Architecture

This Design Studio in the Second Year Architecture examines the principles of spacemaking on a given site. It is structured to explore the incidental outcomes and find meanings within them to develop faith in the intuitive processes in design. It proceeds to use such findings(diagrams) as a point that marks the beginning of a journey to engage with a given site for design explorations. The studio undertakes exercises to explore the notions of space making from individual (private) to group ( collective) to inform the Place for Community(Public) as the final project.

Emphasis is on issues of spaces , quality of spaces required  and  relationship of artist with space , relationship with space and form with topography and nature of site. In this studio it is to develop the understanding the need of an artist as a space and influence of space to the artist. It shall develop the ability to select place , landscape and any functionality space required to the artist. The impact of space and background on artists. Eventually students have to select an inspiring artist and figuring artist needs they have to create spaces of any area such as studio , exhibition gallery , residences etc. Eventually students will be able to express this through sketches ,models and drawings and should be able to transfer the idea of quality of spaces to form.

This course will focus on reading and writing strategies. Students will read short texts from across genres and analyze them. The goal of such reading activities is to help students understand how texts across different genres have similarities in the way they are constructed. Writing activities will help students understand how they have to adapt their writing style based on the audience.

Less than 10% of the structures built across the world are designed by architects. The vast majority of the global built environment is built by communities seeking to shape their own space. Architecture is thus a form of basic human act; an aspect of our social evolution that predates both habit and history. Architects - and indeed students of architecture - often perceive their contributions to the built environment as being heroic, iconic and special. However, very few are pushed to consider the value of their work to the development of communities, as being meaningful and engaging spaces.

This course will invite students to cast aside the persona of the architect and don the garb of a much less glamorous commoner. Assuming this role, the course will invite the student to consider important questions about space and our relation to them. Ultimately, the question remains, what is architecture, who is an architect and do we really need them?

COURSE DESCRIPTION 

“ARCHITECTURE is the WILL of an EPOCH translated into SPACE” 

History plays a major role in the kind of environment we live in today. It traces back the roots of origin, the influences and provides an insight into the world that has formed into the present. May this be manuscript, epics and mythologies, anecdotes or Architecture; all come together to make a whole. 

History of Architecture is conventionally understood to be a study of regionally developed styles associated with history of places and mentors; helping associate with stylistic dating and possible contextualization of architectural language. 

The present course, slightly digressing from the above, makes an attempt to teach architecture through a Form language approach rather than the accepted pattern language approach. 

The scope for the semester is to focus on the structures based on mass based, trabeated systems of constructions; through the study of various architectural marvels through time, which are representative of the aforementioned construction systems through the historically identified architecture stylistic periods ...from the early ages till the modern eras.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

Upon completing this course students should be able to learn & acquire skills  :

1. Understand the Importance of History in Architecture- Architecture as identity. 

2. To observe and understand the influence of non-physical parameters such as climate, religion, culture, tradition, politics etc. in architecture. 

3. To observe and understand the influence of physical parameters such as geography, geology, local materials etc. in architecture. 

4. Understanding of various architectural styles with reference to various building systems- Mass based, Trabeated & Arcuated Systems through the study of architectural marvels spread across world history. 

Studio outline

“Urban design is concerned with the question of making comprehensible links between discrete things. As a corollary, it is concerned with making extremely large entity comprehensible by articulating its parts.” (Trancik, 1986:106)

In order to improve the existing urban environment, urban voids in the future are likely to become key strategic spaces. These leftover spaces can be explored as ‘opportunity spaces’ by infusing activities in a meaningful way thereby making them ‘places for people’.

The book ‘Finding Lost Space’ by Roger Trancik brings up inquiries on the undesirable urban area that makes no positive contribution to the surroundings and which is ill-defined, without measurable boundaries and fail to connect elements in a coherent way, by calling them ‘lost space’ (Trancik, 1986)

In this studio, urban voids (lost spaces) will be defined as spaces that are defunct, underutilized, abandoned, in-between spaces or better usable conditioned spaces among public and private realms. The studio expands on the idea of identifying such potential lost spaces within the larger context, and transform them into active built or non-built entities that would have an influence on the context and urban life by and large.

Objectives

The objectives set for the studio course are –

·         To identify, define and decipher lost spaces at the neighborhood or city level to arrive at urban issues, concerns, and values

·         To generate a set of values by reading the context to arrive at an idea and vision

·         To analyze character, abstraction and design development with a human-focused approach

·         To sensitize students in deriving vibrancy, values, active & interactive realms

·         To recognize appropriate activity or activities that would be firmly shaped, coherently linked creating humanly (Robert Campbell) meaningful ‘places for people’

Cities are formed through layers of history, systems, services and infrastructure, socio-cultural milieu, demography etc. These elements function independently as well as interdependently to make cities function. Each city has evolved through the past to derive a physical entity that is perceived today. The physical dimension to cities are easily perceived and experienced. However, the layers of narratives that are instrumental in physical shaping of cities is critical. The cities are therefore narratives of individual as well as collective. 

Through the years, these layers keep changing, evolving like cells of a human body. Likewise, some cells do transform their meanings through times. These layers change their functions, meanings, identity. These layers that existed earlier have found a new meaning and identity or are in search of one. These changing definitions and quest for finding new meaning and identity would be the premise of the studio. 

These layers are often in an evolutionary and constantly changing process as one desires to intervene in 21st century. The design interventions would emerge as an outcome of past with an aspiration of future, of how it could evolve in centuries to come. Some of these layers and elements include changing nature of telecommunications, social interactions, leisure, recreation and shopping etc. The idea of communications have changed the relevance of telegrams and post and have evolved technologically. The social interactions have changed the meaning of how the public spaces and markets are being used. The reference to city history through live and experiential museums have diluted. The new inventions of 20th and 21st centuries like automobiles have taken over public spaces. The flyovers have created residual spaces and parking lots out of active public streets. The studio would engage students into retrospective and investigative nature of design interventions through this journey of tracing the past and inventing and redefining these urban amnesia for the future. 

DT: JULY 2020

PERCEPTION OF STRUCTURE

  “Creativity in architecture design and structural solution have a symbiotic relationship; both are inseparable because each has an effect on the function of the other. Architecture should have firmness (structure permanence) commodity (function) and delight (aesthetic)” – Vitruvius

From the perspective of ‘Structuralism’ the architectural space is created through the interaction of a human being with his environment which is kept as a technical or artificial. The components of an architectural space interacts between human, form and environment. Structure protects the form of the elements and the total system and it is the main factor of defining the space, scope or form that the architectural space is willing to define (Engel, 2006)

The human space architecture components are form and environment. Therefore it is important that the spatial constructions be interactive with human otherwise if the building does not consider human characteristics and pays attention to other criteria, it will face human reactions and it will be useless. Thus the architectural space identity depends on its structure and the function of the structure and geometry being the factors of space design. The interaction of space and structure is necessary in creating human space… Sometimes structure becomes the center of attention and sometimes it is neglected during the process of building design. But it must be confirmed that the best structure is the one that is accepted and synchronized by architecture. Structures make form light and transparent and these elements are important in human spaces and the inside and outside relationship. Therefore in planning a building the human being and his desired space are the most important criteria.

Perception of structure is also connected with the typology of a building, its size and function. Perception in this respect can be characterised by one of the feelings, which excite the imagination by their size, dimensions, where the range and height are surprising as are the difficulty of shapes.

At the turn of the 20th century, a general dissatisfaction with revivalist architecture and elaborate decoration gave rise to modernist architecture, characterised by the idea that ‘Form follows function’.

As the complexity of buildings began to increase (in terms of structural systems, services and technology), building design became a multi-disciplinary undertaking, with specialist designers for different types and different aspects of buildings. Structure became the basis for these achievements, by becoming the most critical component of architecture.

So ‘STRUCTURE’ can be defined as –

01. A PART OF ARCHITECTURE – By knowing the patterns and technical principles of construction creation, expression of aesthetic value, creation of construction concepts;

02. A TOOL OF INTERPRETATION OF ARCHITECTURE – By knowing the function of space, tectonics, material and technology, methodology of scheme creation;

03. SEMANTIC AND SEMIOTIC MEANING IN ARCHITECTURE - Through expression of tools and details of construction, symbolism of construction, theory and methodology of detail creation.

MOTTO - “To think in architecture, to feel in structure”

MISSION - “Rationalization of Material and Spatial Form”

 PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR STUDIO

01. HOUSING      

- Addressing Contextual issues (Partially)

- Structure as tool for structuring of housing units and clustering (Algorithmic Structuring / Prefabrication)

E.G, Unite de Habitation, Marseille; Habitat 67, Montreal; The Nakagin Capsule Tower, Japan;  The Interlace Vertical Village Apartment Complex in Singapore etc ; Vertical Forest  Residential Tower; Vertical Park / Jorge Hernandez de la Garza

02. CITY LIBRARY             

- Structure as means of addressing the programmatic issues and as form generator (Identification and Exploration of a Structural Typology)

E.G, National and University Library of Kosovo in Prishtina, Kosovo; National Library of Argentina; Vennesla Library, Vennesla; Seattle Central Library, Seatle; Philological Library of the Free University, Berlin etc

03. MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

- Exploration of Structural Systems in making a ‘Futuristic’ Architectural Form

E.G., Work of Frank Gehry; BUCC Bangkok University Creative Center; Valencia Prince Felipe Museum of the Sciences, Spain; V&A Museum Extension, London, England

Note:

Preference may be given to students to select projects other than mentioned above - subject to mutual discussion and acceptance

PROFILE OF STUDIO

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Total Assessment - 100 Marks

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT CRITERIA                            60%                       EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT CRITERIA                       40%

S. No.     Components                                                      Marks                    Final Jury - Organised by University -                     100

   01        RESEARCH                                                           10

   02        CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT                               20

   03        DESIGN DEVELOPMENT                                  40

   04        TECHNICAL INTEGRATION                             20

   05        CONTEXTUAL AWARENESS                           10

Total Internal Assessment            100

NOTE: Attendance shall be as per the University norms (80%)

BASIS OF ASSESSMENT

S.NO.                                      COMPONENT                     

01           KNOWLEDGE                     

                                · Design Theory, Historic Landscape Architecture                            

                                · Design Process and Practice                  

                                · Sustainable Design Practices and Materials                      

02           PROBLEM SOLVING AND DESIGN                               

                                · Methods and Procedures                        

                                · Process Drawings (Analysis, Diagrams, Program)                          

                                · Creative and Innovative Application                   

                                · Concept and Schematic Design                            

                                · Site Planning                

03           TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE                              

                                · Problem Statements and Definition                    

                                · Design and Conceptualisation                              

                                · Layout, Materials                        

                                · Construction Details                 

04           COMMUNICATION AND GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION                          

                                · Conceptualisation and Visualisation                   

                                · Oral Presentation                       

                                · Hand Sketching, Drafting and Rendering                          

                                · CAD                 

                                · Digital Technology - Photoshop, Sketch up, Other                        

                                · Writing                           

05           ETHICAL PRINCIPLES                      

                                · Environmental Concerns                         

                                · Social Values                

                                · Sustainability and Climate Change                      

ASSESSMENT DATES AND INTERIM SUBMISSIONS

01. Submission of Research Work and Concept Evolution                - 10 August 2020               - Max. Marks 30

                [Case Study Analysis and Conceptual Statement]

02. Design Development                                                                                - 31 August 2020                - Max. Marks 40

                [Program and Schematic Design (Plan, Sections, 3D etc]

03. Technical Integration and Contextual Response                           - 09 November 2020         - Max. Marks 30

The course aims at understanding the Modern Movement in architecture. The course shall investigate and  understand Modern Movement through the works of  Master Architects - Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright. 

Understanding the architectural projects of these masters shall help chart the various phases of this movement and analyse the elements and characteristics of its language. The course shall use lectures, abstractions, drawings and presentations as methods to discuss the modern language.

“Architecture is a synthesis of intention” -Fernando Domeyko-Perez

Design is a solution to a question posed to an architect. It is of foremost value that the architect is clear in the objective they want to achieve through the design, their intentions. When presented with a design problem, one must be skilled to use the requirements and constraints as catalysts to create an efficient design solution. One must understand that what are perceived as intuitive decisions for designers with experience, is in reality the persistent application of the appropriate intentions, which with time is ingrained in the design process.

To be able to implant this skill in the students, this studio is designed to focus on recognising, interpreting and translating design intentions. This dimension of being able to ‘Decode & Decipher’ shall be added to their knowledge of anthropometry scale, proportion, module and circulation attained in the previous semester. It shall be the first step to realising and understanding the role, process and application of the intention to a design problem.

The studio shall emphasis on the process of design. Identification of intentions and attitudes towards design shall help the students generate a set of guidelines for their design solution through drawings, mapping, graphic and model media.

Architectural theory is a result of rigorous thinking, discussions and writing about architecture.The course introduces architectural theories and explores a series of writings on architecture. The study of these theories, tracing the roots of their origin, the circumstances of their genesis strengthens the knowledge of architecture and its development.The course aims to encourage a dialogue between theory and practice. A detailed understanding of these theories and investigating its translation to a built form shall be catalysts to the students in discovering and developing their own position on their architectural ambitions. The study of these works develops the analytical and critical thinking skills of the students. The course shall adopt methods like lectures, discussions and writing to achieve this.

To develop an understanding of the structure as a prime design element. At the most basic level, we hope to increase the architect’s perception of the structure as an integral element of architecture rather than as just an applied technology. Where structure underwrites architecturally, other than in its primary load-transferring role. It contributes to another layer of aesthetic and functional richness to designs. We will illustrate structure as a vital architectural element, which thoroughly integrated and involved in the making of architecture, and playing significant roles that engage the senses, hearts, and minds of building users.

Learning Objectives:

1. Structure creating construction concepts

2. Rules and criteria of structural elements and their use in projects.

3. As a part of Architectural elements and aesthetics.

The idea of this Studio is to give an introduction to the vast field that Architecture is and to open the students up towards possibilities of design, developing their own ways of responding to a given design brief and coming up with plethora of outcomes for the same. Through the course of the semester, students will learn various aspects about architectural design in terms of Elements of space making, Spatial relationships, light and shadow, response to site and various factors transforming the built form through small 2-3 week exercises.

The semester is broken into a set of five smaller modules, each giving them an insight towards design trajectories. Each exercise will be task oriented and is designed so that the students have a clear idea of the path they may undertake. Along with these, students will also learn ways of representing ideas in terms of drawing using various methodologies, mediums and model making.

The idea of the studio is to respond to the changing nature of dwelling and working in any urban society and explore the extent to which Architecture can contain and encourage the overlaps of their spatial and temporal domains. Contemporary aspirations, expectations and standards have failed to keep pace with rapidly evolving living patterns and its relationships to “work”, our sense of belonging, and how we use it. The binary separation between life and work is unraveling, and in turn, becoming far more fluid.

The course will include the following modules: 

• Basics of Electrical Distribution & Power requirements  
  
• Details related to Electrical Distribution systems 
  
• Switches 
• Cables 
• Distribution boards 
• Protection devises 
• Introduction to Automation
  
• Design exercises for assessment of understanding of basic concepts as well as drawing standardisation
  
• Residential application (Layout, Drawing & BOQ) 
• Non-residential application (Layout, Drawing & BOQ) 
• Site visit to project under construction (Optional)
  

This course inculcates amongst students the historical understanding of various urban settlements and prepares them to learn & develop analytical skills  :

1. Of various civilisations and theirs settlements.

2. Develop detailed understanding of urban settlements with critical thinking and analytical ability.

3. To explore the impact of cultural, socio-political, geographical and physiological beliefs on built forms. 

4. To understand historical evolution processes and their impacts as to be able to retrospect the new and contemporary urban settlements.