DPM3: Design Research Manifesto

DESIGNPRINCIPLESAND METHODS

A Proposal for a New Threadat the Welsh School of Architecture

Jacob Hotz and Sergio Pineda

DPM 3:DESIGN RESEARCHMANIFESTO

Welsh School of Architecture

DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND METHODS

DPM 3: DESIGN RESEARCH MANIFESTO

YEAR 3 - AUTUMN TERM - 10 CREDITS

(DRAFT PREPARED BY JACOB HOTZ AND SERGIO PINEDA)

AIMS & OBJECTIVESThe aim of this module is to gain a critical position within the various design methods adopted by students in First and Second Year (digital methods of design, modelling, simulation, rationalism, fabrication and making). In this sense, the module will act as a platform where students can consolidate their architectural skills by exploring previously unforeseen links between their own design intentions and wider issues in fields such as politics, ethics, philosophy, economy, science, systems and the artistic act.

The content is coupled to the studio of the 3rd Year Autumn Semester (urban design). Therefore the focus is on processes and critical evaluation – this method will be the key element for the final design proposal.

LEARNING OUTCOMES• Knowledge and Understanding: Understanding the concept of processes in regards to

design and its methods.• Intellectual Skills: Applying concepts (analogy), methods (references) and processes

(production) in context to critically evaluate architectural proposals.• Discipline Specific Skills: Use of a variety of computer-based tools for

representation, 3d modelling, material assignment, lighting, animation, analysis and fabrication. Made by hand vs made by digital means shall be just one viewpoint of the investigation.

• Transferable Skills: Ability to investigate design and design related processes in a disciplined and rational manner.

CONTENTThe module will offer students the opportunity to choose and focus in one of the following fields:

• Digital making and narrative through parameters

• Materials and fabrication

• Spatial politics and contemporary practice

• Perception and the poetics of phenomena

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Once they have chosen a field of interest, students will be asked to prepare a manifesto in the form of a ‘design-research’ project. They will have to choose appropriate types of media to develop their design narratives (digital modelling, digital fabrication, physical modelling, drawing, film, sound recording, etc) and will be required to compile and convey fully the process of their investigations.

In this sense, they will be asked to: 1. Identify a relevant question/problem/inquiry within their field of choice.2. Set out a method to explore solutions/options and/or potential outcomes to

expand their knowledge/understanding within the chosen inquiry.3. Carry out a series of tests/explorations/adaptations/constructions and fully

document the process.4. Critically appraise the results/findings and suggest how these can become

instrumental in future projects.

Specific lectures will guide the whole group of students at the time of carrying out each one of these steps, and a series of examples/demonstrations will be carried out to encourage/inspire the students in the preparation of their work.In parallel, students will have a number of individual tutorials with experts in each of the fields for the development of their manifestoes.

ASSESSMENTThe module is project-based and will be assessed on the quality of the submitted manifesto. There will be no exams – at the end of the module a crit-style submission will take place with invited guests/experts.

DRAFT SCHEDULEWeek 1: Students choose their field of interestWeek 2: Students identify a relevant, intriguing and unexplored question/problem/inquiry within the field chosen.Week 3: Students set out a method to explore solutions/options and/or potential outcomes to expand their knowledge/understanding/skill within the chosen inquiry. Weeks 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8: Students carry out a series of tests/explorations/adaptations/constructions and fully document the process.Week 9

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Students critically appraise their results/findings and suggest how these can become instrumental in future projects.Week 10Presentation of the whole process in the format of a crit.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHYCoyne, Richard. Forms in the dark: Nature, waste and digital imagination. Essay included in: From models to drawings, edited by Frascari, Marco. Routledge, New York, 2007.Devabhaktuni, Sony. A Little Place Called Space. In: AA Files 58, page 74. Architectural Association, London, 2009.Eisenman, Peter. Ten Canonical Buildings. Rizzoli Publishers, New York, 2008. Emmons, Paul. Drawn to scale: The imaginative inhabitation of architectural drawings. Essay included in: From models to drawings, edited by Frascari, Marco. Routledge, New York, 2007.Koolhaas, Rem. Delirious New York. 010 Publishers, New York, 1994. Marinetti, F.T. The Futurist Manifesto. In: Joll, James. Three Intellectuals in Politics. Pantheon Books, New York, 1960.Perez-Gomez, Alberto. Questions of representation: The poetic origin of architecture. Essay included in: From models to drawings, edited by Frascari, Marco. Routledge, New York, 2007.Rossi, Aldo. A Scientific Autobiography. Oppositions Books, MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1981.Schoning, Pascal. Manifesto for a Cinematic Architecture. Architectural Association, London, 2006.Weiss, Allen S. On the Circulation of Metaphors in the Zen Garden. In: AA Files 60, page 89. Architectural Association, London, 2010.

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REFERENCE IMAGES

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REFERENCE IMAGES

Digital making and narrative through parameters:

Seung Joon

Fabrizio Matillana

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REFERENCE IMAGES

Digital making and narrative through parameters:

Ari Barth

Carlos Umana

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REFERENCE IMAGES

MATERIALS AND FABRICATION:

Adrian Tung

Jenny Nieto

Eli Liu

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REFERENCE IMAGES

SPATIAL POLITICS AND CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE:

Song Jie-Lim

Seung Yeub Lee

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REFERENCE IMAGES

PERCEPTION AND THE POETICS OF PHENOMENA:

Ragnhildur Kristjans

Saif Lassas

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REFERENCE IMAGES

PERCEPTION AND THE POETICS OF PHENOMENA:

Ioana.Iliesiu

Piero Antozzi

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