Course syllabus

Course-PM

ARK123 ARK123 Matter, space, structure 1, Fall Semester 2021 (22.5 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Contact details

Daniel Norell (Examiner)

Naima Callenberg (Course Leader, Examiner de facto) naima@chalmers.se

Jens Olsson (Teacher) jens.olsson@chalmers.se

Peter Christiansen (Teacher) peter@chalmers.se

Malgorzata Zboinska (Teacher) malgorzata.zboinska@chalmers.se

MSS

Matter Space Structure (MSS) understands architecture as a cultural practice.
Architecture has the ability to transform urban culture and shape relations between individuals, collectives, objects, and environments in ways that go beyond mere problem solving.

It does so through physical intervention as well as through the production of effects and desires.
In addition, the practice and discipline of architecture can be understood as a culture in itself – as the result of a combination of buildings, discourse, technology, and media.

By engaging aesthetical, practical, as well as theoretical concerns, an MSS project should be able to contribute to both these aspects of architecture as culture.

MSS Theme
The overall theme for the studio in 2020 is a critical engagement with the notion of architectural appropriation. The term can be understood as reuse of physical objects, the mixing of motifs, materials and typologies but also reuse is terms of ideas, concepts and even cultural signifiers. We will explore how design can depart from an existing stock of buildings, materials or found forms in order to address a context. We will experiment with technologies such as scanning that allows us to capture, represent, and transform aspects of real entities and environments.  The fundamental character of the theme means that it can be well “appropriated” to the particularities of each individual project. 

Course purpose ARK123

The course of ARK 123 of the Matter Space Structure studio fall 2021, will explore the construction, relation to and use of the context, expanding on its connotations and our preconceived understandings, finding techniques for the project to be in dialogue with a context ́s inherent qualities and to design in resonance to both past and future, situation and speculation.

We will depart on this speculative journey with a base in the city of Gothenburg, exploring the conditions of the current and future framework and production of the city as a public space.
We will study, analyse and critically examine phenomena to be found in the urban context and develop concepts, design and proposals that point towards possible futures, all linked to the context as a construction, a set of tools, insights, restraints and possibilities.

In this course each student will be asked to find an urban narrative of their own, isolating a specific situation that they want to explore further and move into the production of an archive, a sort of materialized dialogue with the context. We ask you to work through iterative processes, working with the representations as an active tool to generate new meaning and knowledge. Your project is expected to unfold (multiple) narratives and enter into a larger conversation with and about the city and its inhabitants. Finally, a response through design will be made and re-entered into the context seeing architectures’ ability to continue dialogues throughout time and space.

In MSS, we celebrate the speculative project where architecture (with structure, details etc) can act as a tool to investigate and create understanding. The studio and its courses work as a shared platform for knowledge production.

Through the course the process of shaping your architectural approach and practice deepens. You are expected to develop your own practice, methods, research and relate critical to your own progress. The project is expected to be developed through an iterative design development of prototypes and development of representation techniques for the topic at hand. The aim of the course is to strengthen the theoretical discourse with the concrete act of making, and improve the individual methodology within the research by design approach.

Schedule

The schedule for the course will be available on Canvas and TimeEdit (Links to an external site.)
Any changes to the schedule will be communicated via Canvas and further information will come during the duration of the course.

Course literature

See Module with examples of MSS literature - will be updated continuously.
We encourage and expect for each student to find further literature relating more specifically to the individual project focus.

Course design

Your process in relation to your project during the course is expected to be performed in direct relation to your specific project. You can work both individual or as a group. The following is a common structure for the course:

> Project idea
> Project documentation and reflection
> Pin-up, critiques and seminars
> Final critique
> Collective display / Exhibition
> Portfolio hand-in / Reflection

The course is split into four modules. Each module is finished with a documentation hand-in and a critique session (except for the last module for which there is only a portfolio hand-in). The tutoring is organised in group’s and individual sessions. 

We will offer one workshop with photogrammetry and scanning as the main focus, also focusing on mediation och representations. Additionally, we will conduct two literature seminars relating to context and representations, together with Daniel Norell. 

Any late changes to the schedule will be communicated on email and updated on Canvas (and Time Edit) accordingly. The schedule can be found under the Course Information-module here on Canvas. Also see CoursePM for further information.

 

Communication with the teachers involved in the course can be done here on Canvas and also on email (email address as above).

Facilities Resources and Equipment - Corona

The studio will occupy desk space for the course participants in the 5th floor which is shared with the other students in the Matter Space Structure studio. Due to the unusual situation with the corona-virus the number of available desks is very limited as a response to Chalmers guidelines for social distancing. Therefor access to the studio space is limited to Monday afternoon and all day Tuesday. For critique weeks  we will have manage additional access. 

To manage the corona situation all mandatory parts of the course, including tutoring, will be accessible over zoom. That means the course can be taken on distance. However, some tutoring sessions will also be offered in the studio space. Tutoring groups will be arranged to manage desired tutoring option.   

We normally encourage that the work is carried out in the studio environment which is an important milieu for learning of each other. To facilitate a type of studio culture while following social distancing recommendations the reference groups will be an important asset. A reference group “catch up” will be scheduled as a weekly event and mandatory for all participants. More info regarding this during course introduction.

The workshop is available weekdays between 9:00 - 16:30 but in a reduced capacity. Students will need to sign up for a time slot in order to be let at the door. Access to the workshops requires that you take an introductory course with Peter or Tabita. More info regarding this during course introduction.

Learning objectives and syllabus

Learning objectives:

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING 
Demonstrate knowledge about a variety of methods to obtain understanding of the context after the course.
Demonstrate basic understanding of a conceptual design process and knowledge to control of the design process and maintain the initial conceptual properties in the final design proposal.
Refer to relevant knowledge of the topic and demonstrate a critical understanding of architectural history and theory in general 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES 
Synthesize ideas and intentions into physical models and make an informed selection among alternative design proposals.
Apply various techniques of the conditions that frame the site such as modelling, collaging, diagramming.
Practice the iterative method from the alternative design concepts, the spatial sketches, to the designs presentation
Prove prolificness in conventional drawings and model skills along with experimental abilities in alternative representations. 
Use the informed drawings and models as evocative arguments in the contemporary architectural conversation.

VALUES AND APPROACHES
Use the design as a rhetoric approach based on a clear set of values
Put forward arguments for the discourse in the project itself.
Reflect chosen approaches, values and evaluation criteria associated with the design iterations

Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen.

Study plan

If the course is a joint course (Chalmers and Göteborgs Universitet) you should link to both syllabus (Chalmers and Göteborgs Universitet).

Examination form

For a completion of the course the student is expected to:

>  Hand in a project description  in Module #1.
>  Hand in document booklet for each module showing process and reflection. 
>  Participate and present at each of the three critique sessions.
>  Participate in the joint discussions and seminars relating to the three critique sessions.
>  Compile and hand in the final project in portfolio format / reflection.

Absence from any of the mandatory critiques will be result in complementary task to be handed in online in agreement with the teachers.