Credits: 0-12-4 (4 semester hours)
Type of Course: Architectural Design Studio
Instructors: Varies
Prerequisites: COA 1011, COA 1012, COA 1060
Course Overview
The second year studio sequence focuses upon the conventions of architecture in the development of problem-solving skills for design. The understanding of architectural convention is emphasized as the basis for design invention and as the foundation of ethical action. Design exercises stress analysis as well as synthesis of context, function, form, space, and construction while emphasizing principles drawn from the architectural history and construction technology courses. The mastery of conventions of representation is emphasized as well in order to enhance students’ abilities in the communication of both technical and expressive intentions.
Learning Objectives
Arch 2011 focuses upon fundamental principles of space, form, and construction which are evident throughout the history of architecture and which have continued relevance today. These include issues of site, composition, spatial sequence, and construction. Analytical exercises emphasize architectural exemplars in the development of design strategies for the accommodation of architectural programs. Representational skills in drawing and model-making are stressed. The semester-long studio is organized in three modules, with students rotating at five week intervals for computing, analytic measured drawings, and design fundamentals.
Topics include:
- Introduction to the design process: analogical methods (drawing and model-making) are applied to the problems engaging human scale and proportion, architectural geometrics, spatial sequencing, and the temporal measure of space.
- Development of representational skills: architectural drawing conventions, sketching and diagramming of architectural sequences and compositions, three-dimensional modeling.
- Application of representational conventions in the formal analysis of individual buildings and architectural spaces.
- Problem-solving exercises applying knowledge of architectural principles and conventions derived from formal and critical analyses.
- Fundamentals of computing.