Art & Science of Space: Archabout Research Platform
It’s time to re-establish the role of Architect through a new, revolutionary approach to Architecture. Archabout promotes the role of Heritage, Genius Loci and Participation in the architectural design process as a sustainable connection between Places and People.
Archabout is an architectural research platform and multidisciplinary collective dedicated to practice-led research in architecture, heritage, and spatial practice. The platform brings together architects, researchers, designers and cultural practitioners to explore how architecture engages with cultural heritage, urban environments, and contemporary forms of spatial experience.
Archabout’s work is grounded in architecture as a critical and civic discipline, addressing the relationships between built form, memory, performance, and public space. Through design research, spatial interventions, and digitally enabled methodologies, the platform develops architectural knowledge that is both academically rigorous and socially engaged.
A distinctive aspect of Archabout’s research approach is the integration of architectural practice with interdisciplinary methods drawn from heritage studies, scenography, digital environments and immersive technologies. This enables new forms of architectural enquiry, particularly in heritage contexts, urban regeneration processes and site-specific spatial practices, where architecture operates simultaneously as design, research and public engagement.
Archabout operates at the intersection of research, practice and cultural production, collaborating with universities, museums, heritage organisations, cultural institutions and civic partners across Europe and internationally. Projects developed through the platform contribute to peer-reviewed research outputs, funded research initiatives, exhibitions and public-facing impact activities aligned with contemporary research assessment frameworks.
The platform supports Practice-led and interdisciplinary architectural research; International research collaborations and funding initiatives; Knowledge exchange between academia, practice and cultural institutions
Archabout functions as an independent research environment while maintaining strong links with higher education institutions, advancing innovative research methodologies within architecture and the built environment.
Image: Archabout's site-specific performance 'Euridice' at Rampa Prenestina, Rome (2008)
Background
Archabout is a multidisciplinary research collective founded in 2008 by architects and scenographers with a common ground of being collaborators of prof. Gianfranco Moneta. They co-founded the Cultural Association Archabout as a laboratory of studies and production based in Rome, Italy, to continue thirty years of architectural design theory and practice of prof. Gianfranco Moneta at the Faculty of Architecture of University of Rome 'La Sapienza', towards the challenges of our contemporary world.
Current activities of Archabout include research and design in Italy and UK in the intersection between architecture, urban design, theatre, and spatial practices, in both real and virtual worlds. Archabout is also committed to research-led teaching in these areas, developing the longstanding methodology of Gianfranco Moneta that now includes the challenges of the Digital Built Environment of Metaverse. Archabout staff publish its research through academic journals, authored books, and articles; on this website, there are also reflections and debates on current topics related to architecture, urban design, scenography and spatial practice (see section 'Articles').
Past activities of Archabout included the organisation of exhibitions, conferences and seminars in Italy, France and Germany, the design and management of site-specific performances in Rome and Salerno, and the postgraduate Master 'Scenografia Urbana, Teatreale e Digitale' (Urban, Theatre and Digital Scenography) in collaboration with University of Rome 'La Sapienza'.
Archabout current activities
Archabout longstanding research: a multidisciplinary approach that blends together Sustainability, Architecture, Urbanism, Performance and the Metaverse.
Our Theoretical Framework and professional experience shared through the innovative AASOS Training Program for Sustainability.
ARTICLES
Archabout latest articles about research, practice, and reflections on sustainability, architecture, urbanism, spatial practice and scenography.
METAVERSE
New approaches and methods for our extended world that includes the coexistence of real and virtual places, which determine our real life and virtual life.
SCENARCHITECTURE
Scenarchitecture is a performative methodology that puts together architecture with theatre as a sustainable connection between People and Places.
Meet the team of Archabout: architects and scenographers committed to research-led design and education for the XXI Century.