Guest Editors Naomi Stead and Sandra Kaji-O’Grady

In this Dossier, we examine some models and motivations for design research in large architectural practices. We reflect on what kind of research might be conceptually and practically possible within the vicissitudes of sizeable commercial practice, given its scale (and the opportunities that brings), but equally given its economic and other constraints.

Large architectural practices in Australia are often interested in research in order to increase their market share, develop new markets, position themselves as “thought leaders,” develop niche expertise and specialization, build their reputation, generally improve their practice (including culture, retention and staff development) and contribute to better design and built outcomes. Not all of these objectives have financial ends; some are also altruistic or seek to advance knowledge in the discipline. But it’s fair to say that many of them are squarely commercial – as we would expect. What then is the potential of such research to contribute to new insights and new knowledge for the world more broadly? What research should large architecture practices be doing and what are they currently doing?

These were some of the questions we were considering when we came to edit this Dossier. We also had some specific objectives in mind. As academics, each leading architecture