Start semester
40 529 ACDL: Place
Full course name in Norwegian Bokmål:
ACDL: Place
Credits:
24
Course code:
40 529
Level of study:
Master
Teaching semester:
2019 Autumn
Assessment semester:
2019 Autumn
Language of instruction:
English
Year:
2019
Maximum number of students:
15
Person in charge
Søren S. Sørensen
Required prerequisite knowledge
Admission to AHO and successful completion of three years bachelor level studies (180 ECTS)
Preliminary skills in computational design is advisory. Students with knowledge/skills in Rhino/Grasshopper or similar are encouraged to apply.
Course content
On the subject
The studio is project-based and the assignment is to design a couple of single family houses with a working studio for an artist (a member of the family). These projects will share the same program and the same client but will be located in two different sites, one in Portugal and the other in Norway. The sites share certain similar conditions so that the students can recognize their significance and influence in the design process.
The students are thus asked to reflect on the following questions:
- How does the place contribute to the problem that one’s architecture responds to? And how does the architectural create “place”?
- How can a building be both a physical object and a cultural meaning at the same time? Do architects control, or even influence, what cultural meanings they produce when they make buildings, cities and places?
- Does the way one approach the site matter for questions of identity and timelessness in architecture?
The projects are to be designed for a family of 4 people and must bring together spaces for living, dwelling, working, as well as landscape and outdoor areas.
Prior to starting any design, the students will be asked to conduct an analysis of both sites and simultaneously reflect on the sociological and psychological aspects of built environments and their influence on human beings. The architectural site analysis will look at issues such as site location, size, topography, vegetation, climate, traffic conditions and any future developments within the area. When working on the site analysis the students will be asked to consider the buildings placement, orientation, form and materiality, and how it can influence its structure, sustainability, etc.
The students will be given a reference program but are encouraged to suggest changes to it based on their interpretation of the site. The program areas of one house may differ from the other. In the architectural design, students must consider local building culture, local climate, building materials, technology integration, multipurpose space and relation to the outdoors and local landscape.
The studio will focus on an iterative design process to test and evaluate performative aspects of designs in relation to environmental impacts and functional inquiries. This is done through a range of parametric analysis that is based on the focus of each design project in the studio. The expected general evaluations include daylight inquiries, natural ventilation and dimension of various spaces in addition to materiality, etc.
During the design process the students will be introduced to the work of different architects (among these Christian Norberg-Schulz and Álvaro Siza Vieira) and how or if “place” influences their architecture.
Study trip: Sites and projects in Norway and Portugal with a focus on single family house projects.
Teaching staff: Søren S. Sørensen and Sofia Martins de Cunha
Learning outcome
Knowledge:
- of the architectural and computational design themes pursued by the studio.
- of associative modelling.
- of tools for analysis and simulation relating to environmental impact and performance.
- of successful built examples of equivalent projects.
- of Virtual and Augmented Reality for architectural visualization and design.
- of architectural theory regarding place and meaning in architecture.
Skills:
- in computational design in architecture.
- in utilizing associative modelling systems for architectural design.
- in using simulations, analysis tools and advanced visualization as part of the design process.
- reflective thinking and evaluation as a tool of developing design ideas within the design process.
- in architectural representation.
- in oral presentation and argumentation for an architectural project.
Competence:
- The ability to develop designs based on specific performative criteria in an integrated manner from the conceptual stage to the material articulation through computational design.
- The ability to set up and follow through a design process that leads to the desired result.
- The ability to utilize design as a method of research in architecture that facilitates the conception of novel architectural designs.
Working and learning activities
Pedagogy:
The learning approach is project-based. The students develop architectural projects, with tasks given and advised by the staff through studio supervision. Lectures and workshops focusing on selected themes will contribute to knowledge and skills relevant for the project.
The ACDL studio foregrounds research by design with strong emphasis on computational design. In the studio students will work independently or in small teams with an emphasis to enable lateral exchange of knowledge and skills.
The studio will be organized in three main phases:
1st Phase: Site and Program; Analysis of the sites and their context. Formulation of the design idea (concept) based on reflections on the site and surroundings. Case studies to inform the development of concept and program. To be presented in delivery 1.
2nd Phase: Development of the design; Analysis of the project performance.
Revised program and scale (if needed). Iterative process in which materials and technical aspects are considered and evaluated. To be presented in delivery 2.
3rd Phase: Consolidation; Finalizing the design and development of smaller scales of design. There must be a deep understanding of the main spaces. To be presented in delivery 3.
There will be a final design phase for quality check of the project material to be delivered.
Students are expected to present their projects at the 3 interim deliveries during the semester with drawings, models, renders, and digital presentations and files. Deliveries are mandatory.
| Mandatory coursework | Courseworks required | Presence required | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Required | Students must submit and present their projects at the 3 interim deliveries during the semester with drawings, models, renders, and digital presentations and files. The 3 deliveries must be approved to be considered at the final project assignment. |
| Form of assessment | Grouping | Grading scale | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project assignment | Individual | Pass / fail | The portfolio assessment consists of a main architectural design project, final presentation and subtasks. There will be several subtasks w/ presentations throughout the semester. The subtasks must be delivered and approved before the main project can be assessed. |
| Workload activity | Comment |
|---|---|
| Attendance | Participation and attendance in lectures, supervision at the desks in the studio, seminars and workshops is expected. |
| Excursion | Study trip to sites and projects in Norway and Portugal. Those who do not have the opportunity to participate in excursion will receive a task / a project that replaces this.Those who do not have the opportunity to participate in excursion will receive a task / a project that replaces this. |