ARC 350R/386M
Design Process

Instructor: Smilja Milovanovic-Bertram
Unique Number: 00615 (350R); 00885 (386M)
Time: T 5:00-8:00 pm
Place: SUT 2.110

Course Description

The objective of this seminar is the pursuit of an intense inquiry into design process and methodologies. Seminar will address creative and intuitive as well as problem solving and decision making within the process of building design.

There are many ways to approach design. How does the kernel of an idea begin and how does that idea, through many transformations become an artifact-a building?

Format

The course will consist of four segments:

  1. Introduction
  2. Guest Lectures
  3. Case Studies
  4. Analysis of Student's Own Design Process
The first segment of the class will consist of lecture-discussions. Various design processes will be examined. Specific architects and their methodologies will be analyzed, e.g. Aldo Rossi, Christopher Alexander, Rob Krier. Architectural firms within which the instructor has worked, such as The Architects Collaborative and Caudill Rowlett Scott will be compared.

The second segment will be guest lectures-discussions. Guests will present and discuss their own or other architect's design theories.

The third segment will consist of Case Studies and specific architects and their processes.

The course will conclude with each student documenting and evaluating their own design process.

Evaluation

Evaluations of student work will be based on the quality of presentations, papers, and participation class.

Case Studies

Each student will select an architect and will prepare verbal presentation with slides. Each student will identify the architect's design process through his work. Paper can also include diagrams and drawings (ink, 8-1/2 x 11 inch letter format).

Analysis of Design Process

Select a project from your current design studio and document its design process through writings, diagrams, and drawings. All drawings to be done in ink. Identify your process or other methodologies involved.

Readings

All reading will be assigned ahead of time; students are to read materials prior to class time. A written synopsis will be due at the beginning of class.

Required textbook:

Moore, Charles. Chamber for Memory Palace.
Rossi, Aldo. Architecture of the City.

Design Process Bibliography

Alexander, Christopher. Notes on Synthesis of Form.
Alexander, Christopher. Pattern Language.
Colquhoun, Alan. Typology and Design Method Perspecta 12.
Krier, Rob. Urban Space.
Krier, Rob. Elements of Architecture.
Le Corbusier. Towards a New Architecture.
Moore, Charles. Body, Memory, and Architecture.
Moore, Charles. Place of Houses.
Moneo, Rafael. "On Typology," Opposition 13.
Norberg-Schulz, Christian. Intentions in Architecture.
Norberg-Schulz, Christian. Genius Loci.
Pena, William. Problem Seeking.
Rossi, Aldo. Scientific Autobiography.
Rowe, Colin. The Mathematics of the Ideal Villa and Other Essays.
Wurman, Richard Saul. What Will be Has Always Been.
Venturi, Robert. Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture.