Radek Toman et al

Research through Design or Research for Design? Trajectories of Artistic Research in Architectural Education

Authors: Radek Toman, Brno University of Technology; Karin Písaříková, Brno University of Technology; Roman Warta, Brno University of Technology; Markéta Marie Elbel, Brno University of Technology; Kateřina Hrubá, Brno University of Technology; Tereza Čamborová, Brno University of Technology

Abstract

Based on two consecutive diploma projects at the Faculty of Architecture, Brno University of Technology, the text demonstrates how artistic research and architectural design evolve as intertwined, non-linear trajectories rather than as sequential or hierarchical phases. Through observation, immersive fieldwork, collectively authored publications, and parallel design development, research and design continuously inform and transform one another. The article situates this approach within ongoing debates on the closer integration of research and design, arguing that their productive tension should be maintained rather than resolved. By foregrounding the connection between research, authorial interpretation, collaborative knowledge production, and the architectural design process, the contribution proposes a transferable model for education capable of critically engaging with up-to-date urban challenges.