RMIT ARCHITECTURE DESIGN ELECTIVES POSTERS SEMESTER 2, 2013 Masters of Architecture: ARCH 1338, ARCH 1339, ARCH 1340 Bachelors of Architecture: ARCH 1040, ARCH 1041 Both Bachelors Electives and Masters Electives will be Balloted for via PAPER BALLOT. This means filling out and submitting a ballot paper into the elective ballot box on level 12, Building 8. The ballot Box for electives will be available from 1pm Tuesday 16th of July until midday the next day Wednesday, 17th July. Enquiries: Leanne Zilka, lecturer in Architecture leanne.zilka@rmit.edu.au IMAGE BY RACHEL LOK
RMIT UNIVERSITY
CONTENTS DAY
TIME
LOCATION
STAFF
TUESDAY
2.30 ‐ 5.30
B45B
Roland Snooks ‐ Experimental Robotic Fabrication
WEDNESDAY
9.30‐12.30
B45D
Chin Khoi Koo ‐ Synthetic Annex
2.30 ‐ 5.30
UAL Space Building 45
Graham Crist ‐ Eco Urban Practices
2.30‐5.30
B45C
Scott Woods ‐ The Classical View vs Emerging Theories of Typology
6.30‐9.30
8.7.153
Gwllym Jahn ‐ Leviathan
9.30 ‐ 12.30
B45B
Marika Neustupny and Laura Harper ‐ Speculation and Procurement
9.30 ‐ 12.30
8.12.36
John Doyle ‐ Metropolitan Machinery
9.30 ‐ 12.30
8.12.38
Lindsay Holland ‐ Deep Skin Deep
9.30 ‐ 12.30
B45C
Jane Dash ‐ The Environmental Facade
6.30 ‐ 9.30
8.11.51
International Practice ‐ Bruce Allen
DESIGN HUB level 8
Tom Kovac ‐ Wicked Mobilities
week 2 ‐ week 6 week 1 ‐ week 6
Tues and Fri ‐ 10‐1 Design Hub (mid term break ‐ elective will run the entire week)
Erieta Attali‐ Architecture After Dark John Cherrey and Nick Williams ‐ Sound Bites
week 6 ‐ week 17
refer poster
John Cherrey and Nick Williams ‐ Music Room
THURSDAY
6.00‐9.00pm
INTENSIVES
RESEARCH ELECTIVES
Richard Black Refer to Richard for meeting time after balloting
Tools have always defined the space of possibility for design. With the emergence of a new set of robotic tools, this space is expanding in unexpected directions. This elective will explore the relationship between new robotic tools and their potential to create novel architectural forms, structure and ornament. Students will design and prototype an architectural installation/object in parallel to designing and making a robotic tool, with the emphasis on the feedback between the two. The elective is a collaboration with the mechanical engineering department. It is intended that the architecture students will design and fabricate an architectural prototype, while the engineering students will construct custom tools for the robot. The elective will explore techniques including: large scale direct-deposition (3D printing in plastic, foam, sand), composite fibre taping, and intricate timber fabrication. This elective will be highly speculative and experimental. TUESDAY 2:30PM - 5:30PM | BUILDING 45 STUDIO B
ROLAND SNOOKS
EXPERIMENTAL ROBOTIC FABRICATION
Eco Urban Practices Graham Crist Wednesdays 2:30-5:30 RMIT B45-UAL Week 3 - Week 8 Architecture Elective: ARCH 1338-39-40 Landscape Architecture: Design Research Seminar
Eco-Urban Practices introduces you to the key skills, methods and practices of the urban design professional from a multidisciplinary perspective, and with a particular focus on environmental sustainability. The relationship between urban design and global pressures of population and climate change is a key focus, as well as urban shifts in infrastructure, technology and transport. You will explore the implications of these issues on urban design processes, projects and practices, while acquiring insight from industry and government professionals. Design practice from an international perspective is also addressed, with an emphasis on Australasia.
Architecture Elective
Elective Leader: Scott Woods
THE CLASSICAL VIEW vs. EMERGING THEORIES OF TYPOLOGY
“But, where is the HISTORY” Sanford Kwinter, Proof: Design As Research. “The influence of invention on life is marked by fixed reference points, points which enable one to grasp fully the changes of life itself, in the same way that the fixity of lighthouses enables ships to navigate.” Aldo Rossi, Spoken Into the Void.
WAM Architecten, Inntel Hotel, Amsterdam Laugier’s primitive hut, 1753
Herzog & De Meuron, Vitra Haus, Weil am Rhein
**”… each historical culture, viewed as a whole, was represented by an array of types as diverse and as complex as the society it sheltered; and if these types were truly representative of their culture, they must be so many variations, conceived within the same visual language …” Anthony Vidler, Architectural Cryptograms: Style and Type in Romantic Historiography.
The idea of Type**, developed in the Late 18th Century by Quatremère de Quincy, has undoubtedly been one of the most broadly referenced (and debated) within architectural discourse. Type’s relevance is now, (seemingly) more than ever on the wane ‐ dismissed as prescriptive and dogmatic, a troublesome foe ‐ like a dinner guest who just won’t leave. Lately however and simmering quietly, those on watch are beginning to observe a return. To be sure, this ‘revival’ is something different again; notably (and counter to past incarnations) it does not take itself too seriously. This elective is concerned with: the production of architecture within the specific context of this ‘ground‐swell’ of new typological architectures ‐ unearthing their operative methods, agendas, generative processes and nuances. We will ultimately ask: Do these observed practices fall within classically defined typological guidelines or are these suggested experiments in typology actually something else all together? To probe these questions students will be guided through historic Landmark Texts, and introduced to a Historical Survey of built Case Studies (works spanning the late 18th century to present day). Phase 1 requires students to study the supplied historical references to develop a clear understanding of the ‘story’ of Type as told through both written and built works. Phase 2 asks students to select and critically examine a contemporary Case Study. Students will then locate, decipher and articulate their findings regarding the broader and detailed connections (or disjunctions) between their classically defined ‘typological architectures’ and their contemporary or present day manifestations. How do we classify this new phenomenon? Investigations will include: Close‐reading of Historical texts; Analysis and Close‐reading of a Case Study (both historical and contemporary) including Drawings and Model‐Making; A Critical Essay OR Design Project; and a Seminar presenting your findings. When: Wednesday 2:30 – 5:30pm // Where: Room 45D
metropolitan machinery design elective Tutor: John Doyle Time: Thursday 9:30-12:30 Room: 8.12.36
‘To produce complexity we need to construct new models‌capable of dealing with ever more dynamic processes and complex organisations‘ - Alejandro Zaera-Polo
Contemporary approaches to urban research understand the city as a network of complex systems that structure and organise the built environment. These urban ecologies are not simply limited to formal appearance, but also social, economic, cultural, architectural precedent and other ephemeral or fluid qualitative aspects. In this context the challenge for architecture is in developing design approaches that are capable of engaging with the organisational systems of the urban condition. Digital and generative approaches to architectural design offer the possibility of deploying the outcome of urban research as a toolset that can be co-opted to structure a design process. This elective will explore digital approaches to design in an urban context. More specifically we will be reviewing techniques for integrating contextual information into the design process using scripted and parametric operations in Rhino and Grasshopper. This be will explored through the analysis of a series of case study projects, from which students will reverse engineer their own design tools. The primary focus of this class will be in the development of technique, however it is expected that this will be accompanied by research both through literature and project surveys, as well as iterative testing in design. The outcome of the elective will be the production of a catalogue of digital diagrams and a suite of digital tools which students will be able to carry forward into future studios and major project.
Prerequisites: This elective is available to Masters students, and Bachelors students who have completed Communications 3. It assumes a good general knowledge of Rhino. This is not a communications elective and instruction on the use of software will be limited.
The environmental faรงade Jane Dash Building 45 room c Thursday morning 9.30-12.30
This technology elective builds on the research completed in Technology 4 (facades) and Technology 3 (ESD) Using the Technology 4 tower project as a base for redesign, the elective will explore environmental issues confronting the high-rise tower faรงade through the lens of Greenstar, BCA Section J faรงade requirements and Life-cycle Assessment principles. The above will be examined through the completion of three research exercises which analyse the building through each of the three lenses. The final faรงade will be described through research, the production of 3D documentation and 1:20 sections and elevations of the faรงade. Completion of Technology 4 is recommended as a prerequisite.
IN NTE ERNA ATIIONA AL P PRAC CTIC CE Arcchitectural Design Eleective
Sem mester: 2,, 2013 Tutoor:
Bruce Allen
Loccation:
8.11.51
Tim me:
T Thursday, 6:30 6 – 9:300pm
Inteernational Practice P is a seminarr elective for 12 -15 5 students and is paart of the P proogram. Thee course coonsists of introductoryy sessions by Bruce Proffessional Practice Alleen followedd by studeent presentaations of papers. p On O three occcasions during the sem mester a gueest is inviteed to join thhe class for dinner at a budget resstaurant. Couurse Objectives The objective of o the course is to proovide students with an understandding of globalization and issues of Internationaal Practice. The seminnars providee an opporttunity for sttudents to share their knoowledge and experiencce. The issues covered include bbut are not limited to managemennt, ethics, politics, ddesign trannsfer and culttural identiity, cross cultural m regiionalism. Asssessment 1.
Presentatioon of a sem minar papeer covering a theoretiical topic related r to internationaal design. (35 markss)
2.
Presentatioon paper prresenting a critical casse study of a building designed in the studeent’s homee country byy a foreign architect. a (35 marks))
3.
A short esssay summaarizing and comparingg the prese ntations ass a means for students to develoop their ownn philosophy. (20 maarks)
4.
Semester journal of iddeas. (10 marks)
Architecture After Dark _ Night Photography & Architecture Architecture & Design Elective_Semester 2 2013_ Erieta Attali_ M&C Visiting Research Fellow 2013 Since the Renaissance, artificial illumination has been used to alter our perception of the built environment. During the 20th century, it became an inextricable part of the design process. It can be said that architecture of the night has contributed toward the fulfillment of the modernists' dream for an architecture o f intangible forms. Now, the once cold and sturdiness of a structure’s materials can be transformed into a floating apparition by the building’s light, shadow and color that can only exist after dark. From its infancy, photography h as proven to be an important means of documentation and aesthetic appeal. U rban photography pioneers such as Alfred Steiglitz and his peers were key in the development o f a technical and aesthetic photographic language that influenced their followers, the design community and the general public. By ignoring mere topographical representation, these photographers embraced the technical imperfections o f this medium – d arkness and artificial light – and produced images o f striking aesthetic and cultural impact. The pioneers used designed building lighting and ambient city lighting to change our perception of modern urban cityscape. This course will give students the opportunity to engage in a similar quest and w ill discuss photography as a medium to interpret aesthetic intent and express subjective understanding o f building or urban space after dark. Students w ill explore these issues by producing a series o f night images that cover a range o f architectural themes: cityscape, urban landscape, residential, commercial and public spaces. Technical, historical and aesthetic aspects of night photography w ill be covered in this course. There w ill be a field trip to examine and interpret work outside o f the classroom environment. Students will explore the medium of architectural photography as a critical tool for analyzing and representing buildings. To understand the intent behind d esign processes by contextualizing and framing the relationship between an architect and his/her work, photography is used not only as documentary evidence, but also as a stimulant for the critical mind. By the end of the course, each student will be taught how to select and compile a photographic portfolio based on h is/her work. With this, each student w ill include a short written contribution that explains their choice o f project(s) and d iscusses the co-‐relation between the architect’s concept and his/her visual interpretation of it. Erieta Attali is a Visiting Research Fellow in the School o f Media & Communication at RMIT and is Adjunct Professor of Architectural Photography at the Graduate School of A rchitecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia University, New York. She is an eminent and highly respected photographer who describes herself a ‘hunter of landscapes’ and has spent the past d ecade photographing architecture is dramatic, elegant and extreme landscapes for Rick Joy, Kengo Kuma and Bernard Tschumi to name just a few. She is currently working on three monographs: Scandinavian Contemporary Architecture, South A merican Contemporary A rchitecture and the architecture firm Smith Miller & Hawkinson in the USA. Her monograph “Landscape as A rchitecture”, a collection of selected works of thirty five architects around the world, w ith contributed texts by Juhani Pallasmaa and others is published by Columbia University Press. The Elective is open to students from Architecture & Design, Art and Photogrpahy. It will run in intensive mode in RMIT Design Hub on 10-‐1 Tuesday and 10-‐1 Friday During August, 2013. Enquiries martyn.hook@rmit.edu.au
Sound Bites Sound Bites City ty will be an exhibition to showcasee new works in RMIT's Sound Art Collection, to be Octobeer held in the RMIT Gallery in September and October this year. r The collection comprises multi-channel f work ks. electroacoustic installation and performance works.
Sound Bites is a design & make elective focused on contemporary timber fabrication and long-span structures which results in a full scale built work. The program will provide an opportunity to explore the design potential of timber gridshells, timber laminates, panelized construction, continuously curved rainscreen cladding. We will test the possibilities of these material typologies through parametric design, testing through scaled physical prototypes and inally the full-scale work which will be used for the exhibition installation. In the process of construction we will also engage in digital fabrication technologies. In working toward a inal design, we will also consider key examples of designing for music performance and constraints of exhibition design. Note: In participating in this elective, students will be required to complete the standard elective load, with classes running twice weekly.
Weeks 1-5 July 22nd – August 23rd ) Wednesdays: 9.30 – 12.30pm B45 Studio D Wednesdays: 1.00pm – 5.30pm TBA Thursdays: 9.15 – 12.30pm 8.07.79 workshop Thursdays: 1.00pm – 5.30pm 49.0A.1 workshop Weeks 6 (August 26th – 29th ) Full scale shell production week – RMIT Gallery Daily 9.30 – 5.30pm
Tutors: John Cherrey and Nick Williams image: concept sketch of timber gridshell installation, to be developed and fabricated through the elective.
Times: This elective will run in both intensive mode (mid & post semester) and a series of weekly classes which will have combined total number of hours to satisfy the minimum contact hours. Mid semester 2nd - 6th September 9am – 5.30pm Location 8.11.58 Weeks 7-12 Tuesdays 9am – 1.00pm Gossard workshop
Post semester Week 16 11th - 15th November, Gossard workshop & On -site Week 17 18th – 22nd November, On -site
Tutors : John Cherrey & Nick Williams
The Music Room
is a hands – on design & make elective, with the finished project being the construction and installation of a small music practice room in a primary school. The project continues research following on from the successful FABPOD project undertaken in Sem II 2012. In this project you will be introduced to real world problems of acoustic performance in small spaces, acoustic separation and isolation, issues of heating and ventilation, solar control, services and, of course, the architectural design of such an interior spaces. In keeping with ideas developed in the FABPOD, the Music Room will explore the problems of prefabrication, and the design will make extensive use of digital design and manufacturing equipment. The software and equipment will challenge you to think about design and production and the unique design possibilities afforded by them.
Research Assistants / Elective
X_Field Exhibition semester 2_2013 Garden City Gallery, Taipei (August 2013) / Design Hub, RMIT University, Melbourne (December 2013).
Image: Make Your Park, by Mel Dodd
X_Field is a collaborative group of practitioners and researchers who work across the disciplines of art, architecture, landscape architecture and urbanism. We have identified the gaps that conventional practice has marginalised as fertile grounds for intervention: places of becoming, transaction, negotiation, and improvisation. We privilege the question over the solution and the process over the product. These field-based investigations include the ephemeral and transitory; the ordinary and everyday; social, political and economic infrastructures; social and environmental sustainability and the city. The exhibition highlights our way of acting – our ethics – and the techniques we invent and employ at many spatial and temporal scales: careful observation, constructed interaction, the collection, mapping. We reveal the invisible systems that make things the way they are to generate what they can be. This exhibition of new work in various media will be designed to promote a continuing and significant discourse amongst the practitioners and the gallery visitors throughout the duration of the show. The core group of practitioners include Charles Anderson, Richard Black, Melanie Dodd, Sand Helsel, Andrea Mina, and Sue Anne Ware. We are seeking 5 Masters level students to assist with the production and assembly of 2 forthcoming X_Field exhibitions. You will work closely with the various X_Field group of practitioners on: •
exhibition design
•
publication design
•
website design
There will be an initial meeting with Richard to discuss the elective in further detail on Tuesday 16 July, 11.00am in 8.12.16 Elective Coordinator: Richard Black If you are interested in participating please email Richard Black asap on richard.black@rmit.edu.au