Introduction

The purpose of exercise 2 is to introduce students to the intellectual process called environmental design. Many specific issues, including social, programmatic or functional requirements as well as site and climatic conditions, can drive a design. At a more general level, architectural order can also be advanced through the consideration of universal, or formal, design principles. Exercise 2 will introduce the exploration of such formal strategies in a simple design project.

Objectives

• Formal strategy
• Formal consistency
• Craftsmanship
• Design process
  

Project

Create a 'construct' consisting of three planes, each with a maximum dimension of 8" and a minimum dimension of 1". The planes should be made of 1/8" thick white foam core board. Each plane should be disposed on either the x, y or z axis (i.e. no plane should be parallel to another and planes should have orthogonal relationships to one another).

The planes must engage one another so that the entire construction is self supporting. The entire construction must be contained within an imaginary 8"x 8"x 8" cube that is also oriented to the x, y and z axes. The three planes should not be co-planar with the implied planes of the 8"cube. As the construct is to be viewed from any direction the visual integrity of each plane must be maintained. The planes of the construct should imply a variety of hierarchically ordered spaces.

Issues

In general terms your project should emphasize purpose in decision making:

• There should be a consistent strategy for the shape, size and proportion of the planes.
• There should be a consistent strategy for the joining of the planes.
• There should be a clear hierarchy in the relationship between the elements (you will want to consider size, shape, position and joining, etc.).
• The relationship between center and edge should be considered.

Procedure

Employing basic geometrical design principles develop a series of constructs and evaluate them based on the issues listed above. Use foamcore board and straight pins for a speedy and efficient design process. On your sketch pad describe the different constructs through drawing in plan oblique and elevation views. Keep a log of your thoughts and the design principles underlying each construct.

Communicate your ideas as much as possible through drawings and diagrams which will be made of highly legible drafted pencil lines on white paper. Any text and labels will display well proportioned letters. Consider board composition.

Requirements

• A final construct finely crafted of 1/8" foam core board
• Plan oblique and other drawings describing the major steps in the design process
• A minimum of eight diagrams describing design principles underlying the final proposal

Evaluation Criteria

• Evidence for formal strategy underlying design of size, shape and proportion of planes
• Evidence of consistency in applying formal strategies
• Evidence of hierarchically ordered "implied" spaces
• Quality of craft in model
• Legibility of drawings (line hierarchy and quality, composition)

Readings

Ching, Frank. Architecture: Form, Space and Order. Pages 50 - 66.

Schedule

Assigned: 27 September
Due: 11 October

(two weeks)