TY - JOUR T1 - Transdisciplinary Research in the Built Environment: A Question of Time JF - Technology Innovation Management Review Y1 - 2018 A1 - Paula Femenías A1 - Liane Thuvander KW - built environment KW - consecutive projects KW - innovation processes KW - practical experiences KW - sustainable renovation KW - transdisciplinary research AB - In this article, we reflect on 14 years of experience with transdisciplinary research in the built environment. We critically consider challenges and pitfalls in relation to normative definitions of transdisciplinary research derived from the literature. Our experiences from five transdisciplinary research projects are presented with a focus on each project’s aim, size, organization of work, and funding. Results show that different kinds of transdisciplinary research approaches co-exist and that these can serve different purposes and situations. In most cases, transdisciplinary projects lead to raised levels of awareness of the complexity of real-world problems among participating partners. In some cases, the outcome is a useful innovation, in order to support such innovation, a focus on real cases is encouraged. However, there might be a trade-off between the focused attention on a real case and the maintained interest among diverse participants in a larger project. An important insight is that innovation and knowledge development through transdisciplinary settings take time. It is favourable for the development of networks, common visions, trust, and innovation if consecutive transdisciplinary projects can be arranged with the same partners. We conclude the article by providing practical guidelines to support the management of transdisciplinary projects. PB - Talent First Network CY - Ottawa VL - 8 UR - https://timreview.ca/article/1176 IS - 8 U1 - Chalmers University of Technology Paula Femenías is an Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. Femenías works mainly in transdisciplinary and collaborative research projects with the aim of understanding and supporting innovation towards more sustainable building and transformation of the built environment. A special interest is the links between architectural design and long-term environmental, economic, cultural, and social sustainability. Femenías conducts research with others within SIRen (strong research environment for Sustainable Integrated Renovation), the Centre for Residential Architecture at Chalmers, and HSB Living Lab. U2 - Chalmers University of Technology Liane Thuvander is an Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. Her research interests concern the field of sustainable building, especially with regards to the visualization of environmental and social aspects in existing buildings; sustainable integrated renovation; and implementation of sustainable building knowledge in practice. With others, she develops visualization strategies and methodologies for spatial value mapping involving participatory approaches in renovation and transformation of neighbourhoods. A major part of Thuvander’s research is carried out in interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary environments with partners from academia, municipalities, NGOs, authorities, and a number of actors in the construction sector such as property managers, architects, and technical consultants. ER - TY - JOUR T1 - The Habitation Lab: Using a Design Approach to Foster Innovation for Sustainable Living JF - Technology Innovation Management Review Y1 - 2013 A1 - Paula Femenías A1 - Pernilla Hagbert KW - experimentation KW - Habitation Lab KW - housing development KW - innovation KW - living labs KW - residing KW - sustainable AB - This article describes a first step towards a strategy for using living labs as a means to foster innovation and develop new concepts of sustainable living from an architectural point of view. The overall aim is to enable truly sustainable living through radically reduced energy and resource use thus addressing both environmental and social aspects of sustainability. Earlier research has shown that contemporary housing developments, including those with a sustainable profile, do not profoundly question modern lifestyles and consumption, which is a necessity to overcome limitations of a technological focus on environmental efficiency in construction. Thus, we see an opportunity for the discipline of architecture to engage in current investments in living lab facilities in order to push innovation in the field of sustainable housing. We introduce the concept of a "Habitation Lab", which will provide an arena for radical and high-risk design experimentation between users, building-sector actors, and academia, and we describe a case study of a planned Habitation Lab within a living lab facility where traditional solutions for daily living and habitation are questioned and new architectural innovations are explored and evaluated. The idea of using experimental activities in the field of housing is not new, and we argue that new investments should build on earlier experiences to avoid perpetuating misconceptions and repeating past failures. Furthermore, to ensure the dissemination and uptake of results, the design of the Habitation Lab should consider the innovation and learning trajectories of the building sector. We propose a transdisciplinary setting to provide a neutral arena for value creation and to increase the distribution of experiences. PB - Talent First Network CY - Ottawa VL - 3 UR - http://timreview.ca/article/741 IS - 11 U1 - Chalmers University of Technology Paula Femenías is an architect and Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. Paula works in several ongoing interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research projects focusing on innovation, development, and learning for more sustainable building. Her work includes developing the perspective of clients and owners and researching the specific challenges for redevelopment of the existing built environment from a multi-value and multi-interest perspective. U2 - Chalmers University of Technology Pernilla Hagbert is an architect and doctoral student within the Homes for Tomorrow research environment at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. With previous experience in planning and design, including design/build processes for constructing affordable housing, Pernilla's work addresses all scales of the development of more sustainable living environments. Her PhD research specifically examines the concept of home in light of and with regards to a global resource perspective, with the purpose of providing a framework for re-conceptualization of the sustainable home. ER -