Course Syllabus

Semester & Location:	Fall 2025 DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Elective Course - 3 credits
Major Disciplines:	Architecture
Recommended Course	Place Based Sustainable Building
Faculty Members:	Kathryn Larsen (current students please use the Canvas Inbox)
Research Director:	Susana Dietrich - research@dis.dk
Senior Research Manager:	Jeanette Erbo Wern - jwe@dis.dk
Academic Support:	research@dis.dk
Time & Place:	See "Course Summary" below

Course Description

The Lolland-Falster region – located just 1–2 hours from Copenhagen- represents a unique ecosystem of stakeholders engaged in the bioeconomy, with initiatives such as Bio-Economy Hotspot Guldborgsund. The region is rapidly becoming a national frontrunner in circular economy strategies and biomaterial innovation, offering strong case study potential for the U.S. and other countries.

The aim of this research project is to apply Research by Design and Practice-Led Research methodologies to investigate architectural case studies in Lolland-Falster. Research Assistants (RAs) will explore selected building cases through multiple lenses—researching the site, stakeholders, and the collaborative process behind the project. They will analyze materials and construction processes, the heritage of the building, and evaluate future design proposals. The cases may incorporate reused or bio-based materials.

RAs will also conduct interviews with key figures such as municipal representatives, investors, and architects involved in new constructions and architectural transformation projects.

Project details:

How can architecture and design contribute meaningfully to the revitalization of rural communities? How do we create spaces that are not only sustainable in material and energy use but also socially and culturally rooted?

Place-Based Sustainable Building explores these questions by combining hands-on design research, material experimentation, and community engagement — all grounded in a real-world, evolving project: Eskilstrup Kulturhus, a citizen-driven cultural initiative on Falster.

Using the Double Diamond design process (Discover, Define, Develop, Deliver), you will work as a design researcher and creative contributor, collaborating with local stakeholders, cultural actors, and each other to investigate:

• Community-driven design and democratic architecture

• Sustainable construction and material innovation

• Rural identity, storytelling, and social resilience

The course includes site visits, prototyping, and visual communication work aimed at producing shareable outcomes - whether on social media, in a physical exhibition, or as part of a future publication documenting the Kulturhus project.

You won’t just learn about place-based design - you’ll shape it.

Selected relevant background readings and information:

• I Bought an Abandoned Danish Community Center - What Could Go Wrong? Larsen, K (2025) Video available here.
• Karana E., Barati B., Rognoli V., Zeeuw van der Laan A. (2015). Material Driven Design (MDD): A method to design for material experiences. International Journal of Design [Online], 9(2), 35–54. PDF is available for view at at this website.
• Edith Cowan University Library (n.d.). Practice-based & practice-led research. Research Methodologies for the Creative Arts & Humanities. Retrieved from https://ecu.au.libguides.com/research-methodologies-creative-arts-humanities/practice-based-and-practice-led-research

Faculty 

Kathryn Larsen

Roles and Responsibilities of the Research Assistant

You are expected to spend a minimum of 10 hours per week on the project. The workload may vary over the semester. If you are travelling to do field research in a different location, additional time may be required.

As research assistant, you will engage in some or all of the following:

1. Participate in weekly meetings with your research mentor at a time set collectively at the beginning of the term.
2. Participate in a research orientation at the beginning of the semester 
3. Participate in two research workshops during the semester.
4. Write an assessment of your own strengths and weaknesses in the research process at the beginning of the semester. Revisit at the end of the semester as part of an evaluation of your own participation in, and learning from, the research project.
5. Keep a research journal and submit it in person or via email every week (or another specified interval) to your research mentor, describing the activities of the week, and outlining goals for the following week. As this is an architecture research project, the deliverables are expected to be visual.
6. Conduct literature reviews or case study interviews depending on your selected project brief.
7. Participate in carrying out the research project. This may include: familiarizing yourself with core concepts, literature searches, scientific paradigms, perspectives, interview techniques and analyses of data. The specific responsibilities may vary depending on how the project progresses. Be prepared to contribute to tasks that may come up during the semester. Research processes are not always predictable.
8. Present the relevance of the research and/or findings to peer(s) from other disciplines at the DIS Festival.
9. Make a final oral and/or written presentation of the research you are involved in, depending on what is agreed with your research mentor.

Readings

The readings will be agreed upon with the Research Mentor at the beginning of the semester - the exact content will differ depending on your background. You will receive guidance concerning the basics of relevant concepts, study designs, methods of analysis, etc.

Approach to Teaching

We will be using the Double Diamond design process (Discover, Define, Develop, Deliver) to shape your work as a design researcher and creative contributor, collaborating with local stakeholders, cultural actors, and each other to investigate:

• Community-driven design and democratic architecture

• Sustainable construction and material innovation

• Rural identity, storytelling, and social resilience

Evaluation and Grading

All research assistants are assessed on their participation, weekly status reports to the research mentor, self-evaluation and presentations to peers from other disciplines. Additional evaluation and grading depends on the individual research project and project phase and is outlined by the research mentor. It may include literature reviews, a poster presentation for an expert panel, a working paper, etc.

Participation* 10% of grade comprises attendance & active participation in the research orientation, research workshops, and DIS Festival	20%
Discover Draft DUE	5%
Discover and Define Draft DUE	10%
Presentation at DIS Festival	10%
Final Research Deliverable	55%
TOTAL	100%

Research Orientation & Workshops

Days and times are available in the Course Summary, below.

Field Research 

This study includes field research. It is expected that you will organize and execute your field research independently, in collaboration with Kathryn as your research mentor, who will help arrange meetings and connections. Travel is covered by a DIS grant.

Approach to Mentoring

All DIS research mentors have been trained in mentoring students but their approach to mentoring may differ. Mentoring is about engaging at a different - and often deeper - level than what is typical in the class room. However, mentoring also comes with some degree of ambiguity, which is important for you to expect. The research mentor will work closely with you throughout the semester but part of the training is also for you to use your own judgment to make assessments and decisions. As part of planning your tasks and responsibilities for the semester together, the research mentor will talk to you about her/his approach to mentoring.

Expectations of the Research Assistant

A research assistant is expected to take initiative, take ownership of the project and work independently. You must also be prepared for meetings and be willing to part take in relevant discussions. Teamwork is essential for this process, as the idea is that each student recieves a different brief, which means that you are expected to work to shape your research deliverables as a cohesive project together (a video series, a series of articles for publication in a book). However, the way each of you work and present the information may be done independently, through diagrams or through material exploration.

Carrying out a research project is not a straightforward and predictable process. This is part of what makes it exciting. It also means that communication is crucial. You are expected to take responsibility for communicating about problems or issues that arise.

Data

The project will be carried out using mixed methods (see paper on Mixed Methods in the folder "modules"). It will include data from published scientific literature and "grey" literature, e.g. reports, as well as published statistical sources such as OECD health statistics, WHO and various US sources. Also, you will carry out semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders/persons. The interviews will be subject to prior consent (according to the GDPR rules) by the interviewees and data from the interviews will be collected in the form of note-taking. Notes will be deleted after the end of the semester. Also, data from the interviews will be only be used for the purpose of this research project and only in a anonomyous form so that personal statements cannot be recognised. 

Disability and Resource Statement

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact Academic Support in Copenhagen (acadsupp@dis.dk) or in Stockholm (academics@disstockholm.se), depending on the project location. In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the first two weeks of classes.

DIS Accommodations Statement 

Your learning experience in this class is important to me.  If you have approved academic accommodations with DIS, please make sure I receive your DIS accommodations letter within two weeks from the start of classes. If you can think of other ways I can support your learning, please don't hesitate to talk to me. If you have any further questions about your academic accommodations, contact Academic Support acadsupp@dis.dk. 

Academic Regulations

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There, you will find regulations on:

• Course Enrollment and Grading
• Academic Expectations and Honor Code

 

 

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