NEWS On 5 March, Umeå School of Architecture (UMA) held its annual Research Day, this year with a focus on research outcomes. The event, which gathered researchers and staff at Curiosum, offered a day filled with presentations and roundtable discussions.
UMA Research day provides a platform to present and discuss key research outcomes within Umeå School of Architecture. Designed as an interactive and participatory forum, the format includes presentations, Q&A sessions, and collective roundtable discussions, offering all staff members the opportunity to engage critically with ongoing research. This unique occasion strengthens the academic community but also allows for a focused exploration of both content and methodologies in architectural research.
To gain a better understanding of the purpose of the event, we asked Maria Luna Nobile, responsible for research at Umeå School of Architecture, a few questions:
1. The focus this year is on research outcomes, you asked the participants to present one specific fragment of their research. Why did you select this particular theme for this year's UMA Research Day?
Architecture is a discipline that operates at the intersection of the humanities, social sciences, technical sciences, and the arts. The research at UMA encompasses a wide range of approaches and topics, reflecting the richness and diversity of our academic production. Building upon the first research day held in 2024, this year’s theme shifted attention to research outcomes, inviting participants to present a specific fragment of their past year produced research. This approach enables us to engage in a more detailed discussion on the diversity of research outputs in architecture, a field where outcomes extend beyond academic publications, as is often the case in more practice-based disciplines. Throughout the day, we examined and debated various forms of research dissemination outcomes and ideas, including academic papers, monographs, and research applications ideas and outcomes. This perspective reinforces an understanding of architecture not merely as a field concerned with materials and building envelopes, but fundamentally as a discipline that explores how spaces are designed to be inhabited.
2. In your opinion, what aspects of the event were successful, and what conclusions can be drawn from it?
I believe that one of the most significant successes of the event was the openness and generosity of participants in fostering discussions about the potential of architectural research—particularly in how we communicate our findings to both the academic community and the wider public. Another key takeaway was the discussion on the impact of research on education. At UMA, research groups and educational design studios intersect to form a dynamic laboratory where theories, methodologies, and practices are continuously tested and refined.
3. In recent years, Umeå School of Architecture has prioritized strengthening the department's research environment. Can you describe this process briefly?
Umeå School of Architecture’s research environment focus on inquiry and experimentation. Its structure consists of four main thematic areas: architectural design, architectural history and theory + critical studies, landscape and urbanism, building costruction and materiality + computational design; and seven Research Groups with a strong focus on Architectural design, crossing one or more thematic areas and in line with Research Projects and Education. Each of the research group is looking from a specific lens at the most urgent aspects of the field of architectural research looking both at the Swedish, Nordic and international environment where everyone is always welcome to join and contribute.