Metadata
Title
Design, Theory and Practice (DTP)
Category
graduate
UUID
d6c7982386ae4e669017022dedaa8b53
Source URL
https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/groups/dtp
Parent URL
https://www.brookes.ac.uk/engage-and-innovate/consultancy
Crawl Time
2026-03-19T05:18:22+00:00
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# Design, Theory and Practice (DTP)

**Source**: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/groups/dtp
**Parent**: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/engage-and-innovate/consultancy

Group Leader(s):
[Professor Marcel Vellinga](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/marcel-vellinga)

Contact:

[mvellinga@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:mvellinga@brookes.ac.uk)

Select a section

Showing all research info

About us

Research impact

Leadership

Membership

Projects

slide 1 to 5 of 5

[About us](#research-about)
[Research impact](#research-impact)
[Leadership](#research-leadership)
[Membership](#research-team)
[Projects](#research-projects)

[next or previous](#)

## About us

The Design, Theory and Practice (DTP) group undertakes design research produced inside and outside the discipline of architecture in order to facilitate the advancement of architectural research as a creative practice. The group explores the relationship between the theory and practice of design-based research in architecture.

Members of the group undertake research using methods typically used in architectural design as well as methods from other disciplines including:

- architectural drawing/ modelling/ prototyping
- painting and non-architectural drawing
- film making; photography
- creative writing
- digital fabrication.

The research focuses on places and buildings in a variety of contexts around the world and aims to be grounded in the communities that participate in it.

### Part of

- [School of Architecture](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/about-brookes/structure-and-governance/faculties-and-schools/architecture "School of Architecture")

### Related courses

- [Architecture (BA (Hons))](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/architecture)
- [Applied Design in Architecture (ARB and RIBA part 2) (MArchD)](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/applied-design-in-architecture)
- [Architecture (MPhil / PhD / PhD by Practice / PhD by Published Work / Research Degree involving Creative Work)](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/research/architecture)
- [Digital Craft in Architecture (MA / PGDip / PGCert)](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/digital-craft-in-architecture)
- [Interior Architecture (BA (Hons))](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/interior-architecture)

## Research impact

The research done in the Design, Theory and Practice group informs professional practice and explores the relationship between theory and built form. The projects are wide ranging and look at a broad spectrum of topics, including:

- therapeutic environments
- live projects
- digital fabrication
- cultures of practice.

Using an evidence-based approach, and in collaboration with charities, local communities, industry partners and governments, the research has resulted in the improvement of the nature, efficacy and inclusivity of architectural environments in contexts as diverse as cancer centres, courtrooms, local neighbourhoods and arctic environments.

## Leadership

### Professor Marcel Vellinga

- [01865 483978](tel:01865 483978)
- [mvellinga@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:mvellinga@brookes.ac.uk)

Professor of Anthropology of Architecture

[View profile  for Marcel Vellinga](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/marcel-vellinga)

## Membership

Staff members

- Staff

slide 1 of 1

### Staff

| Name | Role | Email |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Professor Jane Anderson](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/jane-anderson) | Programme Lead for Undergraduate Architecture | [j.anderson@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:j.anderson@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Mr Justin Chapman](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/justin-chapman) | Lecturer | [jchapman@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:jchapman@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Mr Joël Chappell](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/joel-chappell) | Senior Lecturer | [jchappell@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:jchappell@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Ms Ruth Cuenca](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/ruth-cuenca) | Senior Lecturer | [rcuenca@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:rcuenca@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Hannah Durham](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/hannah-durham) | Lecturer | [hdurham@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:hdurham@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Ms Christina Godiksen](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/christina-godiksen) | Head of School | [cgodiksen@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:cgodiksen@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Mike Halliwell](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/michael-halliwell) | Lecturer in Architecture and Making | [mhalliwell@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:mhalliwell@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Adam Holloway](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/adam-holloway) | Lecturer | [aholloway@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:aholloway@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Karl Kjelstrup-Johnson](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/karl-kjelstrup-johnson) | Director of Defence and Security (DASOBU) | [kkjelstrup-johnson@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:kkjelstrup-johnson@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Mr Owen Pearce](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/owen-pearce) | Lecturer | [opearce@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:opearce@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Dr Andrea Placidi](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/andrea-placidi) | Senior Lecturer and Subject Coordinator for Interior Architecture | [aplacidi@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:aplacidi@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Dr Daria Ricchi](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/daria-ricchi) | Senior Lecturer in Architecture | [dricchi@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:dricchi@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Dr Emma Rowden](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/emma-rowden) | Senior Lecturer | [erowden@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:erowden@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Mr Ralph Saull](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/ralph-saull) | Senior Lecturer | [r.saull@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:r.saull@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Mr Toby Shew](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/toby-shew) | Senior lecturer, M.Arch.D Design Lead | [tshew@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:tshew@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Mr Toby Smith](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/toby-smith) | Senior Lecturer | [tsmith@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:tsmith@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Mr Scott Sworts](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/scott-sworts) | Post-Graduate Programme Lead | [ssworts@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:ssworts@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Mr Jon Tollit](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/jonathan-tollit) | Associate Lecturer | [jtollit@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:jtollit@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Professor Marcel Vellinga](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/marcel-vellinga) | Professor of Anthropology of Architecture | [mvellinga@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:mvellinga@brookes.ac.uk) |

## Projects

Active projects
Completed projects

- Active projects
- Completed projects

slide 1 of 2

### Active projects

| Project title and description | Investigator(s) | Funder(s) | Dates |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **[Supporting Online Justice](https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/supporting-online-justice-enhancing-accessibility-participation-and-procedural-fairness)**  Covid-19 has forced radical changes upon the justice system with many trials taking place online from participants' homes, with no one being present in a physical courtroom. Through consultation with court users and the design of new online orientation content, this project addresses the lack of online support designed to prepare members of the public for appearing in court from their own home and to guide them around these new virtual spaces. | [Dr Emma Rowden](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/emma-rowden) | [ESRC](https://esrc.ukri.org/ "Economic and Social Research Council") | From: November 2020  Until: April 2022 |

## Research themes

[Therapeutic environments](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/groups/dtp/therapeutic-environments "Therapeutic environments")

[Live projects](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/groups/dtp/live-projects "Live projects")

[Digital design, craft and fabrication](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/groups/dtp/digital-design-craft-and-fabrication "Digital design, craft and fabrication")

[Cultures of practice](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/groups/dtp/cultures-of-practice "Cultures of practice")

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