Design as a ­­Research Practice

Dietmar Eberle also presented his method of design, which he teaches at his Chair at the ETH Zurich. It uses location as the starting point for consideration, from where design variables such as structure, envelope, programme and materials can be developed. These ideas have been compiled in his book “9 x 9 – A Method of Design: From City to House Continued” (Birkhäuser, Basel, 2018).

Dietmar Eberle’s lecture at the Oskar von Miller Forum was part of the international Research Perspectives in Architecture conference held on 4 and 5 July 2019 at the Vorhoelzer Forum of the Department of Architecture at the Technical University of Munich.

The lecture addressed the topic of design research and the question of whether and how architects should engage in research. In Eberle’s view, the discussion at most universities is today suspended between the polarities of doctoral thesis and built architecture.