spring 2008
ARC 696/560R:
Advanced Architectural Design/Urban Design
Instructor:
Anthony Alofsin
This studio for advanced students seeks to explore the concepts of organicism in architecture and urban design. Starting with an analytical phase we will look at both contemporary practices in the making of organic form and the historic precedents for organic design. We will consider such questions as: is every design with curves organic? What are generating premises for contemporary metamorphic designs? Are analogies between Nature and Architecture meaningful in the twenty-first century? A series of short design projects will follow with increasing complexity of design parameters of scale, program, and site conditions. A final project will summarize and demonstrate the student's own conception and definition or organic design. The study will involve the advanced use of computer technology both to analyze as well as generate architectural forms, and it will consider uses of CAD/CAM, rapid prototyping, and digital fabrication. Discussions will include topics of BIM and energy analysis of complex organic shapes.
Pedagogical goals: development familiarity and consciousness of the various models and definitions of organic architecture; increase fundamental architectural skills from plan development to material definition of building fabric; integrate conceptual design models and methods with effective methods of representation.
Format: a combination of lectures, group discussions, desk crits, and periodic reviews.
Course communication will be through the University's on line Blackboard site.
Suggested Texts: monographs will be placed on Reserve in the Architecture and Planning. An extensive bibliography will be provided.