ARC 393 Visual Communication
ARC 394 Architectural Design I

This graduate studio is informed by an interrelated group of theories and principles:

1. Architecture should respond to context, and, as such, forms and strengthens a given landscape.
2. Design should have relevance, and should serve society. Architects must closely understand the needs of people in offering shelter, support, and a sense of joy in our buildings and spaces.
3. Architecture is about making places that will firstly be safe, and then be adapted and enjoyed.
4. The studio will consider principles informing sustainable lifestyles. By this we mean: a closer association of the forces that support urban life.
5. Materials should be long-lived, and facilitate adoption.

The studio will focus on three projects, two shorter explorations and a main project. A mutual support structure will facilitate collaboration between students with greater and lesser experience in architecture.

Project 1: Ritual

A free and lively design exploration of aspects of human movement related to enclosure and intervention in a landscape.

Project 2: Thresholds

A design exploration of a transit shelter. Emphasis is placed upon lightweight structures, materials in the public domain, creating a 24-hour environment related to movement. More experienced students will be given a more exacting program around the making of a structure.

Project 3: A Fresh Start

A major project to design an environment for a severely deprived urban population. It demands not only shelter, and thus an examination of affordable housing, but facilities to create a place of rejuvenation that is sustainable. This would suggest education and work spaces, but also communal and meditative spaces. A working partnership between more and less experiences students will be strongly encouraged. More experienced architects will be challenged to produce a design for the overall complex, whereas beginning architects will design one smaller building within the complex. The partnership will consider together site selection, conceptual design criteria and approach, and keep a close working dialogue throughout.

Considerations:

1. research of client and architectural precedent
2. investigation of alternative sites and site analysis
3. design criteria
4. conceptual designs
5. diagrammatic models and programming
6. detailed design

Particular emphasis will be placed upon drawing as a means of survey, analysis, and design communication. We will also examine formal drawing techniques and their communication ability. Finally, we will examine presentation techniques, particularly related to decision making in a public forum.

Program

week 1	Project 1
2	Review
3	Project 2/Site Visit
4
5	Review
6	Project 3/Site Visit
7
8
9	Schematic Design Review
10	Site Visit
11
12	Detailed Design Review
13
14
15	Final Review

References

• Christopher Alexander, In Das Linz CafŽ
• Magali Larson, Rob Wellington Quigley
• Sam David, The Architecture of Affordable Housing
• Clare Cooper Marcus, Housing as if People Mattered