In both research and pedagogy, the School of Architecture advances the theory and practice of critical design at all scales, from the interior to the city. In keeping with an institution that values innovative practice as well as academic research, design-led research is integrated with more conventional text-based enquiry.

The digital and the material are viewed inclusively, as extensions of each other, and researchers move between the two domains in the interests of conceptual innovation and impact in the world. Staff research pursues this integration in collaboration with internal and external research partners in two main subject areas: [pre]fabrication, which includes digital fabrication, prefabricated housing, advanced timber components, sustainable construction and typological innovation, and applied urbanism, which includes digital urbanism, ecological urbanism and the (built) culture of cities.

MPhil and PhD students join us as fellow researchers, some working directly to the School’s research themes, others pursuing their own research interests, from the subversion of the UK planning system to the photographing of Italian transport infrastructure. Supervisors are drawn from the School’s staff, from the College and from industry in response to the diversity of subjects, and there is competitive funding available for prospective students.

Professor Susannah Hagan
Research Leader, School of Architecture
architecture-research@rca.ac.uk