Reading and Composing Architectural Posters / Lecture

You can find the pdf version of the presentation on architectural posters here

You can also further search on terms like "concept diagrams" or "architectural posters, diagrams" on tumblr, pinterest etc.

Announcement for 26th of December

Variations on a theme - dance choreography

Here is an interpretation of variations on a theme, in a different field. The contemporary dance choreography by Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, performed by Rosas Dance Company.

double variation

in the double variation form, two independent themes are played in parallel in two separate voices at the same time. similarly in your design, two groups (themes) should be designed in such a way that they come together to form a meaningful "whole" and meaningful voids.

contrapuntal variation

here one single theme is varied in the counterpoint voice.

theme and variations form in music

an excellent example of theme variation in music. the theme is introduced first, and then twelve variations follow.

more parasites

photos by aslihan gunhan

several parasites

photos by aslihan gunhan

variations on a theme

you can find the first phase of our final design project here
you can post comments here if you want to start a discussion on the musical concepts and their correspondence in design.

after the parasite

Tomorrow morning we will evaluate all your parasite projects in the faculty building. So you neded t make sure that your design is ready before 10:40. In the afternoon we start the final project of the semester with a lecture by Ahmet Kanneci. 

several trans[FORM] projects

i unfortunately do not have the student names associated with the models. if any of these models belong to you, please email me and i will add you name underneath it. 

on aggregate structures for the Parasite

aggregation, according to the merriam-webster dictionary, is the collection of elements or parts into a mass or whole. the repetition of these units to make up the whole design is our purpose in this assignment. we are particularly focusing on the bottom-up principles of organization wherein local rule(s) govern the (1) generation of design elements and (2) the rules that determine how elements come together, as well as top-down principles that guide the whole design.

in short, bottom-up design is concerned with the individual elements and their immediate neighborhood relationships, while top-down design is concerned with the whole design considering the global environment (the particular place that you will pick in the faculty building), its overall structure and strength, etc.

as opposed to the previous assignments (where we discussed how we can define space), the parasite is concerned with the ways in which elements can occupy space. so your parasitic structure should invade the specific void that you select. this can be a corner or niche, it can also wrap around another structure, or it can be hung onto an intermediate structure that you choose (in this case you need to suspend rods or planes from the ceiling - if this is the case, contact us and we will help you out).

several aggregate structures can be seen below.

Aggregate Structure (2013) ICD, University of Stuttgart.

Apomechanes 2010

CITA, Block Research Group, ETH Zurich

some notes on minimum inventory / maximum diversity systems by peter pearce

"Systems can be envisaged which consist of some minimum inventory of component types which can be alternatively combined to yield a great diversity of efficient structural form.

the rubrics [..] lead to a maximization of different, though generically related structural forms.

One characteristic of successful systems will be that the rubrics -the rules of assemblage- and the physical components themselves will be seen to be organically related: the rules will be seen to grow out of the parts, the parts out of the rules.

The form of any structure is determined by the interaction of two fundamental classes of forces: intrinsic forces and extrinsic forces. Intrinsic forces are those governing factors inherent in any structural system; that is, the internal properties of a system which govern the possible arrangements and its potential performance. Extrinsic forces are those governing influences which are external to any particular structural system. They are the inventory of factors, largely environmental, which give direction to the form options allowed by the inherent combinatorial or form-giving properties of a given structural system. [...] All forms in nature are determined by the interaction of intrinsic with extrinsic forces"

p.s.: the three missing pages in the article by peter pearce can be found here 

soap bubbles, cracked mud, the veins of a leaf and the wing of dragon flies all demonstrate the principle of arrangements with the least effort, minimum inventory and maximum diversity (images from http://www.pjpearcedesign.com/ )

exercise 2 - the parasite

please find the next assignment write-up here.
you are also required to read two sets of articles, one on the operation of folding, the other on the principles of organization.
from today on you will be working on this project, and on monday we will discuss your preliminary work. please remember that this is a one-week project, so you need to spend your time efficiently.

jury requirements for november 18

- Final design, physical model made of 1 mm cardboard.
Pay attention to the workmanship and stability of your physical model!

- Six –or more- element types cut out of your basal elements.

- Poster [A2 size sheets]:
- Diagrams showing the formation of your basal elements, design element types, operations, and other diagrams that you find necessary to explain your project.
- Schematic diagrams that show the relationships between element types in each group.
- Photographs of your groups.
Your posters should be legible.

to do...

on monday, you are required to bring your design elements (all 29 of them) in possible group combinations that will form your eventual design. all the groups that you will bring should assemble into the whole design. this means that you will have designed your individual elements, groups that contain elements, and the final design composition that contains your groups. do not forget to bring your six element types separately too. your diagrams of the formation process of your elements and groups will be discussed as well.

you are also required to mail the links of your blog sites to aslihangunhan@gmail.com until sunday 17:00. you will be graded for the content of your blogs. please remember your blogs are not simply to document your design work. consider your blog as a reflection of your designerly self. you can post anything that you find relevant on design, architecture, arts etc.

on parameters and design

you can find our next reading here
the book is titled "Form+ code in design, art, and architecture" by Casey Reas

student work - kinetic container

 

photos by aslihan günhan

student work from phase 1D

photos by aslihan günhan

grades for exercise 1D

you can find your grades for exercise 1D here

on your personal blogs

in this course we use our blogs as digital sketchbooks through which we post your design work, sketches, inspiring ideas, books, images etc. you should start using your blog sites effectively and regularly post stuff that your would like to share with others. every design model that you bring to class should also be posted online, together with content that you find interesting or relevant. throughout the semester, we can follow your progress via your posts, and at the end of the semester you will graded for your blog.

on design variation

for the second phase of trans[FORM], you need to read the section titled "variation and variety" until page 73 from the book titled "the architecture of patterns" by p. andersen and d. salomon.
here you will find a discussion on the distinction between basic and basal forms, and how a basal element can facilitate variation in design.

you can find the pdf here

on design thinking

you can find the reading material for the holiday here.
the book is titled "Understanding Design: 150 Ways of Looking at Design" by Kees Dorst.

have a great holiday!

workshop

on monday, we will have a whole-day workshop at the studio by our guest lecturer, valentina beatini. please do not forget to bring the necessary materials; you will not have time to leave the studio to supply them once the workshop starts.
see you all at 10:40...

student work from phase 2

photos by aslihan günhan

notes from 26 september

Today we had a critique session on the second design exercise that you were given last week. By now, you should have a basic understanding on the basic concepts of design and principles of three-dimensional organization. Here is a summary of today' discussion...

Your design can be described in terms of its (numerical or conceptual) variables, and constants that are readily given to you. While the constants act as constraints, the variables are for you to change during your design process.  You need to try out and explore different design variations while you vary the variables. The relationships between elements are a crucial part of your design. You needs to answer questions related to the description of relationships between physical elements, and find ways to express these on your diagrams. Only a limited set of relationship types are manageable within the design problem given to you.

The three dimensionality of a design is an important concept. Also, do not limit yourself to distinct "layers" of elements placed. Instead you should seek for consistent but variable ways of organizing elements in relationship to each other.

Maintaining the elements' identities while combining them in 3d space is discussed several times. The intersection of volumetric and planar elements might disrupt an element's identity.

Please keep these in mind while you are designing your final models of phase two. On Thursday we will elaborate on these based on your design work.

diagrams

so far we have stressed to importance of diagrams and their role in the design process. a diagram is not a one-to-one representation of a reality (or your design), but an abstraction that reveals what is not easily perceived by the eye. concepts and non-physical elements of your design can be represented on diagrams using different ways of abstraction and mapping. design diagrams will accompany your physical models of your design throughout the year, and you will explore different mediums and methods to convey your design ideas in such abstractions.

you need to read the article about diagrams by b. v. berkel and c. bos until thursday (you can download them here or find the print in the copier). we will further discuss this on thursday. 

after the first crit session

today we had our first design exercises, where you were given a very simple design problem that involves a limited set of elements and several constraints. in the studio critique that follows, we discussed concepts such as three-dimensionality and what qualifies as three-dimensional in design (the fact that we are dealing with volumetric objects does not automatically make your design 3-dimensional). we talked about the "invisible" elements of design such as the relationships between elements and the voids that are generated within your design. design diagrams are your medium to represent and communicate such abstract concepts. also several principles of organization such as repetition and variation, singular and grouped elements, complexity, balance and symmetry were discussed. we introduced the concept of tectonics. you should research on that tectonics means and how it is related to design until the next class.

on monday, we will start with your design work. please do not forget your diagrams and printed photos of your design.

 

welcome to arch 101

welcome to the first year design studio of the department of architecture at METU. this studio will establish the basic skills of design thinking and exploration, and introduce you to the various concepts and principles of design. during the semester, a number of design exercises will be given in successive continuity. you will learn and explore concepts not prescriptively but through your own experience. therefore you are expected to attend all classes and actively participate in discussions and critiques.

on thursday, we will start with our first design assignment.
until then, please take a look at the course syllabus