Drawing-led Research in Architecture: Reflecting on Spatialisation, Mediation, Performance

This proposed volume positions drawing as a critical research method in architecture, moving beyond its traditional role as a representational tool to one of speculation, exploration, and knowledge production. Bringing together a diverse international group of practitioners, the book examines drawing through three interconnected frameworks: spatialisation, mediation, and performance, which collectively map contemporary drawing practices and their contribution to design research.

The volume highlights how drawing can generate new meanings, challenge disciplinary conventions, and investigate both physical and cultural contexts. Structured as a series of short, stand-alone chapters derived from conversational exchanges with practitioners, it fosters dialogue across career stages, geographies, and methodologies. Each chapter centres on a single drawing as a lens into practice-based research, combining visual material with reflective writing.

Overall, the book aims to expand architectural research methods by foregrounding drawing as a dynamic, process-driven, and interdisciplinary mode of inquiry.