Bradley Samuels presents recent SITU Research work and the role that research plays within the larger practice of SITU as a whole. A series of case studies will be presented which explore an expanded role for architectural and spatial practice across a range of fields—from human rights and public policy to earth science and workspace design. SITU Research’s past work includes projects with Human Rights Watch, B’tselem, FIDH, The United Nations Special Rapporteur on counter terrorism and human rights, Princeton University Department of Geoscience, Forensic Architecture and The Center for an Urban Future, among others.

SITU is composed of three divisions devoted to the creative exploration of space through a variety of media: SITU Studio, an architectural design firm; SITU Fabrication, a specialized digital fabrication workshop; and SITU Research, a group dedicated to interdisciplinary spatial practice. A collaborative and horizontal organization provides a landscape for creative cross-pollination between the departments. In each of its three divisions, whether through applied research, material experimentation or full scale prototyping, SITU’s core commitment to innovation is driven by its foundational values of rigor, craftsmanship, risk-taking and authenticity. Operating across a diverse range of scales, disciplines and materials, SITU embraces opportunities to produce socially and culturally relevant work that forges new territory in architecture and design.

Samuels has taught geospatial and information-based mapping at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation at Columbia University. He is a founding member of SITU.