Design, Theory and Practice (DTP)

Group Leader(s): Professor Marcel Vellinga

About us

The Design, Theory and Practice (DTP) group undertakes design research produced inside and outside the discipline of architecture in order to facilitate the advancement of architectural research as a creative practice. The group explores the relationship between the theory and practice of design-based research in architecture.

Members of the group undertake research using methods typically used in architectural design as well as methods from other disciplines including:

architectural drawing/ modelling/ prototyping
painting and non-architectural drawing
film making; photography
creative writing
digital fabrication.

The research focuses on places and buildings in a variety of contexts around the world and aims to be grounded in the communities that participate in it.

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Part of

School of Architecture

Related courses

Architecture (BA (Hons))
Architecture (MPhil / PhD / PhD by Practice / PhD by Published Work / Research Degree involving Creative Work)
Applied Design in Architecture (ARB and RIBA part 2) (MArchD)
Architecture (MArch)
Digital Craft in Architecture (MA)
Interior Architecture (BA (Hons))

Research impact

The research done in the Design, Theory and Practice group informs professional practice and explores the relationship between theory and built form. The projects are wide ranging and look at a broad spectrum of topics, including:

therapeutic environments
live projects
digital fabrication
cultures of practice.

Using an evidence-based approach, and in collaboration with charities, local communities, industry partners and governments, the research has resulted in the improvement of the nature, efficacy and inclusivity of architectural environments in contexts as diverse as cancer centres, courtrooms, local neighbourhoods and arctic environments.

Leadership

Professor Marcel Vellinga

Professor of Anthropology of Architecture

View profile

Membership

Staff

Staff

Name	Role	Email
Professor Jane Anderson	Programme Lead for Undergraduate Architecture	j.anderson@brookes.ac.uk
Mr Justin Chapman	Lecturer	jchapman@brookes.ac.uk
Mr Joël Chappell	Senior Lecturer	jchappell@brookes.ac.uk
Ms Ruth Cuenca	Senior Lecturer	rcuenca@brookes.ac.uk
Hannah Durham	Lecturer	hdurham@brookes.ac.uk
Ms Christina Godiksen	Head of School	cgodiksen@brookes.ac.uk
Mike Halliwell	Lecturer in Architecture and Making	mhalliwell@brookes.ac.uk
Adam Holloway	Lecturer	aholloway@brookes.ac.uk
Mr Karl Kjelstrup-Johnson	Programme Lead - Apprenticeships	kkjelstrup-johnson@brookes.ac.uk
Mr Owen Pearce	Lecturer	opearce@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Andrea Placidi	Senior Lecturer and Subject Coordinator for Interior Architecture	aplacidi@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Daria Ricchi	Senior Lecturer in Architecture	dricchi@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Emma Rowden	Senior Lecturer	erowden@brookes.ac.uk
Mr Ralph Saull	Senior Lecturer	r.saull@brookes.ac.uk
Mr Toby Shew	Senior lecturer, M.Arch.D Design Lead	tshew@brookes.ac.uk
Mr Toby Smith	Senior Lecturer	tsmith@brookes.ac.uk
Mr Scott Sworts	Post-Graduate Programme Lead	ssworts@brookes.ac.uk
Mr Jon Tollit	Associate Lecturer	jtollit@brookes.ac.uk
Professor Marcel Vellinga	Professor of Anthropology of Architecture	mvellinga@brookes.ac.uk

Projects

Active projects

Project title and description	Investigator(s)	Funder(s)	Dates
Supporting Online Justice Covid-19 has forced radical changes upon the justice system with many trials taking place online from participants' homes, with no one being present in a physical courtroom. Through consultation with court users and the design of new online orientation content, this project addresses the lack of online support designed to prepare members of the public for appearing in court from their own home and to guide them around these new virtual spaces.	Dr Emma Rowden	ESRC	From: November 2020 Until: April 2022

Completed projects

Project title and description	Investigator(s)	Funder(s)	Dates
Maggie’s Cancer Centres The research team focus on the Maggie’s Centres buildings, their internal organisation and social interaction in order to assess the positive therapeutic impact of architecture in the context of a cancer support programme that aims to empower patients beyond traditional hospital settings.	Dr Andrea Placidi		From: September 2017 Until: March 2022