3.0 MUTATION
23/01/17 - 18/05/17 3.1 Brief
For this project you are refining and selecting the general theme of your research, working towards the main body of your output for the year, and you will be engaging more closely with ideas of context through your design work. You will be taking the most fruitful and interesting aspects of your work in the first term, being critical and evaluative of that work and selecting an aspect to take forward, do develop and mutate the research you have already progressed to a more defined investigation, again with a tangible outcome, of a human scale installation work.
3.2 Requirements
The installation must be adaptive in some way to an environmental niche, be it very site specific, environmental specific such as changes of heat or humidity, interactive with users, or change over time. The adaption can be electronic or more straight forwardly analogue, but must demonstrate some kind of very specific adaption, marking it out from other work that has been progressed, of which you will be more and more aware as your knowledge of your chosen field progresses. Be aware of what is entirely unique about your work and develop it.
3.3 Outcomes
You will develop your ability to make unique and well made artifacts which address a very specific concept or design, making intuitively from the body of knowledge built up during the first semester. You might develop your skills in detailed artful fabrication, prototype and iteration development, precise computer modelling and visualisation, futurecasting, working with immersive technologies and interactive electronics through coding and circuit building. What other fields might you start to engage with to create your own specialist niche? Ecologists? Historians? Neuroscientists? Material scientists? Game designers? It is up to you how you develop your interest but it should be rich and engaged. Make this design niche your home and adapt to it. UCA Canterbury School of Architecture // MA Architecture // MA Interior Design // 2015-16
3.4 Assessment
Completion of the Mutation project will contribute 70% of the grade for the MA Interior ‘Project Development’ unit (CIND 7012) and the MA Architecture ‘Project Development’ unit (CARC 7003). Both units are valued at 60 credits. Assessment will be carried out at the point of submission via a final A2 paper portfolio and completed prototypes or models. Feedback will be verbal and written at formative stages and written at the summative stage for this project.
3.5 Duration
The project will run from 23/01/2017 until the portfolio submission on 18/05/2017 to campus registry.
3.6 Key Events
23/01/17:
Project Introduction 13:00- 14:00
24/01/17:
London Visit
26/01/17:
Research Proposals Panel 13:30-17:30 (verbal formative feedback)
(be prepared!)
28/02/17: Review (verbal formative feedback) 17/03/17
Thesis draft submission 12:00- 13:00
30/03/17:
Thesis Review
03/04/17:
External Examination review
(written formative feedback)
04/04/17: Review (verbal formative feedback)
3.7 Staff/Guests
03/05/17:
Final Review
09/05/17:
Thesis Submission 14:00-15:00
11/05/17:
Thesis Presentation 14:00 - 17:00
18/05/17:
Portfolio submission 11:00-12:00
(written formative feedback)
(written summative feedback)
The project will be run by Lucy Jones (MA Course Leader) and assisted by David Di Duca, visiting design tutor. JJ Brophy is also a crucial membr of staff who can help you with technical questions regardng your project. Chris Settle and Ben Westacott, departmental technicians are also avaliable for support. During the course of the unit we will be joined by key guests for crit reviews. In order to stimulate debate and discussion reviews will be held in tandem with the BA Interior Architecture and Design Stage 2 reviews.
Herzog and de Meuron , Tate Moder n show, 2000 UCA Canterbury School of Architecture // MA Architecture // MA Interior Design // 2015-16
3.8 Deliverables
The following are minimum deliverable requirements for completion of the project: A 1:1 human scale intervention effectively addressing the laid out research aims at the beginning of the semester 250 word research statement resulting from research and thesis development. A2 site documentation A2 drawings of the chosen site A2 detailed drawing of context aspect of the project A2 drawing or render representative of interaction and change A2 portfolio showing design development drawings A2 portfolio records of all physical fabrication tests & prototype pieces A2 portfolio records of any simulation, or digital work A2 portfolio documentation of deployment or use of intervention Composed film of final installation outcome
Iguanas , Galapagos Islands UCA Canterbury School of Architecture // MA Architecture // MA Interior Design // 2015-16
3.9 Site work
Finding a site can be tricky and we are asking you to do the research and travel yourself. It is up to you how much your site infiltrates your work, but context is of course of utmost importance in both Achitecture and Interior Design. We cannot work without it. Think carefully about how you might like to document your site, through film, photography, drawing, are there other means of recording you might progress to help you? In what way would you like to work contextually? Below are some ideas for sites you might like to use, from heritage to ruins to spaces here in the university. Bear in mind you are producing an installation scale intervention, and there is no requirement for this to be site specific. The site might inform your work in a different way, through colouration, lighting, materiality, form or movement. By no means does this preclude you using a particular site to set up your work, but please be aware the piece will need to be assesed, so you might like to think about acess for this, consideringyour tutors will not be able to make special trips to remote parts of Kent to review your work. But be a little adventurous, ask a few questions and see where you get to. You will be able to develop this in co-ordination with your tutor over the first few week of the project. Possible places to start....some real places, some unreal places.... 1. Ightham Mote, National Trust. The current site for the Stage 2 Interior Architects, a medieval moted manor, Sevenoaks. 2. Herbert Read Gallery, UCA, Canterbury 3. Canterbury Cathedral, Cantebury 4. Soane Museum, London 5. Dungeness, Kent 6. Rochester castle, Rochester 7. Deal castle, Deal 8. Hospital of St Thomas the Martyr of Eastbridge, Canterbury 9. A Canterbury Tale, 1944, Powell and Pressberger 10. The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer, 1300’s 11. Spirited Away, 2001, Hayao Miyazaki
Beach used on the Isle of Sheppey by previous MA student UCA Canterbury School of Architecture // MA Architecture // MA Interior Design // 2015-16
3.10 Site visit
On Tuesday the 24th of January we will be going on a day trip to London to visit the Wellcome Collection and the Natural History Museum. Please make your way to London King’s Cross St Pancras, the first train is at 9:23 from Canterbury West, arriving at 10:21 to St Pancras, please meet in front of the main departures board at 10:30. From there we will make our way to the Wellcome Collection by tube, so please bring Oyster Cards if you have them. Itinerary: 09:23: Canterbury West 10:30 Main departures board: King’s Cross St Pancras 11:00 Wellcome Collection 12:30 tube Euston to South Kensington 13:00 Natural History Museum 18:00 Return to Canterbury To remember: Money for food/nibbles/coffee/other Suitable clothing (hats, coats, umbrellas if wet) Practical robust footwear for museum conditions (no stilettos!) Do not bring suitcases for museums Mobile phones - Lucy is on 07980021527 Sketchbooks, notebooks, cameras
Wellcome Collection, Natural Histor y Museum UCA Canterbury School of Architecture // MA Architecture // MA Interior Design // 2015-16
3.11 Research Proposal revie wOn Thursday the 26th you will be presenting the first version of your research proposal for the rest of the year. You have progressed a semester of your MA now, with two more to go. You have been exposed to and engaged with various media and ways of making and engaging and should by this point have some kind of idea of an area of thought and design you might like to push forward to the next stage, or at least strong feelings about what you do not! Thursday is an opportunity for you to test those ideas in front of your tutor panel and get feedback on your first presented approach. You should bear in mind you are also going to be producing a long form essay in the form of your written thesis on this subject and this might influence your thinking and decision making regarding the direction you pursue. Do not take this as a moment set in stone and a final version of what you must do, more a presentation of the seeds of thoughts you have had over the preceding semester and thoughts as to how you might move forward. Research develops expertise in a certain field, and the initial thinking is often identifying gaps in knowledge and practice which will enable you to make something new in a field of thought and making. To help you with the task, we are asking you to present a ten slide, 5 minute presentation on your proposal. You might use some of the headings below to get you started: Research Agenda and Process: ideas and why Research details Research Questions Significance and Contribution Methodologies Design Proposal Key technological outcomes of proposal Design Research Context Field of Work Work by others Design Methodologies Critical Design Elements Prototyping and testing Fabrication Techniques
Galapagos finch differentiation UCA Canterbury School of Architecture // MA Architecture // MA Interior Design // 2015-16
3.12 Lear ning Aims
The aims of this unit are: A1. To develop a critical and contextual understanding of the agreed project proposal. A2. To achieve conceptual clarity through experimental practice and research methods. A4. To utilise and gain further competency in the skills and processes required for the development of the project. A4. To research and develop the project proposal towards an interim outcome. A5. To develop as an independent researcher and practitioner. A6. To develop an understanding of theoretical concepts in relation to the project.
3.13 Lear ning Outcomes
On satisfactory completion of the unit you will have: LO1. Engaged in experimental and exploratory processes in the development of your MA project, both practically and theoretically and critically reflecting on that process. LO2. Developed an advanced knowledge and use of materials, processes and techniques appropriate to the project proposal. LO4. Gained a clear understanding of the critical context of relevant contemporary practices and the particular significance within this of the individual research proposal. LO4. Developed writing and reading skills in the formulation and understanding of ideas. LO5. Presented your research in writing in a structured form, showing a clear and coherent series of arguments and themes. LO6. Demonstrated the ability to work independently, set goals, manage workloads and meet deadlines.
Extreme mutation UCA Canterbury School of Architecture // MA Architecture // MA Interior Design // 2015-16
3.14 Reading list
Haque, Usman. (2007) ‘Distinguishing Concepts: Lexicons of Interactive Art and Architecture’ In: Architectural Design 77 (4) pp.24–31. Pask, Gordon. (1971) ‘A Comment, a case history, a plan’ In: Reichardt, Jasia. (ed.) Cybernetics, art and ideas. Greenwich, Conn.: New York Graphic Society. pp.76–99. Hofstadter, Douglas. R. (1999) Gödel, Escher, Bach : an eternal golden braid. (20th anniversary ed.) New York: Basic Books. Mauss, Marcel. (2011) The gift: forms and functions of exchange in archaic societies. Mansfield Centre, Conn.: Martino. Brooks, Rodney. A. (1999) Cambrian Intelligence: the early history of the new AI. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. Dawkins, R. (1989)The Selfish Gene. Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press. Dawkins, R. (1996) River Out Of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life. New York, Basic Books Harari, Y.N. (2015) Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow. London, Harvill Secker Harari, Y.N. (2014) Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. New York, Harper. Taylor, Mark. Interior Design And Architecture. 1st ed. London ; New Delhi [u.a.]: Bloomsbury, 2013. Brown, Kathryn. Interactive Contemporary Art. 1st ed. Simanowski, R. Digital art and meaning: reading kinetic poetry, text machines, mapping art, and interactive installations Minneapolis : University of Minnesota Press, 2011. Pallasmaa, Juhani. The Architecture Of Image. 1st ed. Helsinki: Rakennustieto, 2001.
3.15 Useful web-links
The following are a first primer for useful materials and know-how resources: Kobakant - http://www.kobakant.at/DIY/ Arduino - http://www.arduino.cc/
- Tutorials and more relating to textiles and interaction.
- Popular cheap open source microcontroller.
Freeduino - http://www.freeduino.org/ - Knowledge base for the Arduino. Cool Components - http://www.coolcomponents.co.uk/ - UK Store for component supplies. Rapid - http://www.rapidonline.com/ - Key online supplier of basic kits including gear and electronics.
UCA Canterbury School of Architecture // MA Architecture // MA Interior Design // 2015-16