ABSTRACT

Architectural practices worldwide have to deal with increasingly complex design requirements. How do practices acquire the ability to do so?

The Changing Shape of Practice provides a handbook of examples for practices that wish to integrate more research into their work and a reference book for students that seek to prepare themselves for the changing shape of practice in architecture.

It addresses the increasing integration of research undertaken in architectural practices of different sizes ranging from small to very large practices from the UK, USA, Europe and Asia. The book is organized according to the size of the practices which is significant in that it addresses the different structures and resourcing requirements that are enabled by specific practice sizes, as this determines and constrains the type, scope and modes of research available to a given practice. The practices covered include:

Woods Bagot
Perkins + Will
White
AECOM
UN Studio
Shop Architects
PLP Architecture
Kieran Timberlake
3XN
ONL
AZPML
Thomas Herzog + Partners
Herreros Arquitectos
Spacescape
OCEAN Design Research Association

By taking stock of the current shape of practice, the book provides essential information for professional architects who are integrating research into their practice.

part 1|46 pages

700+ employees

chapter 1|12 pages

AECOM

AECOM global sports: Rio Olympic Games Barra Park

chapter 2|11 pages

Perkins+Will

Research mechanisms and projects at Perkins+Will

chapter 3|11 pages

White

Integrated networks of knowledge in architectural practice: research as strategic tools for design and work culture of White Architects

chapter 4|11 pages

Woods Bagot

User-experience typologies of space

part 2|61 pages

Up to 100 and 100+ employees

chapter 5|13 pages

KieranTimberlake

Researching: KieranTimberlake's design ethic

chapter 6|13 pages

PLP Architecture

Accessing the Future

chapter 7|11 pages

SHoP

Make it whole: on valuing means and ends in the practice of SHoP

chapter 8|11 pages

3XN/GXN

GXN: a new model for green collaborations through research in practice

chapter 9|12 pages

UNStudio

Research and the ritual of sharing in the practice of UNStudio

part 3|58 pages

Fewer than 25 employees

chapter 10|9 pages

Thomas Herzog Architekten (until 2012 Herzog + Partner)

Reflections on the paradigm of solar architecture

chapter 12|10 pages

Herreros Arquitectos

chapter 13|9 pages

ONL – Oosterhuis_Lénárd

Continuous variation

chapter 14|12 pages

Spacescape

Urban research and design

part 4|14 pages

Special case

chapter 15|13 pages

OCEAN Design Research Association

The futures of practices