From science to practise

Every year DKK 100 bn are spent on building projects. Cities and buildings directly and specifically affect how we feel and how we function both individually and together, at work and in our leisure time. 

It is the responsibility of building research to develop knowledge that improves building and the built environment. The effect depends on whether the specific knowledge needed is available at the time when decisive choices are made. 

It is not rare to meet frustration among building researchers because already existing knowledge is not used sufficiently to improve buildings. It is maintained that many blunders and defects could otherwise be avoided. As an example it can be mentioned, that many office buildings are built with a poor physical working environment in spite of extensive research on light, acoustics and air conditions as well as human well-being.

 On this background one might ask whether research results, in spite of their thoroughness, end up collecting dust on the shelves. In the present project I intend to study how architects actually use knowledge that researchers have developed in order to improve Danish architecture and buildings.

 In the long term I plan to interview representatives of the different parties of the building sector – including local authorities, engineers and architects – and it is the intention to make detailed inquiries of how and to what extent they use research. In other words, I will try to clarify the knowledge-sharing that should take place between research and practicians.