New postdoc project explores alternative briefing techniques

On Oct 1st, Valerie Van der Linden starts a new research project that will explore alternative briefing techniques for architectural practice. The 1-year project is supported by a postdoctoral fellowship of the KU Leuven Research Fund (BOF), and will be supervised by Ann Heylighen.

In closing the growing distance between design(ers) and use(rs) in architectural practice, the briefing phase is hypothesised as a key area for innovation: as a crucial element to communicate use-related requirements, it has the potential to be broadened so as to include qualitative aspects that can foster innovation.

This project therefore seeks to explore the potential of alternative briefing techniques that can (a) assist in gaining insight into people’s experience in relation to the built environment and (b) communicate this insight in a design-relevant way in the briefing process. The case the project focuses on is the ‘Places of Solidarity in Public Space’ project, initiated by RuimteVeldWerk and LAVA architects in collaboration with Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen and awarded a BWMSTR LABEL 2019 by the Flemish Government Architect.