (2007) Digitally Fabricating Tilted Holes, In Kieferle, J. and
Ehlers, K. (eds.) Predicting the Future: Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural
Design in Europe. Frankfurt: Fachhochschule Frankfurt, pp. 793-799
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Strengths
• Establishing causality (cause and effect relationship or parametric)
• Generalizing results to other settings and phenomena
• Control on overall experimental design aspects

Weaknesses
• Overgeneralization to different ethnic, gender population
• Ethical problems, dehumanization.
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SIMULATION RESEARCH
•Imitation of a real-world process or system
•a model be developed
•this model represents the key characteristics, behaviors and functions
•whereas the simulation represents the operation of the system

3D simulation of a Grain Terminal Model.

Human-in-the-loop simulation of outer space
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Characteristics

• one system through the use of another system, especially a computer program designed for
the purpose.
• simulation as an architectural research strategy; computer technology has enormously
expanded.
• “Building information modeling,” understood in its generic sense, not only dynamically
models buildings spatially and operationally in 3D, it can also model construction
management sequences of a building project (called 4D), life‐cycle factors projected over
longer periods of time, and project costs in real time (called 5D).

Example
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Tactics Implementation in Design

Literature Review

Problem Definition

Conceptual Modeling

Mathematical Modeling

Model Validation ( real data test)

Model Simulation ( analyzing the behaviors)

Scenario Analysis

Outcome measures
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Strength
• Simulation research is able to capture complexity without reducing to a limited number
of discrete variables.
• This research strategy provides a variety of ways of understanding future behavior.
• Because all research strategies involve the ‘real world’ in some way, simulation tends to
be useful to a variety of other strategies.

Weakness
• The project of replicating a slice of the real world is necessarily limiting (never ‘complete’).
• Particular limitations include lack of spontaneity in role-playing, or the challenges
associated with coding aspects of human behavior into computer equivalents.
• Simulation research can become very expensive very fast.
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LOGICAL ARGUMENTATION
Characteristics
• Attempts to place a well documented thing within a
systematic framework that explains the thing.
• ‘Works’ are recognized as ‘Research’ by logical
argumentation.
• Frequently implicit; often the frameworks are not explicitly
called logical argumentation.

Tactics
• Studies to generate various factors
• Factors being proposed as the First Principles in a logical
framework Fig: From Hillier and Hansen,
• Critical assessment of the principle The Social Logic of Space
• Thus, development of a systematic framework

Fig: The Spectrum of Logical Argumentation

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Examples

Fig: The six “S” categories of Stewart Brand’s

theory for the rate at which building layers
change.
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Strength
• Logical argumentation identifies first principle as a common denominator for a wide
variety of factors and provides a framework that ties them together into a conceptual
system that can describe, explain and predict within its area of concern
• Useful as a tactic for arranging fundamental principles coherently.

Weakness
• A logical system may not be an accurate representation of the reality it purports to
explain and yet still be internally consistent from a logical point of view.
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Case study and Combined Research

Characteristics

• Contain one or more other research

approaches
• A focus on either single or multiple cases,
studied in their real‐life contexts
• The capacity to explain causal links
(why/how - questions)
• The importance of theory development in
the research design phase
• Reliance on multiple sources of evidence
• Power to generalize to theory

Tactics

Integrate
Select Reach for a
Make With Note the
Several general set of
comparison multiple relations
Cases observations
Data source
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Implementation in Design
• To know the environment and micro climate
• To explain user behavior and requirements

Comparison
• To study about utility and space enhancement
• To analyze form and function
• To study about planning and circulation and
other architectural features (structure, building
service, etc.)

Strength
• Focus on the context
• Capacity to explain causal links
• Richness of multiple data sources
• Ability to generalize to theory
• Compelling and convincing when done well

Weakness
• Potential for over complication
• Challenge of integrating many data source
• Fewer established rules and procedures than other research
designs
• Difficult to do well
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Moreover…

Characteristics of a Research
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References
1. Groat, L. N., & Wang, D. (2013). Architectural research methods. John Wiley & Sons.
2. Lundberg, George A., 1942, Social Research-A Study in Methods of Gathering Data (2nd ed.), New York, Longmans, Green & Co.
3. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22, 2017, from http://study.com/academy/lesson/historical-research-design-definition-advantages-
limitations.html
4. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22, 2017, from https://www.ischool.utexas.edu/~palmquis/courses/historical.htm
5. Rieh, S. 2007. “Creating Sense of Place in School Environments: The Lived Experience of Elementary School Children in Hawaii.”
D. Arch. thesis, University of Hawaii at Manoa, School of Architecture.
6. Salomon, D. "Experimental Cultures: On the End of the Design Thesis and the Rise of the Research Studio." Journal of
Architectural Education, Vol. 65, Issue 1 (2011), 33-44.

7. Scholz, R. W., Tietje, O. 2002. Embedded case study methods: Integrating quantitative and qualitative knowledge. Thousand
Oaks, CA, USA: Sage Publications.
8. Weatherford, R. 2011. “Anime for Architects.” D. Arch. thesis, University of Hawaii at Manoa, School of Architecture.
9. Achten, H. H. (2009). Experimental design methods—a review. International Journal of Architectural Computing, 7(4), 505-534.
10. Croxford, B., Penn,A. and Hillier, B. (1996). Spatial distribution of urban pollution: civilizing urban traffic.The science of the total
environment 189/190 (october): pp. 3-9.
11. Hillier, B. and Hanson, J. (1984).The social logic of space, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
12. Davis, L.S. and Benedikt, M.L. (1979). Computational models of space: isovists and isovist fields, Computer graphics and image
processing 11(1): pp. 49-72.
13. Tabak,Vincent (2008). User Simulation of Space Utilisation – System for Office Building Usage Simulation. PhD Thesis,
Eindhoven: Eindhoven University of Technology.
14. Achten, Henri and Joosen, Gijs (2003).The Digital Design Process – Reflections on a Single Design Case. In Dokonal,W. and
Hirschberg, U. (eds.): Digital Design - Proceedings of the 21st International eCAADe Conference. Graz: Graz University of
Technology. pp. 269-274.
15. 53. Bonwetsch,Tobias; Bärtschi, Ralph; Kobel, Daniel; Gramazio, Fabio; Kohler, Matthias (2007) Digitally Fabricating Tilted Holes,
In Kieferle, J. and Ehlers, K. (eds.) Predicting the Future: Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Education and
Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe. Frankfurt: Fachhochschule Frankfurt, pp. 793-799
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Thank You
Mohammad Syedur Rahman Bhuiyan, Studio X, KUAD,
Khulna University, Khulna