ABSTRACT
This book is based on a research project, the main objectives of which were: to
map out the scope of existing knowledge of relevance to wider social participa-
tion in the architectural design process; explore existing methods of fostering
forms of such participation; point to gaps in both knowledge and methods, and
in so doing propose an agenda for further research of national and international
relevance. As such, the work had an inductive focus, identifying key research
issues and gaps in knowledge for further investigation, as opposed to providing
any fully definitive responses. In addition, achieving a balance between concep-
tual analysis and review of professional practice (and related policy) has been
an essential aspect of both the research objectives and the methods imple-
mented in the study. Reporting on the study, this book thus aims to assist both
in theory-building as well as encouraging reflective practice and sites itself
within a transformative knowledge tradition. In this context, before discussing
the findings, some contextual background is required to clarify these trans-
formative aims.1
