What We Do
The Architecture Et cetera Lab (AEcL) seeks to provide access to future-focused research to the design community and build lasting relationships between practice and academia. AEcL is not a business, rather a research group based out of Griffith University aiming to become a widely accessible lab for practice-based research, innovation and debate, particularly for small-medium sized practices based on the Gold Coast, Northern Rivers and Brisbane regions. The three members of the AEcL are lecturers at Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus and have strong current links to design practice.
While the value of research and innovation in a design-based profession are largely recognised, architectural practices are faced with resource and time constraints that limit those activities. Despite small-medium sized practices being the most experimental, they are often also the most affected by those limitations. The Architecture Et cetera Lab aims to provide support to these practices in developing a structured and effective long term research practice that can fuel their innovative design. We aim to help these practices build a sustainable, innovative future. Our areas of focus include City making + Social Capital; Processes + Material Bodies; Criticality + Spatial Practices. The services we offer are based on knowledge and skill-based expertise.
research assistance
Assisting practices in responding to the design challenges put forth, through our design-research expertise. Specific areas of expertise include: the urban realm; community resilience; adaptation; radicality; temporality; material practices and making; processual frameworks and new materialism; architectural theory and philosophy; the body/ bodies
Facilitating critical conversations with practices through the act of a ‘pin up’ that is to encourage constructive feedback and reflective practice
Assist practices in structuring and disseminating their research
Assist practices in understanding the expressive potential of a design response. Expressive potential relates to the testing of aesthetic issues and critical thinking rather than practical research about technologies or local pragmatic constraints. This may include tactile research and the use of prototypes: materials and model making.
We believe that design-based research forms part of the project process as well as acting as a distinct practice activity. Design-based research can positively affect our common future and diversify the scope of services that a practice may offer.
For more information or to work with us please get in touch.
