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Design Project #1 – “Layering”
Buildings consist of many layers,
whether physical, social or
historical. Each layer, to some
extent, helps to reveal or conceal
identity. Materially, some layers are
very thin and fragile. Others have
greater thickness and depth. Some
are transparent or translucent.
Others are opaque. Some are
patterned. Others are plain. It is
the combination and juxtaposition
of such qualities which helps make
architectural form so exciting.
In this project, students are tasked
to produce a visually stimulating,
abstract
composition
which
explores a ‘language of layering’
as described above. They can
use any combination of graphical
and craft techniques they feel
are appropriate to their concept.
Although many find it challenging,
this first design project ultimately
helps the students to work more
creatively, and increases their
sensitivity to the richness of surface
and materiality.
Design Project #2 – “Cube”
The architectural design process
often begins with a qualitative
exploration of space and volume.
This project introduces students to
the key considerations of such an
exercise, using the initial simplicity
of the geometric cube as a starting
point, and focusing on potential
spatial qualities inherent in both
simple and complex forms and
volumes.
In considering the factors which
influence
spatial
ambience,
students experiencing
their first design review
students are encouraged to
explore a range of reciprocal
qualities such as light/shadow,
solid/void, rough/smooth, wide/
narrow, open/restricted, high/low,
etc. Careful composition of such
qualities create interesting and
stimulating spaces and rhythms,
perceptions of harmony or tension
which can trigger our emotions and
imagination.
DesignProject #3 – “Intervention”
Architecture may be understood
as a physical response to a given
context and project brief. Any new
building requires a considered
understanding of the context in
which it intervenes and also implies
a dialogue that is developed and
explored between the context and
the new entity. In this regard, good
architecture of any scale should
enrich or intensify an individual’s
experience of the immediate
surroundings in which it is located,
and must form a specific and
developed dialogue with ‘place’.
For this project, students are
required to design a small structure
which responds to the physical and
social context of a site, and provides
a simple function suggested by the
specifics of that context. Through
both subjective and objective
approaches, a chosen site is
analysed and explored, revealing
unique qualities and prompting
a specific response. Students
develop this initial response into
a design concept, and eventually
into a small architectural proposal,
represented through orthographic
drawing and model-making.
group work exercise exploring
model-making techniques