(What) is Research Appropriate to Architecture?

It is often unclear whether by architectural research we mean research about architecture, research through architecture or research for architecture. These three categories, borrowed from Christopher Frayling’s discussion on research in design and art, are not mutually exclusive, but they do look for legitimacy in different fields. We are familiar with forms of historical and theoretical research about architecture. Improvement of architectural and design practice as the focus of design research has been addressed in a significant body of work by design practitioners and theorists. It is research through architecture that I will concentrate on, hoping to clarify some doubts about its methods and legitimacy.