Title
Sustainability in PRACTICE l Social Science Perspectives on Architectural Design, Research & the Implementation of Building Solutions

Reception
 “…an interesting, well-written and well argued thesis, which brings together issues, theories and literatures from architecture, building science, urban geography and STS studies.”

“…a strongly critical stance is taken which is tested conceptually and technically within an interdisciplinary frame..”

“…both purposeful and considered, powerful in its critical position, but reflective in its claims.”

“…presents a strong case for the value of social perspectives on architectural design and building solutions that respond to climate change.”

”…a piece of research that is impactful beyond the University.”

“…contributes to new knowledge about the practice of developing sustainability policies and carbon reduction strategies for buildings and the built environment.”

Reviewers

Prof. Dr. Marianne Ryghaug, Norwegian University of Science & Technology
Deputy Director, Centre for Sustainable Energy Studies (CenSES)

Prof. Dr. Simon Guy, University of Manchester
Director, Manchester Architecture Research Centre
Head of School Environment, Education and Development / Head of Architecture

Prof. Dr. Steven A. Moore, University of Texas
Director, Graduate Program in Sustainable Design
Co-Director, Center for Sustainable Development

Thesis Summary
From 2010 – 2014, the project analyzed the relationships between architectural design, research and the implementation of green building solutions. In 2012 six months of fieldwork was underaken in Switzerland as an invited researcher to ETH Zürich’s Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED), Natural and Social Science Interface (NSSI). Grounded in Science and Technology Studies (STS), complementary social science approaches were explored through theoretical, experimental, methodological and empirical means. The primary findings of the thesis were developed from semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted with Swiss building industry experts which provided insight into the relationships between designers, researchers and public authorities in the Swiss context. Expert-reported challenges linked to technical dimensions of sustainable construction are discussed, as well as aspects of how research is being effectively translated into practice. Additionally, a series of examples from the empirical data highlighted how regulatory frictions and the challenges of implementing construction strategies into diverse domestic and international working contexts are being ameliorated.

The full document can be found here in the ETH Research Collection.