Architecture

We conduct high-impact, multidisciplinary research that encompasses the following broad areas of research: Urban Planning and Design, Architectural Design and Sustainable Housing, and History of Architecture and Built Heritage. We share an interest in the ecological and cultural sustainability of the built environment and the social significance of space. Research areas are connected to our teaching activities and doctoral research, where students, teachers and researchers work together in an international environment.

Architectural Design and Sustainable Housing

In the architectural design area, researchers aim to achieve meaningful societal change through two research groups:

Sustainable Housing research (ASUTUT) investigates and re-imagines new approaches to housing design and its spatial and architectural quality in an ever-changing world. Priorities include adaptable and accessible housing, different models of co-housing and shared spaces, energy efficient housing and user satisfaction and dwellers health and well-being.

ASUTUT – Sustainable Housing Design Research Group

SPREAD (Spatial & Speculative Research in Architectural Design) weaves together theoretical, historical, practice-based, social and scientific research to explore new ways of relating architectural practice and theory. SPREAD speculates and reflects on spatial qualities in architecture by exploring theory and investigating architectural criticism and design processes and methods.

SPREAD – Spatial & Speculative Research in Architectural Design

History of Architecture and Built Heritage

Our research on architectural heritage management aims to preserve and develop a culturally and ecologically sustainable built environment. Our research focuses on the tradition of wood construction, the values of building protection, the history of modern architecture, the sustainable use and development of the building stock, especially in suburban renovation and the reuse of concrete elements, and promoting the competitiveness of Finnish large-scale industrial wood construction as part of the bioeconomy and sustainable development. Research is carried out in cooperation with, for example, Civil Engineering. We aim to promote the preservation of the cultural, economic and functional value of the built environment in sustainable ways.

Management of Built Heritage
 

Urban Planning and Design

Our research in urban planning focuses in particular on the different aspects of planning and the development of cities and urban areas. Research priorities include research into planning systems and practices, expression of space and power in urban planning, urban experiences including mobility and public space in cities, comprehensive development of the built environment in a forward-thinking manner, innovative methods of joint development, and research into the history of urban planning. Our research is multidisciplinary in nature and is carried out in a close cooperation with, for example, geography, transport planning, sociology,management sciences, economics and environmental psychology, including comparative case studies and critical transfer of practices from one context to another. We are looking for new practices and methods to improve user orientation and resource efficiency of the built environment.

Urban Planning and Design

Seinäjoki Urban Laboratory