Research by Design in Architecture: Criteria, Taxonomy and Scientific Validation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5821/jida.2025.13655Keywords:
project-based research, research by design, architectural design research, methodology, scientific validationAbstract
The expression Research by Design (RbD) has gained prominence in architectural education and doctoral programs, yet it remains marked by terminological and methodological ambiguity. This paper critically reviews the main typologies describing the relationship between research and design (Frayling, Archer, Margolin, Findeli, Buchanan, Bignon, Till) and proposes a comparative synthesis that organizes these categories into three domains: into, for, and through/by design. Building on this analysis, the concept of Architectural Design Research (ADR) is introduced as a disciplinary framework capable of systematizing project-based research in architecture. The proposal incorporates scientific validation criteria (novelty, creativity, uncertainty, systematicity, transferability) and their pedagogical application in undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. The aim is to reinforce the legitimacy of design as a form of knowledge production and to contribute to the methodological consolidation of RbD within contemporary architectural research.
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