NAS CoLab is a multidisciplinary firm at the intersection of architecture, design, development, and research. Driven by a fascination with the human experience, NAS—meaning "people" in Arabic—is established as Collaborative Laboratory, seeking to connect with like-minded thinkers and makers across disciplines to explore, experiment, innovate and develop projects that significantly enhance quality of life.

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Research and Publications

Architects in Development: Navigating the Landscape for a New Business Model

By Nourah Said

Introduction:

The research examines how architects can transition into development roles, particularly through the architect-as-developer model. This emerging practice model enables architects to integrate creative, financial, and operational control, addressing limitations inherent in the traditional fee-for-service approach. This dissertation investigates the boundary conditions that facilitate or impede the adoption of the architect-as-developer model. It highlights the key entrepreneurial traits and qualities along with the skill and knowledge that enable architects to become major stakeholders and contributors to the development process, offering insights into the professional and operational dynamics necessary for this transition.

Key Highlights:

Findings are categorised into two main areas:
(i) Traits and Qualities:
Entrepreneurial traits such as openness to experience, conscientiousness, self-efficacy, risk propensity, and innovativeness positively correlate with involvement in development.
(ii) Skills and Knowledge:
In areas like financial literacy, market dynamics, management, and networking are crucial for success in the architect-as-developer model.The research emphasises the need for architects to expand their expertise beyond design, embracing business acumen and collaborative strategies to align creative ambitions with market demands. It identifies the conditions that enable architects to transition into development roles, potentially reshaping the architectural profession by redefining its key players.

View the Full Thesis (PDF)