ARCH 5692-MASTER DESIGNSTUDIOII (6:0:12)
SPRING, 2005
Coordinator: Hendrika Buelinckx
Instructors: Hendrika Buelinckx, (room 605), Stephen L. Faulk (room 606), Akel Kahera(room 607)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Prerequisite: ARCH 5395, 5604, and 5605.
Design and documentation of a seminal architectural project articulated in ARCH 5395.
NAAB CRITERIA (08/2004):
# 1. Speaking and Writing Skills: Ability to read, write, listen, and speak effectively.
# 2. Critical Thinking Skills: Ability to raise clear and precise question, use abstract ideas to interpret information, consider diverse points of view, reach well-reasoned conclusions, and test them against relevant criteria and standards.
# 3. Graphic Skills: Ability to use appropriate representational media, including freehand drawing and computer technology, to convey essential formal elements at each stage of the programming and design process.
# 4. Research Skills: Ability to gather, assess, record, and apply relevant information in architectural coursework.
# 23. Building Systems Integration: Ability to assess, select, and conceptually integrate structural systems, building envelope systems, environmental systems, life-safety systems, building service systems into building design.
# 28. Comprehensive Design: Ability to produce a comprehensive architectural project based on a building program and site that includes development of programmed spaces demonstrating an understanding of structural and environmental systems, building envelope, systems, life-safety provisions, wall sections and building assemblies and the principles of sustainability.
COURSE ORGANIZATION:
Studiosmeeton MWF from 1:00 to 4:50 pm and on TT from 2:00 to 3:20. Lectures (see Class Schedule for tentative dates) will be held on Fridays at 1:30 pm in room 7. Studio time on MWF is for you to meet with your instructor. Studio time on TT is for you to meet with your advisor(s).
Due to the special nature of the Master Design Studio, we recommend regular (at least weekly) contact with your instructor and/or your advisor(s). Theywill take note of chronic absences from regularly scheduled meetings and reviews. Advisors may report absences to the instructor as they deem fit.
The COA faculty is well aware of the great amount of your (and our) time and energy committed to Master Design Studio. We are aware that this is primarily an independent effort on your part. Each thesis project will have its own unique requirements regarding time within the constraints of the intermediate deadlines and the semester time limit. Appropriate time management by the student is the key to reduce unnecessary stress and to increase your potential for success.
BUILDING POLICY:
The intent of the following policies is to provide a safe, comfortable, and approximate professional environment in which all students may pursue their work. The information listed below is only a sample, derived from much past experience, of items and behavior that need to be addressed. The studio instructor will have authority in all matters related to the above statement of intention.
1) The use of tobacco products in studio or any other area of the COABuilding is not permitted.
The studio is a tobacco and gun-free environment.
2)The use of spray paint or aerosol products of any kind is not permitted anywhere in the
ArchitectureBuilding. The stairwells are not to be used for smoking or painting.
3) Radios, stereos, etc. are to be played with the use of headphones only. All audio equipment
must be off during regular scheduled class time. Phones, beepers, or other devices that emit an uncontrolled audible sound are not permitted.
4) Your studio space may have partitions up to a height of 4 feet 6 inches from the floor.
Padlocks on doors to the space and overhead panels are not permitted.
5) All studio space construction material must be incombustible, non-smoke producing, or
must be protected to attain a one-hour fire rating.
6) No couches, etc. that can be used for the purpose of sleeping, except as approved by
the Thesis Coordinator.
7) Any item, such as floor or wall coverings, not specifically needed to perform design work,
must be placed in your space in such a fashion as to remain unattached to University property.
8)A four (4) foot minimum aisle width, must be maintained to allow free passage from any individual work space to both exits from the studio.
9)Visitors are not permitted in studio during regularly scheduled class time.
10) All preliminary design and design development work is to be done in studio.
11) No friends or relatives from outside the College of Architecture may attend any
intermediate or final review without prior permission from your instructor.
12) Microwave ovens, coffee machines, toaster ovens and refrigerators are not permitted
in studios without prior permission from your instructor.
13)You are responsible for the clean-up of your studio work space at the end of thesemester.
All personal material and equipment utilized in the development of your thesis projects is to be removed from the COA building without damaging University property.
See Official Building Policy
The University is committed to the principle that in no aspect of its programs shall there be differences in the treatment of persons because of race, creed, national origin, age, sex, or disability, and that equal opportunity and access to facilities shall be available to all. If you require special accommodations in order to participate, please contact the instructor. Students should present appropriate verification from Disabled Students Services, Dean of Students Office. No requirement exists that accommodations be made prior to completion of this approved University process.
STUDIO ORGANIZATION:
For the next several months, the Master Design Studio will be your home. Each student will be issued approximately 64 sq. ft. of studio floor space (8 X 8), a drawing table, a tack board (8x8),a locker, and a layout table. You may redesign your space to suit your needs but this must be finished by the end of the first week of class. Create a space that is both comfortable and efficient – a space that will allow you to use your time effectively. Consider a place to draw, build models, house a computer, and to store equipment. Provide an extra seating space for your advisor(s), instructor or consultant.
During the semester, students, faculty, alumni and other visitors will be walking through the Master Design Studio. Therefore, design a 9" X 12" sign to identify your project. The sign is your address and should state the title of your thesis title, project type, your name, and the names of your instructor and advisor(s). Install the sign in a conspicuous place so that it is clearly visible by the beginning of the second week of the semester. This will cut down on the amount of interruptions by curiosity seekers and remind your instructor who is involved in your project.
Work in the studio will proceed as follows:
A. Advisors - Each student will have one or two faculty advisors in addition to his Master Design instructor. The student is responsible for making arrangements with interested faculty.
The names of advisors must be submitted in writing by the end of the first week of classes. Changes may be made if conflicts occur.
B. Consultants - Outside advisors and/or surrogate clients may also be brought into the thesis process by any student in order that he may benefit from a particular expertise relevant to his problem.
Each student is urged to use these and any other available sources to obtain information and critical responses needed for the special aspects of individual thesis.
C. Peer Review- Students should be prepared to work in the studio every afternoon during studio hours.It is encouraged also that students continue to share information and criticism in the studio outside of class hours
Work done outside the studio and without consultations with thesis instructors and advisors will not be accepted.
- Seminar - There will be a seminar or discussion every Friday at 1:30 p.m. This may include announcements, lectures, student peer reviews, theme or topic discussions or reviews, slide shows, etc. Students may propose to address certain questions or issues to the group at this time.
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS:
Prior to enteringMaster Design Studio II, each student will have successfully completed a program that has met with the following objectives:
1. Developed a valid thesis statement, that defines a set of theoretical issues, which can be explored, tested, and demonstrated through design.
A. Developed a thesis statement, which leads to the exploration of a central design idea.
B. Developed an appropriate program for a particular facility type.
2. Demonstrated adequate skills in analyzing, programming and documenting a thesis project.
A.Completely and comprehensively explored all relevant information and concepts
B.Completely programmed the architectural project vehicle to maximize design opportunities.
Prior to this semester, each student will have completed a set of Preliminary Design drawings that explore possible design responses and organizational concepts that may become the basis for one or more preliminary design proposals.
It remains for the Master Design student to shape the thesis proposal and to give it substance and meaning. Towards this end, the student will undertake a rigorous and comprehensive study using skills and knowledge acquired and leading to a conclusion or problem solution.
This does not imply a simple demonstration of skills by the student. While this is one aspect of the Master Design program it may not be the most important. Each student will be challenged to explore new possibilities, investigate new and different alternatives, look at things in a different conceptually way than has been done beforeand perhapseven venture into uncharted waters.
Usually, this will be done in the context of a design solution for a building or group of buildings of a particular type which serve more or less specific functions. The solution will normally be a very thorough development and will result in a very complete and broadly based architectural statement.
The Master Design problem may also be structured so as to concentrate on one or more specific aspects of architectural design or perception. It could thus be narrower in scope yet more profound in detail and meaning and/or with a much more specific application. The use of new analytical or visual tools or techniques may be employed as part of the thesis study.
The purpose of the Master Design project, whatever its content, is to demonstrate something about the thesis topic that was not evident at its initiation – that is, to produce an insight or understanding that did not previously exist.
PROJECT GOALSAND EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
A comprehensive design project should be completed which satisfies the following objectives:
1.Demonstrate clear conceptual design ideas that have an understood theoretical base.
2.Demonstrate the understanding of the accommodation of human factors.
3. Demonstrate skill in the ordering, organization, and composition of all design elements.
4.Demonstrate technical understanding and design relationship of major structural, natural and artificial lighting, mechanical, and architectural systems.
5. Demonstrate the understanding of appropriate material systems and construction details.
6. Demonstrate understanding of building codes, construction practices, and costs.
7. Demonstrate the ability to represent the synthesis of design through clear and effective communication.
REVIEW PROCESS
During this semester there will be three formal reviews with both your advisor(s) and instructor:
I.the Preliminary Design Review, II. the Qualifying Review, andIII. the Final Review.
Both the Preliminary and Qualifying Reviews will count 15% of the final grade. The Final Review and Documentation will account for 70% of the final grade.
I. Preliminary Design Review (15%)
This is a one-hour review of how concepts, parti’s, site analysis and design, structural systems, architectural planning, and spatial issues have been developed. The major concerns at this point are:
1.Does the design address the thesis statement, issues and goals identified for that project?
2. Is the student making sufficient progress toward meeting the goals of the course?
Requirements: The Preliminary Design Review should respond to the issues identified in your thesis statement and evidence exploration of alternative solutions. In addition, it should demonstrate the following:
Scope of the Project: Define the limits of the project programmatically and architecturally; establish and diagram aspects of the problem to be thoroughly explored and presented as a final statement; establish a focus where explicit and complete commitments are made through a set of design decisions that lead to a thorough and compelling expression of the design thesis.
Analysis and Synthesis: Derive a conceptual framework for issues expressed as performance criteria and/or stimuli affecting the final solution; express the architecture in terms of its interrelationships, interpretations and meanings.
Goals and Objectives: Address the design in terms of the concerns of its users, society at large, the client, and the architect.
Theory: Communicate the architectural philosophies and theories that form the basis for the design of the project and demonstrate their application.
It is intended that a clear direction for the design will be established at this point. Examinations of alternate concepts, systems, and relationships should be evidenced in a graphic and coherent manner that leads to a complete statement of design intent. All aspects that affect the project’s design should be expressed.
Graphic Presentation: Boldly written captions, notes, simplified tables, abstract diagrams (in approximate scales), sketches, architectural drawings, photographs, slides and models may be used. Graphic techniques are optional but must lead to a presentation which is "well designed."
Presentation Format:The one-hour review will involve:
approximately 1/2 hour oral presentation, by you, with all supporting graphic and model representations for your design work.
approximately 20 minutes of questions and discussion between you, the instructor and advisors
approximately 10 minutes of consultation among the instructor and advisors, in private, to discuss and define grade.
NOTE: During Preliminary Design Review, each student must have another Master Design student take notes for you that document the primary issues raised by you, the instructor, and advisors. All students and faculty are welcome to observe all preliminary design reviews. The Dean may choose to observe or participate of any design review.
II. Qualifying Review (15%)
Prior to the development of final presentation drawings, the body of work that represents each student's final design statement will be reviewed in order to make recommendations regarding the potential for satisfying the requirements of the final independent thesis project. At this point, a comprehensive Master Design project should be developed and refined to a relatively rigorously defined proposal acceptable to a jury composed of the Master Design instructor and the student's advisors. The student will not be present at this review. The work must stand on its own.
Purpose: The review aims to accomplish the following goals.
A. To provide each student with an overall clear indication as to where they stand with regard to the fulfillment of all seven goals of thesis studio. A grade that represents15% of the final course grade will be assigned.
B. To provide each student with a clear indication of the strong and weak areas of development. The intention is that they may have ample time and opportunity to direct their attention to:
1) fully attending to areas that have not been addressed.
2) strengthening weak areas.
3) completing the overall thesis project.
C. To provide a recommendation to each student. The faculty will evaluate the progress of each student based on the student's individual project Master Design work. The recommendation will state one of the following:
1) The student does appear to be moving toward satisfying the goals of the course. These students will be recommended to continue their efforts and aim toward completing the course in this semester.
2) The student does not appear to be in a position to complete the course this semester. These students are eligible to receive a grade of “CR” as they continue working on their projects while addressing the goals of the course.
Graphic Presentation: Exhibits for this review include all representational material that the student intends to be present at Final Presentation. All may be presented in either final underlay state or final state. Sketches and Preliminary idea drawings that aim to illustrate "future intentions" for "further design exploration" are not acceptable and should not be presented.It is too late to explore options at this stage. Selected key process sketches and models, intended to be part of the Final Presentation, are definitely acceptable and should be a part of the Qualifying Presentation.
Presentation Format:Students will mount their work for review in a place to be designated. Students will not be present during the review but will receive an evaluation sheet for the work presented. The presentation should be mounted exactly as it is proposed that the final presentation will be displayed. Each final drawing or exhibit should be represented in its final form and scale.
III. Final Review (70%)
Final oral presentations will be juried at the end of the semester (see attached schedule). All work must be submitted and mounted on the day prior to the beginning of the Final Review period. All work and presentation material must be complete and of a nature to provide a thorough definition of the thesis proposal/solution.
Review Format: The one- hour review will involve:
approximately 1/2 hour oral presentations, by you, with all supporting graphic and model representations of your work
approximately 20 minutes of questions and discussion between you, the instructor and your advisor(s).
approximately 10 minutes of consultation among the instructor and advisor(s), in private, to discuss and define grade.
Slides, computer animation and other visual aids may be used in addition to drawings.
Each student’s jury will consist of his faculty advisor(s) and the Master Design instructor. In addition, outside consultants and/or surrogate clients that have been involved in the thesis proposal should also be present and offer criticism.