Lukasz Kowalczyk

This intermediate design studio in the accredited professional graduate degree emphasizes the capacity of buildings, interior space and urban interiors to engage and make tangible the opportunities inherent to diversity, change and the temporal occupation of space and time.

Course goals and objectives include developing an understanding of the role that temporal or contingent conditions play in architectural design. These questions are explored through the design or adaptive re-use of a medium sized building accommodating 100 occupants, sited in a culturally diverse and historically complex context. The design exploration needs to demonstrate evidence of a deep understanding of the ethical and social responsibilities of the architect, and of human behavior in a context governed by diversity and change. Students will be expected to develop a design proposition that is sensitive to context while addressing site conditions, accessibility, building services and systems and user well-being.

Readings, case studies and site visits will vary, but always provide the background and theoretical grounding for the site and project analysis and final project development and representation.

Project work will produce a cumulative archive of the process of problem analysis and design exploration that are translations of observations, facts and ideas made visible through diagrams, drawings and models. Students will work collaboratively and individually on a variety of assignments. Work on the final course project will be done individually.

Student and program criteria that address the most recent National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB) requirements will be highlighted and form part of the coursework outcomes.