How to do research in Architecture and Design

Library resources for researchers working on architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning and design

START WITH GOOD KEYWORDS

Topic-specific keywords will help improve your results in a general multidisciplinary database like Google, Google Scholar, HOLLIS, or Academic Search Premier. 

Add keywords like these to your search:

  • Broader subject - built environment, design, "city OR urban planning"
  • Narrower focus - sustainability, land development, site remediation, housing, urban renewal, transportation, floor plan
  • Names of designers, built and unbuilt works, historical periods or movements, or typology - Kenzo Tange, Lina Bo Bardi, Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, Boston city plan, Brutalism, Modernism, residential, school, office building, parks, gardens

UPGRADE YOUR SEARCH: KEY DATABASES

The best tool for your project may be a specialized search engine, also known as a database. These databases are subject-specific or format-specific search tools:

Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals (via HarvardKey) -- provides a comprehensive listing of journal articles published worldwide on architecture in the broadest sense, including design, archaeology, city planning, historic preservation, interior design, decorative art, landscape architecture, and urban planning.  It indexes back to 1930, with selective coverage back to the 1860's and includes a large number of architects' obituaries, a rich source of biographical information. Search tip: click on “choose databases” to select other potentially relevant databases, such as “Art Full Text,” “GreenFILE”, or “Urban Studies Abstracts.” 

Dig Deeper

The Architecture guide provides a helpful overview of library resources in support of research in architecture and building technology, including how to locate journals, site plans, images, and archival material, a list of organizations and directories of design firms, and recommended databases specific to architecture, design, and building technology.

Databases for Arts & Architecture- explore the full list of Harvard Library databases in this subject category.

CONNECT WITH US  

Alix Reiskind, Research and Teaching Support Team Lead Librarian at Loeb Design, is available to support researchers.

Featured Collection

The Frances Loeb Library at the Harvard Graduate School of Design offers general and special collections that include a wide range of formats supporting 20th and 21st century architecture, all aspects of landscape architecture including history of the practice, urban planning and design, and technological innovations in all areas, such as GIS and materials science.

RELATED FAQ

How to do research in Art History and Visual Arts

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