Design Education and Learning
Global Flows of Materials: Design Research and Practice in Architecture
Janet McGaw
University of Melbourne
mcgawjk@unimelb.edu.au
Keywords: design research, architecture, globalisation, locavore
Abstract
This paper presents a pedagogical approach to teaching architectural studios that begins with spatial and material design research into the socio-cultural consequences of the global flows of building materials. This work responds to the challenge set by architectural theorist, Peg Rawes, to consider ‘relational architectural ecologies’ within design. She has argued that sustainability research in architecture has been siloed within building science and, as a consequence, has been addressed through technological approaches without due consideration to social ‘ecologies’. Students design research work, which innovatively re-imagines sustainable futures, is discussed.
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Cite this paper: McGaw, J. (2016). Global Flows of Materials: Design Research and Practice in Architecture. Proceedings of DRS 2016, Design Research Society 50th Anniversary Conference. Brighton, UK, 27–30 June 2016.
This paper will be presented at DRS2016, find it in the conference programme