Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Rachel Couper is a Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Researcher with the Future Building Initiative at Monash University. Her research explores how industrialised building and modern methods of construction (MMC) can improve people's lives, with a focus on disaster recovery housing and improving housing options for people living with a disability or aging in place. Rachel holds a PhD from the University of Sydney and has a strong track record leading research projects, most recently as Project Lead for the construction of the National Centre for Healthy Aging (NCHA) Independent Living Lab, a completed Building 4.0 CRC Lighthouse Project. It is the latest in a series of built research projects through which Rachel develops innovative, practical solutions and physical prototypes for the construction sector, addressing real-world industry problems with well-defined, measurable outcomes.
Education/Academic qualification
Architecture, PhD, University of Sydney
… → 2017
Architecture, MArch(Hons), University of Sydney
… → 2012
Architecture, Bachelor, University of Sydney
… → 2009
Arts (Visual), Bachelor, Southern Cross University
… → 1996
Research area keywords
- Industrialised Construction
- Applied Design Research
- Architectural Design
- Mass Timber Construction
- Off-site Construction
- Design Build Projects
- Design-based research
- Design Education
- Prototyping
- Zoo Architecture
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Smart Home Living Lab
Couper, R. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Maxwell, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bunster, V. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Soltani, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Giusti Gestri, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Dodd, M. (Chief Investigator (CI))
22/07/26 → 30/06/27
Project: Research
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Building 4.0 CRC #116 - MMC Pathways for Youth Housing Delivery
Soltani, S. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Maxwell, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Nicholson, E. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Couper, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Giusti Gestri, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bunster, V. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Cruz Gambardella, C. (Chief Investigator (CI))
18/12/25 → 18/06/27
Project: Research
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Insights into temporary and emergency accommodation
Dodd, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Madabhushi, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Williamson, B. (Chief Investigator (CI)), McNicol, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Maxwell, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Couper, R. (Chief Investigator (CI))
3/02/25 → 31/12/27
Project: Research
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Project #61: Building Productivity—Product, Process, People
Maxwell, D. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Couper, R. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Bunster, V. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Khor, L.-A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Harper, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Cruz Gambardella, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Soltani, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fang, Y. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Sohal, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Islam, M. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Pavez Souper, F. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Sinhala Pathiranage, M. (Associate Investigator (AI))
1/03/24 → 1/03/27
Project: Research
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Building 4.0 CRC: Better buildings, new efficiencies through technology and collaboration
Aitchison, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Ngo, T. D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Maxwell, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Couper, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Breen Lovett, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Cumarasamy, S. (Project Manager), Blue, K. (Project Manager), Laverty, C. (Project Manager), Gerber, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Merkoulova, Y. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Sohal, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Dare, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Moehler, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Nicholson, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Grundy, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Garcia De La Banda Garcia, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), McCormack, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Vu, L. H. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Dwyer, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Murray, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Kulic, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bai, Y. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Davies, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Zhou, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Duffield, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Singh, P. J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bridge, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Erol, I. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Drogemuller, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Mahendran, M. (Chief Investigator (CI))
10/09/20 → 30/06/27
Project: Research
Research output
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Mapping the landscape of productivity in construction research: an umbrella review of trends, gaps and future directions
Gutierrez Bucheli, L., Munoz, S., Couper, R. & Maxwell, D. W., 2026, In: Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management. 33, 15, p. 516-539 24 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Practices and Challenges in Measuring and Monitoring Construction Productivity
Gutierrez Bucheli, L., Perera, S., Couper, R. & Maxwell, D. W., 2025, The Proceedings of the 23rd CIB World Building Congress. Purdue University Press, 11 p. (CIB Conferences; vol. 1).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Process Modularity - A lean approach to develop industrialised building platforms
Islam, M., Bunster, V., Couper, R., Jalali Yazdi, A. & Maxwell, D., 2024, Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC32. International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC), p. 894-905 12 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
What’s the use of educational research? Six stories reflecting on research use with communities
Rudolph, S., Mayes, E., Molla, T., Chiew, S., Abhayawickrama, N., Maiava, N., Villafana, D., Welch, R., Liu, B., Couper, R., Duhn, I., Fricker, A., Thomas, A., Dewanyang, M., McQuire, H., Hashimoto-Benfatto, S., Spisbah, M., Smith, Z., Onus-Browne, T. & Rowe, E. & 2 others, , 2024, In: The Australian Educational Researcher. 51, p. 2277-2300 24 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Other › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Construction tracking: implications of logistics data
Maxwell, D. & Couper, R., 17 Feb 2023, In: Construction Innovation. 23, 2, p. 322-339 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access7 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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Dean’s Research Team of the Year 2025
Maxwell, D. (Recipient), Bunster, V. (Recipient), Couper, R. (Recipient), Cruz Gambardella, C. (Recipient), Soltani, S. (Recipient), Giusti Gestri, L. (Recipient), Gutierrez Bucheli, L. (Recipient), Munoz Vela, S. (Recipient), Calixto, V. (Recipient), Perera, S. (Recipient), Sinhala Pathiranage, M. (Recipient), Islam, M. (Recipient), Pavez Souper, F. (Recipient) & Zelenko, D. (Recipient), 2025
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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MADA Education Grant
Pfeiffer-Hunt, J. (Recipient) & Couper, R. (Recipient), 2025
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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AMPS A Focus on Pedagogy 2026
Pfeiffer-Hunt, J. (Speaker) & Couper, R. (Speaker)
24 Jun 2026 → 26 Jun 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Work in Progress - Monash Architecture Student Exhibition
Pfeiffer-Hunt, J. (Producer) & Couper, R. (Producer)
9 Oct 2025 → 11 Oct 2025Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public event
Press/Media
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Advanced tech helping older Australians live at home longer (Independent Living Lab as part of the NCHA)
Waghorn, K., Couper, R., Dodd, M., Gusheh, M. & Heiss, L.
9/07/26
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Monash Architecture students blend craft and concept at Abbotsford Convent
Pfeiffer-Hunt, J. & Couper, R.
23/10/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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ARCHITECTURE AU: 'Editors’ picks: 2019 Open House Melbourne'
Aitchison, M., Couper, R., Monne, D. T., Maxwell, D., Kuzmanovska, I., Breen Lovett, S. & Patterson, D.
11/07/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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ARCHITECTURE AU: 'A new phase in the evolution of design research'
Breen Lovett, S., Couper, R. & Kuzmanovska, I.
18/10/18
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Review
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THE FIFTH ESTATE: 'The future of buildings: product to process'
Aitchison, M., Couper, R., Monne, D. T., Maxwell, D., Kuzmanovska, I., Breen Lovett, S. & Patterson, D.
28/08/18
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature