Start semester
40 644 ACDL: computational design of an in situ restaurant
Admission to AHO and successful completion of three years bachelor level studies. The studio is open for students of architecture and landscape-architecture. Preliminary skills in computational design is advisory.
The assignment is to design a restaurant, approx. 600 m2, with outdoor areas and landscaping. Site: Hukodden, Oslo. The studio is project-based and the ACDL studio (advanced computational design laboratory) places a strong emphasis on computational tools as part of the design process and communication of ideas. The studio is not about the tools per se, rather about an experimental approach to architectural design, design processes and methodologies.Our ambition is to investigate fundamental architectural topics by means of analog and computational tools in an iterative way. This focus on process and methodology throughout the semester allows the analogue and digital to be considered together as part of a holistic approach. Therefore, all material produced by the students during the semester will be considered in the final evaluation.
The studio will focus on an iterative design process to test and evaluate performative aspects of designs in relation to changing spatial and functional demands. This is done through a range of computational methods and tools based on the focus of each design project in the studio.
The topics of the studio narrow the focus, while allowing the students to do in-depth investigations simultaneously. The intention is to help the students to develop their own design methodology while bridging analog processes and digital tools. While architects traditionally rely on intuition and experience to solve design problems, computational design aims to enhance that process. Our aim is to equip the students with the knowledge, skills and tools to achieve their architectural design.
Knowledge:
- of the architectural and computational design themes pursued by the studio.
- of associative modelling.
- of tools for analysis and simulation relating to building performance.
- of successful built examples of equivalent projects.
- of advanced architectural visualization.
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 for developing design ideas within the design process.
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.
The studio will be organized in five main phases:
- 1st Phase: Introduction to computational tools through workshops and short tasks.
- 2nd Phase: Formulation of the design idea (concept). To be presented in delivery 1 to the teachers.
- 3rd Phase: Development of the design; Iterative process in which spatial solutions, materials and technical aspects are considered and evaluated. Analysis of the project performance. To be presented in delivery 2 to the teachers and external guest. This delivery is equivalent to the mid-term delivery in a competition process.
- 4th Phase: Consolidation; Finalizing the design and development of details. To be presented in delivery 3 to the teachers.
- 5th Phase: There will be a final period for quality check of the project material to be delivered for final exhibition and presented in the final critique to an external sensor.
To be decided.
| Form of assessment | Grouping | Grading scale | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project assignment | Individual | Pass / fail |