Suburban Realism: Design Practice Research and Making Civic Wonder

Background: In her research project at Princeton University titled ‘Radical Pedagogies in Architectural Education’ Beatriz Colomina asserts that the discipline can best be changed by revolutionizing the way it is taught (see AR 28.09.2012). There are objectively few texts that contribute to knowledge on contemporary architectural design education and the design studio. Some recent exceptions include ‘Radical Pedagogies’ (2015) Harriet Harris ed. and Studio Futures: Changing Trajectories in Architectural Education ed by Bates, Mitsogianni, Ramirez (2015). Contribution: The essay contributes new knowledge in the area of architectural design pedagogy by expanding on the role of design-practice research partnered with industry across a number of iterations and demonstrating how these can be structured to contribute new knowledge for Melbourne’s outer suburban areas – specifically new propositions for a contemporary civic. Significance: This creative textual work is an invited catalogue essay for the Suburban Realism: Scale Ability Exhibition - curated by Dean Boothroyd, Leona Dusanovic and Esteban Montesinos - which was part of the NGV Melbourne Design Week 2021 curated by Timothy Moore (whose theme was ‘Design the world you want’). It was exhibited in the RMIT Design Hub and is available online as a PDF via QR code link from the exhibition. The NGV is a highly esteemed gallery and Dean Boothroyd (now at Estate Planning and Development at the University of Melbourne) and Timothy Moore (Monash University) significant local curators. The Suburban Realism Exhibition was accompanied by a symposium with numerous esteemed participants (refer to website). The areas of architectural design pedagogy and generating design research from the design studio are under represented in contemporary architectural research. This text provides case study evidence which contributes new and original knowledge to this field – made public via an esteemed exhibition and online.