Research summary
Perceptions of quality change over time and differ by culture. So how do we define quality architecture today? How—and by what criteria—do experts and users perceive the qualities of public buildings? Dr. Jean-Pierre Chupin, Canada Research Chair in Architecture, Competitions and Mediations of Excellence, is examining these questions.
Chupin and his research team are studying how buildings can nurture citizens’ highest aspirations for the quality and sustainability of public environments. They are considering contemporary environmental, technological, economic and cultural issues in Canada and elsewhere through prisms like competitions and excellence awards. Such lenses make it possible to determine architectural best practices that can themselves be analyzed comparatively. Ultimately, the team aims to better understand and explain how architecture can help individuals and communities flourish.