Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Design Studio 0
Other languages of instruction: Spanish
Teaching staff
Attention to students is always given when it is required, throughout the planned class schedule, both theoretical and practical. On the other hand, a specific schedule of personalized, individual attention is also established, which is set every Wednesday between 14:30 and 15:30. Without detriment to the choice of another time that can be arranged by appointment: Prof. DDr. Alberto T. Estévez - estevez@uic.es
Introduction
Design Studio 0? (Introduction to Architectural Projects?) Well, first, what is architecture? And what does it mean to be an architect?
"Tout est architecture", Le Corbusier, 1935.
"Alles ist Architektur", Hans Hollein, 1968.
"Todo es arquitectura", Alberto T. Estévez, 2001 (Al margen: Escritos de Arquitectura, Madrid, Abada Editores, 2009).
This course aims to introduce students to the development of an architectural project based on an understanding of architectural systems and/or planning strategies. While ‘system’ refers to a combination of parameters related to each other and ‘strategy’ is the definition of an architectural DNA, students will have to learn to establish a process of research, experimentation and validation of these parameters, this process being just as much a priority as the final architectural objective. Architectural systems and/or strategies do not threaten the object per se and have a value in themselves. An approximation to these systems and strategies is what is under study: the processes, structures, context, relationship between the parts and capacities of the system itself to interact with its context and offer an evocative, multipurpose outcome as applied to the programme which, at the end of the day, may vary radically throughout the history of the final building, which does not necessarily mean it should lose any architectural quality.
Pre-course requirements
No prerequisites are required. (Interest in architecture and in being an architect is assumed).
Objectives
Students will be given a specific task: a working area and a specific programme. Based on this task and the two parameters of programme and place, they will need to establish a system and/or strategy to allow the project to move forward. The goodness of the proposed architectural system and/or strategy will be verified in such a way that if we were to change one of the two parameters, either programme or place, the end result would be different but the system and/or strategy behind it would not.
The final goal of the course is to give students the critical capacity to develop a project through the fundamental concepts and rules of architecture. At the same time, it aims to consolidate students’ ability to plan by means of:
- The eye: The architect’s eye is multifaceted and diverse and the common denominator might be its reflexive and propositive reaction to an increasingly complex reality (thinking and rethinking things), and the personal and professional positioning with regard to the space/time in which their activity takes place (an open and critical attitude).
- The profession: The ability to transmit and undertake ideas or strategies in architecture implies knowledge and mastery of the tools of representation and construction (scales, drawings, models, images, details, construction systems, materials, etc.), and the practice and testing of the main aspects of project development (analysis, implementation, dimensioning, distribution, spatiality, definition, etc.).
Students’ intentions, consistency and enthusiasm for ideas and the project (the eye) will be very closely monitored, demanding an energetic and positive attitude towards the development and definition (the profession). Students’ capacity for work and their attitude and maturity will all be assessed.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 03 - To acquire adequate knowledge of spatial representation systems applied to architecture and urbanism .
- 04 - To acquire knowledge and apply it to the analysis and theory of form and the laws of visual perception in architecture and urbainism.
- 05 - To acquire adequate knowlege of metric and projective geometry applied to architecture and urbanism.
- 06 - To acquire adequate knowledge of graphic surveying techniques in all stages, from sketching to scientific restitution.
- 10 - To acquire adequate knowledge and apply it to the fundamentals of topography, hypsometry, mapping and terrain modification techniques in architecture and urbanism
- 1-T - Ability to apply graphic procedures to the representation of spaces and objects.
- 2-T - Ability to conceive and represent the visual attributes of objects and master the proportions and techniques of drawing, including digital forms
Learning outcomes of the subject
- The ability to conceive, put into practice and develop sketches, preliminary designs, basic execution projects and projects in urban contexts.
- The ability to draw up and understand project programmes, intervention, restoration, conservation and rehabilitation of heritage, removal of physical barriers, cities for everyone, exercise architectural criticism, find solutions for passive environmental conditioning (insulation, energy control and performance).
- The capacity to design and execute urban roads and public spaces and to understand and apply urban planning ordinances and regulations.
- Sufficient knowledge of theories of form, symbolism, composition and architectural typologies; history of architecture; understanding of social needs, quality of life and habitability and how to solve them; the environment, sustainability and the conservation of material and energy resources; local architectural traditions; social, economic, environmental, technical and urban foundations; the relationship between cultural patterns and the responsibilities of the architect.
In short, the aim is that students learn to think for themselves, extracting logical, feasible and creative conclusions from their own thought processes, determination and personal ambitions. THEIR OWN IDEAS: defining their ideas clearly, logically and precisely using both graphic and technical language which is at the same time communicative and creative. DEVELOPING THEIR OWN TECHNICAL AND GRAPHIC STYLE.
Syllabus
The specific project and location, and the exact working programme for each week, will be given in class.
The materialization of the idea will also be an important element. The sustainability and constructive and sensorial properties of the materials chosen for the concept will be another aspect to take into consideration.
Finally, it is worth underlining that the project will need to be developed with a constructive awareness: the exercise will entail a coherent and consistent transition between the concept and the constructive idea. Therefore this will require a clear definition of the main constructive and structural elements that will support the architectural formalization of the project and hence materialize the conceptual idea. Other factors to take into account will be the time, energy and resources dedicated to the construction and maintenance of the building and any possible deconstruction in the future.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
In person, face-to-face, in the classroom.
General structure of the course
Schedule: FRIDAY, from 09:00 to 15:00
09:00-10:00 - Public correction of selected works with an emphasis on the best projects (1 hour).
10:00-11:00: Theory class: the professors will provide ideas and examples for learning the theoretical, technical and graphic foundations for the correct documentation and presentation of projects (1 hour).
11:00-15:00 - Personal corrections with the assigned professors (4 hours).
| TRAINING ACTIVITY | COMPETENCES | ECTS CREDITS |
| Class exhibition | 03 04 05 06 10 1-T 2-T 34-T 63 64 65 66 77 | 1 |
| Class participation | 03 04 05 06 10 1-T 2-T 34-T 63 64 65 66 77 | 0,5 |
| Clase practice | 03 04 05 06 10 1-T 2-T 34-T 63 64 65 66 77 | 0,5 |
| Tutorials | 03 04 05 06 10 1-T 2-T 34-T 63 64 65 77 | 1 |
| Individual or group study | 03 04 05 06 10 1-T 2-T 34-T 63 64 65 66 77 | 3 |
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
The course is structured into theory classes throughout the semester and a series of assignments and partial and final submissions during the course.
Continuous evaluation, “every week counts”, attendance and participation in class, exercises. The evaluation criteria will prioritize creativity and critical depth, intelligence, effeciency, capacity for analysis and synthesis, as well as scientificity and professionalism (erudition, precision, diligence, punctuality, presentation, typographical, spelling and syntactic correction). Active participation in class will also be encouraged during the course, which will be especially valued. And, of course, the attendance and interest of the students will be considered.
Classes will start every Friday at 09.30 and end at 15.30. During the first five weeks they will involve both theory and practical sessions, focused on analysing the aspects that will help students with their project development. These sessions will be held first thing so they can serve as a reference for the corrections made later on during the morning.
Lectures and personal theory sessions will alternate with public sessions so it is extremely important that students attend the entire class to get the greatest benefit from both their own and other students’ presentations.
All students will be guaranteed the chance to make their presentation but the order and length of time will be determined by the professors, giving precedence to ideas that have entailed the most effort or hours of work, and grouping similar projects into shared correction sessions. For this reason it is very important that students attend from early morning to ensure their right to present their ideas.
Model work will be an important part of the course, whether this is practice work or the definitive submission, and models should be presented in accordance with the established schedule, which will vary in scale.
Any work submitted late or with the wrong contents or format will not be accepted.
Bibliography and resources
BASIC BIBLIOGRAPHY:
KAHN, Louis, Form & Design, The Voice of America Forum Lectures, Paperback, 1961.
LE CORBUSIER, Vers une architecture. París, G. Cres, 1923.
NEUFERT, Ernst, Arte de proyectar en arquitectura, Barcelona, Gustavo Gili, 1936.
PALLASMAA, Juhani, The Eyes of the Skin. Architecture and the Senses, Chichester (West Sussex), Wiley-Academy Ed., 2005.
RASMUSSEN, Steen Eiler, Experiencing Architecture, Cambridge (Mass.) M.I.T. Press, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1962.
ROSSI, Aldo, L’Architettura della città, (1966). (Versión Castellana: La Arquitectura de la Ciudad. Barcelona, Editorial Gustavi Gili, 1982).
VENTURI, Robert, Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture. New York, The Museum of Modern Art, 1966.
ZEVI, Bruno, Saber ver la Arquitectura, Barcelona, Poseidón, 1974.
ZUMTHOR, Peter, Architektur Denken, Basilea, Boston, Berlín, Birkhäuser-Verlag, 2006.