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Project #1 – “Reveal/Conceal”
Buildings consist of many different
layers (material, social, historical,
etc.) which contribute to its identity.
A building’s envelope particularly
helps to either reveal or conceal this
identity. Materially, some layers are
very thin and fragile, while some
have greater thickness and depth.
Some layers are transparent or
translucent, others are opaque. It is
the combination and juxtaposition
of such qualities which helps make
architecture so visually diverse.
In this project, students are tasked
to produce a visually stimulating,
abstract
composition
inspired
by the materiality and skin of a
particular building. They can use
any combination of materials
and craft techniques they feel are
appropriate. Although many find it
challenging, this first design project
ultimately helps the students to
work more creatively, and increases
their sensitivity to the richness of
surface and materiality.
Project #2 – “Solid/Void”
The architectural design process
very often involves a qualitative
exploration of volume. This project
introduces students to the key
considerations of such an exercise,
focusing on the potential spatial
qualities inherent in both simple and
complex abstract forms. Through
model-making and orthographic
representation, students learn to
explore and understand this vital
aspect of architecture.
experimental model-making is vital to
the architectural design process