Transdisciplinary charrettes: A research method for sustainable design

As the largest consumer of resources globally, the construction industry faces significant challenges due to future changes in resource availability. How might this complex industry achieve reduction of resource consumption and waste given the disconnections existing between stakeholders in the building procurement process and the persistence of discipline based knowledge? This question is among many being addressed by a current Australian Research Council funded research project entitled ‘Reconsidering Sustainable Building and Design: A Cultural Change Approach.’ The project involves ten partners from government and industry, and academic partners in China and Germany. A feature of the project is the introduction of transdisciplinary charrettes to transcend disciplinary knowledge boundaries and promote innovation. Design charrettes have a long history in the architecture profession and are effectively employed in transdisciplinary planning and building projects worldwide. The project intends to employ a charrette based method for data collection and analysis. Scant literature exists in relation to such a research method. Hence, a literature review has been undertaken to differentiate the charrettes models currently employed in design and consultation; observing attributes of each relevant the research process. This paper discusses the outcomes of the review and outlines how this information will be employed in the project to achieve effective reduction of waste in the construction industry. The resultant ‘Charrette Methodology Matrix’ is also applicable to other projects and industries which may seek to engage a charrette based research method.