Materials & Assemblies

This course introduces and examines the fundamentals between design intent and construction materials, and the science of materials (performance) and their assemblies. A central theme for the semester is learning how materials and techniques inform spatial and form making decisions. Lectures, discussions and in-studio assignments focus on the meaning, aesthetics and techniques related to the use of materials and the process of construction. A basic understanding of essential, well-known systems of building construction serves as the baseline. Discussions and case studies of contemporary systems that extend, experiment with, and question these known systems introduce students to the great depth to which this basic knowledge can lead them. Joint assignments with the design studio provide students with an opportunity for an in-depth exploration of these fundamentals of construction through direct application and the synthesis of this new knowledge to their studio projects.

Prerequisites: A working understanding of freehand drawing, AutoCAD, Rhino, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and the successful completion of 48-105 – Architecture Design Studio: Poiesis Studio II.