ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN - LABORATORY I (LAB A)
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2016/2017
- Teacher
- ANDREA RINALDI
- Credits
- 11
- Didactic period
- Secondo Semestre
Training objectives
- LEARNING
An architecture student, who is about to enter the world of architectural design, is expected to direct the attention towards the context he lives in, and to be aware of the several meanings of contemporaneity, at a social and technical level. All these key points are thought to be related to architecture.
In particular, the Architectural Composition Studio 1 – which is a first year design laboratory – deals with the spatial, distributive, and functional aspects of the residential building typology.
The course’s activity aims at developing the ability to measure and to define the architectural space, in accordance with the logical principles of design composition, based on the correct relation between space, structure, and distribution.
The topic of the residential house is carried out with a simple approach, that means without a specific connection with the complex urban frame.
The laboratory work is supported by a research activity on relevant examples of modern and contemporary architecture.
SKILLS
1-Relate the design idea with its graphic representation. Communicate the link between the project and the architectural drawing, or rather the link between the project and the realisation;
2-Control the main phases of the design process, from the idea to the final volume, including considerations on a scale of detail;
3-Introduce the concept of architecture on a human scale, capable of meeting the functional, spatial, and structural requirements of the people that experience it;
4-Deepen and study the existing relation between man, home, and surrounding environment;
5-Learn the concept of simplicity in architecture, in order to define an accurate connection between man and architectural space. Prerequisites
- Specific prerequisites are not necessary
Course programme
- The course contains the following academic modules:
- Architectural Composition, which represent the core of the studio;
- Theories of Contemporary Architectural Research, that is provided for each of the three laboratories in which the course is divided;
- Architectural Drawing.
The organisation of the modules consists of 84 hours of Architectural Composition (focused on the design methodology, that offers the students appropriate tools to deal with their projects) and 24 hours of Theories of Contemporary Architectural Research (addressed to the theme of the residence, with appropriate case studies).
In the framework of the Architectural Composition module, the students are asked to elaborate the project of a residential building, which can be isolated or placed in a simple urban context. Moreover, the project is intended for a single unit, not necessarily familiar, but characterized by particular housing needs. A series of introductory lectures¬, focused on the understanding of the term “design” for architecture, are followed by a session of lectures addressed to the comprehension of the topic and the required housing-profile. The lessons concern the elaboration of the architectural design process, also showing inspiring architecture projects.
The module Theories of Contemporary Architectural Research, deepen the most advanced researches in the field of architecture, and proposes examples of residential buildings designed by contemporary architects.
The module Architectural Drawing includes a series of practical exercises that consist of redrawing some virtuous examples of contemporary architecture, coherent with the topic of the residence. The objective is to learn by drawing.
Indeed, adopting this method, the students learn to communicate properly the project through the use of technical drawing. Starting from the basics of hand drawing and the graphic conventions, the module retraces a study-path that goes through the orthogonal projections (functional to a basic understanding of the space and the representative hierarchies), the elaboration of three-dimensional views, as far as the definition of a 3D physical model.
All these stages are considered to be fundamental for a correct narration of the architectural project.
The practical exercise’s theme is equal for every student, so it is possible to compare the academic work from a common base.
All information about the quantitative aspects of the context and the data related to the residential building, are provided at the beginning of the work session. Didactic methods
- Course organisation:
-Lectures and ex tempore exercises set within the different modules on the mentioned topics. The ex tempore exercises are focused on the main steps of the architectural design process, from the idea to the detail choices.
-Practical exercises organised within the Architectural Composition module, consisting of classroom work on the project, with individual reviews.
-Two practical exercises within the Architectural Drawing module, in which the students are required to redraw some selected architecture projects. Learning assessment procedures
- At the end of the course, students must be able to elaborate the project of a simple residential building and to develop it at different scales of representation (from the general to the detail), checking the process of formal definition in relation to the techniques and the adopted materials.
The aim of the examination is to verify the level of achievement of the described learning outcomes. During the examination, the candidate is asked to discuss the project, that consists of three boards and a physical model in scale 1:100/1:50. In order to pass the exam, it is required to obtain a minimum grade of 18/30. Reference texts
- Essential bibliography:
ZAFFAGNINI M. (a cura di), “Architettura a misura d’uomo”, Pitagora Editrice, Bologna, 1994
QUARONI L., “Progettare un edificio”, Mazzotta, Milano, 1977
PONTI G., “Amate l’architettura”, Rizzoli, Milano, 2010 (terza ristampa)
A bibliography will be available on the lecturer’s website.
