FA VUT Presentation in Hanover: When Research and Design Transform One Another
Students from the Faculty of Architecture at Brno University of Technology presented their work at the CA2RE (Conferences for Artistic and Architectural Research) international conference in Hanover. This prestigious platform bridges research and architectural design through open discussion and peer review. For the students of the Faculty of Architecture at Brno University of Technology, participating in the conference was an opportunity to present an approach that has been developed at the faculty over the long term. In their presentation, they demonstrated what happens when the process of discovery directly shapes architectural design—and when the design is not merely the result of research, but an integral part of it.
Research and Design as a Single Trajectory
The presented projects are based on two related master’s theses—Un(der)cover and Přítomnosti. Instead of the traditional model, in which research precedes design, here the two are closely intertwined into a single cohesive whole. Research and design intertwine, respond to one another, and evolve as an open, dynamic process. Research is not only an analytical phase but also a creative practice—a tool for entering into a relationship with a place, understanding its atmosphere, and interpreting its stories.
Students work directly in the field: they walk through the city, conduct interviews, observe everyday situations, and listen to the people who shape these places. These experiences give rise to analytical outputs as well as initial design considerations. The architectural design thus emerges in parallel with the process of discovery.
Photo: Ondřej Sedlák
Foto: Ondřej Sedlák
From Publication to Architectural Design
One of the key outputs was the publication UN(DER)COVER, which maps the independent cultural scene in Brno through interviews, audio recordings, and visual interpretations. This research served as the foundation for the design of the independent culture center.
This is followed by the Přítomnosti project, focused on the Old Brno area—a territory where historical layers, everyday life, and the pressures of contemporary development intertwine. The research here examines the atmosphere, the memory of the place, and the ways it is used, raising questions about how architecture can respond sensitively to this complexity.
Both projects demonstrate that architectural design can emerge from a deep understanding of the environment—not as a response to a predefined brief, but as a reaction to the relationships and themes that the research uncovers.
Bios
The team is led by Radek Toman, an architect, educator, and researcher. Since 2018, he has served as Vice-Dean for External Relations at the Faculty of Architecture, Brno University of Technology. Together with Karin Písaříková, he leads a design studio that has received multiple awards for excellence in both bachelor’s and master’s thesis studios. Radek Toman completed his PhD in 2017, focusing on the relationship between culture, political leadership, and urban transformation. Karin Písaříková is a visual artist and educator with extensive international experience. She lived and worked in Japan for over ten years, where she completed her PhD research in Intercultural Communication. Her work bridges visual practice, cultural research, and architectural education.
Foto: Ondřej Sedlák
Authors
Radek Toman, FA VUT
Karin Písaříková, FA VUT
Roman Warta, FA VUT
Markéta Marie Elbel, FA VUT
Kateřina Hrubá, FA VUT
Tereza Čamborová, FA VUT
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