ARCH3114 Architectural Design Studio B – Build
Target Students BSSc3
Course Term 1&2
Course Type Studio
Teacher SHINOHARA, Hiroyuki; LEE, Sarah; NG, Edward; WANG Shuaizhong
The translation from drawing to building has been a classical problem in architecture since the modernist era (Detlef Martins). The insightful considerations of assembling materials and erecting structures are frequently overlooked in contemporary architectural design processes, where there is often a disconnect between the imagination of architecture and its physical realization. This gap may stem from the traditional division of labor in architecture between design and construction, which tends to prioritize aesthetics over the structural integrity and materiality of buildings while designing a building. As a result, the importance of tectonics in architecture has been diminished, with construction considerations often taking a secondary role in the design process. On the other hand, mesmerizing architecture and memorable architectural experiences are always immanent to the construction as historically exemplified by such architecture as Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore and Sagrada Familia.
Studio B emphasizes construction as a vital discourse in architectural design, aiming to connect architectural tectonics with human experiences through innovative applications of building technologies. By conceiving construction as a technique for assembling and structuring a physical building as well as human behaviors in architectural design, it broadens the architectural role of typically a technical building asset (structure and envelope) to become a spatial agent for user experiences. In this studio, the dimension of construction is emphasized in architectural design to serve as a means to envision architecture that imbues spaces with fresh perceptions and architecture with expressive qualities.
