Axonometric drawings as exploratory design research tools: A case study of the social production of space of the streets in the Baqaa Refugee Camp, Jordan

Daradkeh, Luma and Wulff, Federico ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7469-1954 2023. Axonometric drawings as exploratory design research tools: A case study of the social production of space of the streets in the Baqaa Refugee Camp, Jordan. Presented at: Association of Architectural Educators 7th international conference, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, 12-15 July 2023. Published in: McVicar, Mhairi ed. Productive-disruptive: Spaces of exploration in-between architectural pedagogy and practice. Proceedings AAE 2023. Cardiff University: Cardiff University, pp. 148-159.

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Abstract

In recent times, there has been a growing interest in studying the gap between architectural education and architectural practice, reflected in the development of a design research academic agenda at postgraduate teaching and research levels. However, little is known about PhD research as part of education and its relation to practice. Therefore, this was a productive force to develop design research tools that aim to bridge this gap specifically within doctoral research. The study presented in this article is part of an ongoing doctorate research and learning process using design research tools, techniques, and methods combined with classical research methods. The specific objective of this research is to investigate the social production of the street space of the Baqaa refugee camp in Jordan, using axonometric drawings as exploratory design research tools that represent this case study. These axonometric drawings used different layers of representation that are related to the Lefebvrian spatial triad and spatial thinking. This helps to frame real existing architectural problems by examining architectural theories informing the multi-dimensional process of production of spaces via social relationships and their resulting practices over time. Therefore, this research thematically analysed semi-structured interviews to depict the local inhabitant's narratives and their associated social practices, including detailed information about the living experience in the streets of refugee camps. These were then processed into successive and timewise axonometric drawings to facilitate the understanding of the intangible real-life situation within the space of the camp over time. This research found that the street space of the refugee camp went through three phases of living experience. When comparing these phases, it resulted in the exploration of refugee-led spatial and social transformations, which was successful in phase 2. Consequently, it helped to shift the understanding of social production processes in the streets in a deeper way than the classical thematic analysis would not explore. This approach of applying classical research methods to axonometric drawings helps students to systematically and theoretically address real-world architectural problems that can fulfil the student's design thinking and thus project design or planning in their future practice.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Architecture
Subjects:	L Education > LC Special aspects of education N Fine Arts > NA Architecture
Publisher:	Cardiff University
ISBN:	1-899895-28-0
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	6 October 2023
Date of Acceptance:	May 2023
Last Modified:	31 May 2024 21:13
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/163014

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