Research
The Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning undertakes research that understands how we create and live in cities, landscapes and buildings.
Through our unique breadth and transdisciplinary focus, we carry out creative, fundamental and applied research projects into the past, present and future of our built and natural environments. Our research makes real and lasting impacts and critically informs the teaching of future generations of practitioners, researchers and designers.
The University of Melbourne has described three broad research areas for institutional focus: understanding our place and purpose; fostering health and wellbeing; and supporting sustainability and resilience. In our Faculty we are crucially placed to address all these complex problems, and have embraced them in our own research directions and challenges. Our research is led by expert individuals who are internationally recognised leaders in their fields, and in collaborative groups, and research centers and institutes embedded within the Faculty.
As testament to our strengths and diversity, in the 2012 Excellence in Research in Australia (ERA) assessment, the Faculty was awarded the highest rating for outstanding performance well above world standard (rated 5 and top nationally) for research in Architecture; and in Urban and Regional Planning (rated 4 and in the top four institutions nationally). Explore our web pages to discover more about the unique work we do.
ARCHITECTURAL AND URBAN PAST
Architecture, Urban and Landscape Histories; Australian Architecture and Architects; Heritage and Conservation, Theory and Meaning; Institutional Buildings; Societies and Space
CULTURAL AND SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES
Remote Landscapes and Regions; Productive Landscapes; Ecological Design; Climate Mitigation; Water and Fire; Cultural Landscape
DATA AND VALUE
Procurement; Urban and Spatial Data; Real Estate and Property; Risk and Resilience in Construction; Project and Information Management
DESIGN AND CREATIVE RESEARCH
Design Thinking; Creative Practice and Making; Exhibitions; Parametric Design; Participatory Design; Design Criticism; Design Pedagogy
FUTURE CITIES
Urban Governance and Management; Density; Housing; Urban Transport and Mobility; Productive and Creative Cities; Planning for Urban Resilience; Sustainability; Low Carbon Futures
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Health Facilities and Hospitals, Mobility; Inclusivity and Accessibility; Public Transport; Age and Child Friendly Communities; Public Health and Social Equity; Learning Facilities; Disaster Recovery
INDIGENOUS PLACE
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led Design; Building in Remote Communities; Indigenous Heritage and Tourism; Indigenous Housing
PRACTICE AND CONSTRUCTION INNOVATION
Digital Documentation, Design and Fabrication; Building Information Management (BIM); Professional Education, Training and Practice; Gender in Construction and Design Professions; Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Building