Contextualizing Practice-Based Research Outputs: A Temporal Framework for Architectural Research

Evaluating practice-based research outputs poses structural challenges for traditional bibliometric and assessment systems. Using architectural research as a representative case study of practice-led inquiry, this article addresses the ongoing tensions between project-centered knowledge production and prevailing research evaluation structures. The argument is informed by contextual observations from the Spanish research evaluation system (Field 6.3/ANECA) and an exploratory review of 211 scholarly publications authored by faculty members of architectural projects departments, examined through an indicative thematic classification. These observations point toward a prevalent alignment with retrospective, humanities-oriented analyses rather than design-driven inquiry. To address this evaluation gap, the paper proposes a temporal framework for interpreting research outputs centered on the Architectural Project (AP), positioning the project not merely as an object of study but as an active medium and vehicle of knowledge production. The framework establishes three complementary temporal positions: Research ON the AP (retrospective), Research THROUGH the AP (contemporaneous/process-based), and Research WITH the AP (prospective/future-oriented). By foregrounding temporality, the proposed model offers a heuristic tool for research evaluators, institutional bodies, and practice-based disciplines seeking to recognize, communicate, and assess non-conventional research outputs beyond traditional publication formats.