ABSTRACT
A particularly laudable model is offered by the Netherlands' professional institute of architecture, the BNA. A research problem is identified by the institution working with stakeholders, who contribute money to a research fund for the exploration of that issue. The public life studies of Gehl Architects, based in Copenhagen, are emblematic of what is possible when practitioners and academics work together. The best way to incentivize practice academic collaboration is through funded research projects. Fortunately universities are working hard to make it easier for academics to collaborate with practice. Techniques include part-funded PhDs, fee waivers, industry-based visiting professors and industry placements for staff and students. The public life studies of Gehl Architects, based in Copenhagen, are emblematic of what is possible when practitioners and academics work together. A rather more laborious, but tailor-made, way of integrating practitioner and academic research is through the development of practice-based PhDs, sometimes fully funded.
