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Structure of the Year
BRIEF OUTLINE
The year is structured according to 5 thematic and incremental projects divided between the 4 terms
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Projects build from conceptual, small scale to the pragmatic, large scale and back to conceptual/technical, small scale
Projects are research enquiries, each with a research question to guide the inquiry, a lens/sight/ way/method to approach the inquiry and the site is seen as a laboratory to test and experiment Projects are interdisciplinary, they borrow from other disciplines especially in terms of representation (tools/instruments)
Projects are used to interrogate and deepen understandings of typology (building type)
Each project will be supplemented by a series of lectures to deepen and broaden each inquiry
Term 1: 15 Feb -01 April Topic: Thematic + Theoretic + Conceptual
What- Rituals of a new year/season Narratives of family -choreography and space- 2 design projects (1- visual narrative choreography drawings of your favourite family ritual, 2- redesign/reimagining of that family ritual)
How- a series of lectures and in studio workshops on the design process, conceptualisation, methodology and meaning making
Why- Understand the relationship between narratives, rituals and space, and how these shape society/family units. Assembly drawing What- Rituals of birth/death A Landscape architecture project- public ceremonial space/ place of worship, sacred space, ritual space, cemetery, crematorium, baptism space
How- A series of lectures and precedent analysis on symbolism, topography, form, narrative, typologies and geometry, landscape
Why- critically explore landscape architectural typologies, understand how narratives, rituals, and architecture shape society/community
Term 3: 19 Jul- 03 Sep Topic: Public Spaces/ Architecture
What- A Queer Club House design of spaces that explore themes around identity and politics in Braamfontein, with particular focus on queer critical space inquiries (Major Design project).
How- A series of lectures and peer engagements on mapping techniques, design approaches and design resolution. Integration of other modules
Why: Develop design ideas with reference to functional, technical, climatic, and environmental requirements. Develop and present ideas from inception to a final product. Communicate design intentions. What: Johannesburg Pride Float
Intuitive speculative design approach
How: Speculative Model making and narrative- tectonic, materiality, symbolism, structure, form, scale, lecture on speculative design approach
Why: deepen and expand critical conceptual thinking.
