One aim of the Karlsruhe Department of Architecture is to use scientific methods to bring together a variety of creative concepts for the field of design. This means emphasizing an integrated approach that embraces the scientific design standard demanded in the current architectural debate. In other words, decisions regarding blueprints must be based on understandable, rational principles that can be extrapolated to many situations. Research at the Department is traditionally broad and interdisciplinary, with topics ranging from architectural history, art history, construction planning, building design and drafting, to municipal and regional planning, landscaping and industrial building production.