Research vs Project

In the work of Patrick Geddes

In the natural sciences, ‘research’ refers to the systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions. From a base of empirical hard data, one analyses and theorizes, supported by the information collected. Architectural research similarly involves a period of study that formulates into a conclusion, or theory that then further informs a project. Architects have always seen architectural research as being different from other forms of research, the result being the projection of the individual architect. But the fundamentals of research in any discipline basically entails the same. Biological research may result in conclusions on the evolutionary theory, research in physics may lead to theorizing about relativity, and architectural research may lead to a projection in the built environment. Patrick Geddes, who was a biologist, approaches town-planning and sociology with the same approach as he does biology. Research and ideas from one discipline feed the other, without differentiating between them. To Geddes, the evolutionary theory would apply to the organism, its social practices and its urban environment. To him, the urban environment represented the pinnacle of the human evolutionary potential. Cities, just like organisms have a need to adapt to their surroundings for their continual health and survival. “The environment acts, through function, upon the organism and conversely the organism acts, through function, upon the environment” - this explains his clear correlation between the biological sciences, sociology and town planning.

Not differentiating between different disciplines, allows Geddes to approach research and project as one, not separating one from the other. Research in biology, and the evolutionary sciences would lead to social experiments that are conducted in the urban reality, thus helping him formulate ideas about the built environment. Explained in this way, it seems that biology to sociology and town-planning is as logical a step as any in the formation of a research base, which would result in project. But the project is not seen as a conclusion of the research, but as a base upon which to project and ideate further, collecting empirical data, in order to understand the urban environment, in its current state of evolution. By basing his research on aspects that are more global and can be applied to all of mankind like the evolutionary theory, he then studies ‘the region’ or context of a place, including its topography, culture and societal customs. For Geddes, the result of both these researches can be said to be town-planning. Project to research is a linear step in an otherwise circular loop aimed at a better understanding. As is with the natural sciences, the goal is to have a better understanding of life. From the example of Patrick Geddes, the seemingly interdisciplinary nature of his work is not so on closer inspection. One discipline is not considered different from the other, but as one base of knowledge from which to formulate a theory. In current trends of architectural practice, there is a tendency to separate the different aspects of the built environment with each one headed by a specialist. In this case it becomes exceedingly difficult to understand different aspects and to combine theories from different disciplines. But can Geddes’ approach to research and project help architects understand better the environment that they affect through their practice? Architecture need not be viewed as different to other disciplines, as having a separate process and methodology. It can borrow from the long established methods of research and project in science, treating the process as a never-ending loop that is always evolving, one informing the other.

Berlage Centre for Advanced studies in Architecture and Urban Design; Proseminar, Sepember, 2016 - January 2017. Essay written as the conclusion of a proseminar with tutor Ido Avissar, studying the relation between Research and Project in the practice of selected architects.