university of oregon - school of architecture and allied arts - department of architecture

analog / digital studio – arch 484/584 fall 00 – prof. nancy cheng

Assignment 3: SITE RESPONSE

OBJECTIVES

- To put basic information about site and program into a usable format

- To quickly create multiple alternatives

- To find a promising scheme that could address critical issues

DESCRIPTION

Working with less complete information, a designer needs to generate alternative possibilities. In the beginning stages, ambiguous gestures can be read and refined in different ways. Creating some open-ended variations rather than polished, fixed pieces allows additions and amendments.

Look at first sketches in Daidalos and early scheming techniques in Uddin. What characterizes the early stages of design compared to the later ones? Can you follow the marks on the page or collaged images to track design thinking? What do you do with the ideas that can’t be used this time?

PART I: GROUP PROCESS ON PROGRAM (in class):

As a group we will narrow down on what is most essential to the project. Please examine the proposed spaces on the attached schedule and be ready to vote for what should be included in the program.

PART II: INDEPENDENT SCHEMING:

To get a jump start on the project, we’ll try out some quick visualization techniques. Your challenge is to get down a design possibility on paper as fast as possible. In the next week, spend at least 4 hours each on two suggested techniques listed below to get started:

SECTION TO 3D: Sectional drawing of major outdoor and indoor spaces surrounded by secondary spaces. Indicate entry, primary daylight, important views. Use a scale to give general dimensions. Develop into a massing concept.

PROGRAM COLLAGE: Create rectangles to scale of major program clusters in plan. Arrange like game pieces on a table, organizing around clear circulation diagrams. Alternate: Use objects like toys, mugs, saltshakers, blocks to represent program elements, use yarn or thread in different colors for different kinds of circulation.

Record your compositions with either a digital camera or sketches. Next, consolidate natural clusters into larger masses, play with formal relationships.

2D to 3D: Create a bubble diagram, and from that flat diagram, create 3 forms. Sketch or model all the possible 3D variations from the plan shape, then select sets and evaluate how they go together. Substitute in different ones until the set is pleasing.

CONCEPT MODEL: gather materials that you like to play with. Sculpt them into something of beauty that represents the essence of the site or program symbolically, without worrying about making a building. Read the spaces, hierarchy and rhythm of the pieces that you have created. Keep the model around for inspiration.

GUIDED VISUALIZATION: Meditate on who forms your community: who are the people who give you support? Close your eyes and visualize yourself amidst them in a gathering. Imagine in what sort of space you would gather in. Does the ceiling soar above your head or stay close in a cozy shelter? Is light filtering in through surrounding trees or does it flood into the room? Would you like to have a view or is it better to focus into the group or around a hearth?

PART III: REFLECTION

WORDS: From playing around to generate forms and shapes, you will find yourself coming back to organizing principles and design goals. Write down your priorities for the project and articulate how your favorite beginning scheme starts to address these priorities. On your webpage post:

- 3 inspirational site or precedent images

- 3 of your favorite images that you created

- written descriptions of these images.

REFERENCES:

Daidalos, December 1995 no. 58 (journal) AAA NA1.A1D34

M. Saleh Uddin, Digital Architecture, In Chapter 3, see “Conceptual Studies, Digital Analysis and Digital Hybrids”