In its staff and postgraduate research, as well as in its teaching, the School of Architecture is committed to the University of Tasmania’s EDGE agenda: Excellence, Distinctiveness, Growth and Engagement. In our research, we aim for Excellence in our projects and their outcomes; for Distinctiveness in what we do and how we do it; for Growth in personal and collective terms; and for Engagement with our local, regional, national and professional communities.
The School has many active researchers on the staff, as well as post-graduate students. Our research involves a wide variety of projects and outcomes, ranging from complex computer and scientific modelling related to building design and performance, through scholarly publications in history and theory, to commercially related technical investigations and applications.
The complexity and inter-relatedness of the strands comprising the profession of architecture means that research in architecture and related fields is very often interdisciplinary in nature. There are three broad areas of research in which the School has a special interest: Ecologically Sustainable Development; History and Theory of Architecture, Landscape and Urbanism; and Timber in Design and Construction.
CSAW is composed of a tight knit, highly experienced team of architects, engineers, wood products industry practitioners and support personnel who work closely with the building design professions throughout Australia and the Tasmanian & Australia timber industry. The Centre aims to foster the use of timber as a building material that is efficient, economic, environmentally sustainable and socially responsible. Originally stemming from an active research unit, CSAW now offers a wide range of research and educational skills to the timber industry, building design professions, building industry and beyond.
Current research in architectural and design histories and theories is concentrated in areas of indigenous interiority, colonial architectural history, Australian architecture, heritage and conservation, landscape and urban histories and theories.
The School of Architecture & Design is committed to the advancement of environmentally and socially sustainable futures. The built environment, through its design, construction and operation, is now recognised as being one of the most significant contributors to global warming. The School has a long history of research into environmentally sustainable design with several staff actively researching in this area for more than two decades.
This cluster of research activities is based on the development of teaching practice in both conventional studio-based environments and 'live' projects, where students are situated between the academic institution and a real community. Research in this area includes 'design as research', creative works, and innovations in design studio teaching.
