IN-PERSON Prague Research & Teaching Conference
Abstract
Traditionally, architectural studio education emphasizes individual problem-solving and project work guided by instructors, following a Beaux-Arts-inspired atelier model. However, an increasingly complex construction industry, involving diverse stakeholders from different disciplines and backgrounds, brings with it the need for collaborative approaches to design and problem-solving. Although this interdisciplinary collaboration is common in professional settings, it is not as widespread in architectural design studios at universities. A growing recognition to broaden the students’ perspectives beyond working individually in the design studio, necessitates knowledge exchange and constructive collaboration with other disciplines. This paper aims to provide an overview of the literature on interdisciplinary collaboration in architectural design studios. The study reviews 40 articles published within the last two decades from Scopus and Web of Science databases and examines the following: (1) the disciplines that architecture students collaborate with and their purpose; (2) the current practices of interdisciplinary collaboration and how it is undertaken; (3) the impacts of interdisciplinary collaboration on architecture students. This paper observed that architecture students collaborated more with planning and engineering disciplines to enhance their architectural design learning. The study highlights challenges faced, and skills acquired by students and suggests investigating new digital tools that support interdisciplinary collaboration. The study concludes with recommendations for assessing the overall impact of an interdisciplinary collaborative pedagogy on students’ wellbeing.
Annette Joseph – The author is an architectural graduate and educator pursuing a PhD in architecture at the University of Adelaide. She has worked in architectural firms in Kuwait, such as (KEO International Consultants, ARCHJS) and as an educator at several architectural institutions in India, including (Sushant School of Architecture, Gurgaon; Amity University, Kolkata & SCMS School of Architecture, Kochi).
Dr David Kroll holds a PhD from the University of London and has over 20 years of academic teaching experience with appointments held both in Australia and the UK. As practicing architect, he worked on the design of high-profile projects including: the Athletes’ Village in London (CF Møller Architects), the Darwin Centre Two at the Natural History Museum (nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award) and on the extension of Brisbane airport (Bligh Voller Neild Architects). His research focuses on sustainable design, housing and built heritage, and draws on methods in applied design research and architectural history and theory;
Dr Amit Srivastava is an architectural educator and director (India) for the Centre of Asian and Middle Eastern Architecture (CAMEA) based at the University of Adelaide, in Australia. His primary work focusses on the architectural and construction histories of colonial and postcolonial India;
Dr Ehsan Sharifi is a lecturer at the University of Adelaide, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering. He joined the school after completing three post-doc Research Associate positions at UniSA (Cooling Capacity of Green Infrastructures; School of ITMS), UNSW (Urban Cooling Guidelines; School of Built Environment) and the University of Adelaide (Urban Wind Engineering and Comfort; School of Mechanical Engineering). He achieved both his PhD in Architecture in Applied Science’ and ‘Masters of Sustainable Design’ from the University of South Australia. His PhD was part of a CRC for Low Carbon Living project on Urban Microclimates of Australian Cities (RP 2005; 2012-2015).
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Thursday 12th June, 2025