Research
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.
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Research directions
Our research directions address the University's three broad research areas: understanding our place and purpose, fostering health and wellbeing, and supporting sustainability and resilience.
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Research Projects
The Faculty undertakes research that understands how we create and live in cities, landscapes and buildings. Explore our broad range of current and completed research projects.
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Graduate research
Melbourne School of Design has an international reputation for excellence in graduate research. Our researchers are experienced scholars, leading debate and engaging with industry, policy-makers and the community towards real-world outcomes.
Research Hubs, Labs and Centres
Collaborative groups, research hubs, centres and institutes embedded within the Faculty bring together experts who are internationally recognised leaders in their fields.
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Advanced Digital Design + Fabrication
ADD+F is a research hub that explores the relationship between design and technology and its impact on the built environment, following a multi-disciplinary approach including data-driven design, 3D printing, robotic, and mixed reality environments.
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Australian Centre for Architectural History, Urban and Cultural Heritage
The Australian Centre for Architectural History, Urban and Cultural Heritage (ACAHUCH) provides an international perspective on research and teaching in architectural history and heritage with a particular emphasis on Australia and the Asia-Pacific.
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Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network
The Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN) is an initiative of the Australian Government under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and associated programmes.
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Melbourne Centre for Cities
The Melbourne Centre for Cities is a centre of excellence designed to address the challenges that city leadership faces, and the information it needs, in an interconnected and increasingly urbanised planet.
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Critical Research in Digital Architecture
The research group CRIDA engages in digital research and teaching projects as vehicles for critical inquiry and development of innovative design practices at various scales supported by digital media in architecture, urban design, landscape and environmental design.
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InfUr- Informal Urbanism Research Hub
The InfUr- Hub engages in multi-disciplinary research on the informal (self-organized) design and planning of cities - from informal settlements of the Global south to citizen-driven planning in the global North.
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Learning Environments Applied Research Network
LEaRN is an international network that brings together academia and industry to research, imagine and discuss physical learning environments in school, vocational, university, medical and corporate contexts.
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The Retrofit Lab
The Retrofit Lab is a Research and Innovation Laboratory activating the transition of Melbourne's buildings, infrastructure and landscapes for a healthy, sustainable, and resilient city.
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Sustainable and Healthy Environments Lab
A lab specialised in developing applied research aimed at understanding how the built environment can improve sustainability and health through the design of high performance spaces.
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Thrive Research Hub
A hub for industry-relevant research on design and innovation for sustainable, thriving built environments. Carrying out applied trans-disciplinary research that investigates thriving in cities and develops real world solutions for the built environment.
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Transport, Health and Urban Design Research Lab
The aim of the Transport, Health and Urban Design Research Lab (THUD) is to explore the effects of urban form and transport on the health of the residents of cities.

Transforming Housing: Affordable Housing for All
This project seeks to build partnerships to transform Melbourne’s housing industry, in order to meet social justice, economic resilience and environmental sustainability challenges facing Melbourne and Australia.