ARCH2111
Introduction to Arch. Design I Studio E - Habitation
Target Students BSSc 2
Course Term 1
Course Type Required
Venue Studio
Teacher(s) GHELICHI, Pedram / WUETHRICH, Caroline / HAN, Man / GU, Tian
Two interrelated and continuous processes of designing through making and making through habitation consciously and subconsciously will engage students in critical topics related to architectural discipline. Through various exercises, these processes are designed to challenge common misconceptions or question the limiting ideas in architectural discipline relating to 1. the design process, 2. the act of habitation, and 3. the genesis of architectural form.
- Architecture novices often assume the design process is to arrive at an ‘original’ idea in the form of a geometrical concept. Because of that, the making process would unavoidably become merely the physical materialisation of that geometrical concept. This approach is often subjected to their wills, wishes, and desires and leaves no room for accidents, surprises, and creativity in the making process. This studio consciously works with operations such as weaving and casting, in which making becomes a critical part of the design process. In these exercises, it would be almost impossible to design first and then make; thinking would rather be done by hands than abstract minds.
- Another common misconception regarding habitation is that humans inhabit pre-erected and ‘finished’ architectural constructs. In this view, (hu)man is confronted against its habitation ‘out there’. It is not surprising that terms like hut or habitat are often associated with exclusion, solidarity, and isolation. This studio takes the approach of ‘being in the world,' which places acts of habitation in relation to human activities, namely solitude, gathering, and work, as well as in relation to their natural and built environment. In so doing, habitation won't be a given and pre-defined task but an open-ended quest to explore in relation to the physical and metaphysical dimensions of the local context.
- This studio is also concerned with the genesis of architectural form. A common misconception, particularly among architecture novices, is that the form of architecture is an amalgam of architectural elements, like walls, floors, ramps, etc., put together in a certain way. This studio turns against this limiting conception and chooses ways of form-making, such as weaving and casting, that consciously avoid starting with given architectural elements. It rather works with the casting mould as the genesis of the negative space. As a result, this approach shifts the focus from the elements to the mould and from the composition to the space itself.
DESIGN TASK
Simply put, students will explore different materials and conceptualise their own form of habitation by designing through making i) a Woven Hut and ii) a Casted Hut, which will culminate in iii) a Retreat Habitat. These design tasks together explore the above-mentioned issues, sometimes in a linear and continuous manner and other times in juncture through site visits and drawing exercises. Although the emphasis will be on the process, iteration, and intensity of exploration, it will eventually culminate in a Retreat Habitat on Cheung Chau Island that recollects students' understanding of habitation, expresses their comprehension of the social and physical condition of the site, showcases their exploration of a complex spatial organisation, and digs into a unique form, matter, and making process relationship.
In this studio, the Retreat is a habitat in which student designers lead as users and subjectively envision how to inhabit a space. These forms of habitation can take the form of i) solitude, ii) gathering, or iii) work. Moreover, they must be defined in relation to the natural environment, built environment, or living organisms. This framework would allow for multiple interpretations of a Retreat beyond the superficial connotations of isolation and distraction. Designing the retreat activity, the way the casted model informs it, and its correlation with the natural and built environment will determine the complexity of the final scheme. For instance, one may define a yoga room (solitude) in relation to the crashing waves of the sea (natural environment) as a form of retreat. Someone else may find peace in socialising with villagers (gathering) and, thus, design an intersection space in the village as his/her retreat (built environment). The complex conditions at Cheung Chau would allow for various interpretations to be explored.
SITE
Cheung Chau Island is a complex and diverse site with a rich array of natural and built environments. These environments range from flat lands, hilly terrain, and high plateaus, encompassing various cultural constructs such as villages, farmlands, temples, cemeteries, and more. The basic skills of architectural representations and projections, as well as the familiarity with precedents and the context of a project within a larger intellectual context.
PRECEDENTS
Ensamble Studio has done a series of projects called Structures of Landscape. In those projects, they focus on making as the key force of their design process. Besides, the program and use of their structures and buildings are often open-ended, to be decided by the immediate users. A particularly useful example is The Truffle House.
Other relevant cases are Peter Zumthor’s Bruder Klaus Field Chapel, Sou Fujimoto’s Final Wooden House and Junya Ishigami’s Maison Owl Restaurant and House.
- The course's main objective is to enhance students' critical thinking skills in formulating a design proposition. This necessitates a historical and theoretical understanding of the topic, which will be thematically connected with the course Cultural Contexts I.
- The course aims to underscore the importance of hands-on making at the core of design activity. Students will engage in weaving, casting, and producing drawings during the process, which is closely linked with Building Technology I. To create a more comprehensive curriculum, some exercises for both courses are designed together.
- The course aims to enhance students' awareness of spatial qualities and other fundamental design issues, such as site considerations and the relationship of a building with its immediate physical surroundings.
