Arch 484/584 Architectural Design - Cheng

designing media space

Assignment 4.0:

Critical Reflections & Re-Direction

Objectives:

§ To bring closure to the interiors study by deliberating about critique comments

§ To engage remote students with e-mail comments and web graphics

§ To devise a new plan of action and gather background material

Problem Description:

In order to gain a deeper understanding of the design process, after the mid-review we will:

Reflect on project context and engage others using Internet communications

Define site context, simulation scope

Procedure

1) Create a web page on your project (assignment 3)

Take notes and make sketches during the mid-review, listening carefully for comments on other projects that might apply to yours as well. Use the opportunity to deepen your understanding of how architecture can accommodate human activity and how formal order can bring harmony to a design. From the feedback, create a new section of your web pages that shows at least two beautiful images of your project and explains how your thoughts about the project have evolved.

In your web page, refer to how your thinking has been influenced by the class handouts and discussions of design process, user needs and accessibility.

2) Revise your web pages

Use this chance to reflect about the three projects you have done:

Post a page about project 1 explaining how your understanding of technology in interior environments has changed because of your design work and your exposure to classmates' web reports.

Correct and revise your technology web report (assignment 2) incorporating feedback you have received.

3) Start a dialogue

Review websites of the Cornell’s studio, ACADIA’s Library of the Future, and the University of Minnesota’s course. Find a strong site and examine what make it compelling both in terms of architectural content and presentation.

Send an e-mail review of at least 4 points to one or more of the site authors (cc to the whole class so they do NOT send to the same person and nywc@darkwing) giving design feedback and asking questions. Think about how you could convince these authors to look at your web pages and give you feedback as well.

Be ready to discuss in class the difference between our class and theirs.

4) Find your new direction and gather resources

Describe what you will do for the rest of the term: choose between

a) detailing your current design & creating an installation about it,

b) taking the program to a new site OR

c) taking up one of the other renovation problems (AAA, Yamada, DR)

Work with your classmates to create realistic definitions of both the

Program scope (area and square footage) and the Site (explain rationale, gather drawings).

Post your statement of the new direction to your web pages.

Schedule

For Friday, May 5: Complete e-mail and upload a draft of web pages (steps 1 to 3). (will be checked by remote access). Meet during studio time to plan joint gathering of resources.

For Monday, May 8: Web pages complete, ready to discuss web sites & review comments.

References

Zeisel, John, Inquiry by Design, AAA BF353.Z44 1984 

Model of Design process and working with user needs

Mitchell, William J., City of Bits: space, place and the infobahn, Cambridge, Mass. : MIT Press, 1995

Projection of life in the future with new technology

Alexander, Christopher, The Oregon Experiment, AAA LD4364.6 .O73 c.2

An approach to designing Oregon’s campus that involves user participation