A. 1 Preliminary Studies (SM&SS)

Studio presentation and selection

Class and project introduction

• Students presentation
• Studio Website setup
• Site Info
• Project Guidelines and goals

Studio Books

• John Cage Writings
• Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind / Shinryu Suzuki

10 Step Preliminary Studies Phase Intro:

1. Zoning Research
2. Climate Research
3. Site photo survey
4. Site video Time-Lapse
5. Site Analysis
6. Program Analysis
7. Area Analysis
8. Green spirit & technologies and Native Vegetation Research
9. Site Plan Setup
10. Narrative (non-stop process starting on #1)

Brief Zoning Research and Conclusions (Zoning Checklist Form)

• Define envelope in sketch floor plan and sections

Site Climate research (Temperature, winds…)

1/8”=1’-0” Sketched Site plan with zoning and climate info

Site visit (each student must bring: Site plan, scale 1:1/8′ with zoning and climate annotations on it)

• Site analysis
• Photo Survey
• Site measurements, per Survey Checklist and compared to records
• Market & Context
• Sketch Site info

Introduction to next steps and Q & A’s

• Site Video (Time Lapse)
• Program (needs, goals, area, budget) (Program Form)
• Area Analysis
• 4’x4’ Grid (See samples)
• 1/8” Hand drawn floor plan with 4×4 grid, setbacks, existing trees or other site elements, north, winds, neighbor’s structures… (Site Plan setup)
• Narrative
• Communication and approvals between SM & students
• Preliminary Studies Website upload and package format.

A. 2 (SS)

• Zoning: Full zoning research and conclusions (zoning checklist form)
• Climate: Solar analysis, temperature, winds and rain research
• Photo Survey
• Site Video: (time lapse)
• Site Analysis: 1/8″ sketch floor plan with site elements, zoning & climate info

Upload Sunday Jan 29  Zoning, Climate, Photo Survey, Site Video (time lapse), Site Analysis.

• SM redlines
• Students revisions

A. 3 (SS)

• Program: Detailed program as a list of spatial needs (see program format)

• Area Analysis: (on yellow sketch paper) based on the program, quantify separately the indoor and outdoor square footage of the project per area and total. Chart of area and estimated costs. (confirming area & budget per program)
• Green technologies: Research and project implementation, benefits and costs. Solar and wind energy, geothermal, green roofs, ventilated façade, thermal massing, passive cooling. Images, charts, costs and specs.

• Native vegetation: Research native vegetation for your project. Seasons, water & maintenance needs. Images and specs.

Upload Sunday Feb 5  Program, Area Analysis, Green Technologies, Native Vegetation

• SM Redlines
• Students revisions

A. 4 (SS)

Update and re-study all info and revise all redlines

Site Plan Setup: (on yellow sketch paper):

• 1/8” Hand drawn plan to be the template background for designing
• Property lines, setbacks, trees, neighbor’s profile buildings, streets, north, 4×4 grid (see sample)

Narrative: (Narrative process starts from day one and should keep evolving and growing through the process)

• (Hand) Writing instead of drawing as the initial design tool
• The Narrative will set the essence and challenges for the project
• The Narrative intention is to teach the students on focusing on the immaterial vocabulary, as well as to create human emotions within the Architecture
• The Narrative will create a complex puzzle to be resolved in floor plan. The design will need to stay true to the Narrative at all times
• The Narrative may adjust the initial Program

A. Preliminary Studies Deliverables (10%)

Upload Sunday Feb 12 Site Plan Set up, Narrative, (review trip project’s floor plans and have questions for trip, not for upload)

Requirements Phase A:

• No designing
• Computer access only for research info. No case study, influence or inspiration research
• Photo & video camera, tape measure, compass, scale, T square, 45-60 squares, pencils, color pencils, pens and markers.
• Skype account

B. 5 Sketching & Drafting (SM&SS)

Design Tools & Workouts

• Design by Music (Fidelio Overture)
• Music translation to Architecture
• High & Low notes and Silences as space design tools
• Design by Freedom
• Calligraphy non-pattern dot exercise
• Imperfection, chance operation and accidents
• Mystery & Imagination
• “The Windows”, Charles Baudelaire poem
• Design by Nature
• Without an architectural structure, we search an emotional path of travel
• Labyrinth Design
• With an open vegetation structure, we search an emotional path of travel
• Emotional Room
• Within an architectural structure, we search an emotional space
• “If you don’t understand how to practice (Architecture) in its true sense, then even though you practice very hard, what you acquire is just technique”.
• Poetry and emotion above technique. (Bod Dylan Music reference)

Sketching

• Floor Plan and Section
• Sketch through an emotional path of travel (from street curb, walking-drawing through the house)
• Floor plan and section design only (No computer and no modeling and no façade design)
• Design from inside out and Void shaping Massing, as well as outdoor spaces shaping massing and interior spaces.
• Exterior Living
• House hidden or highly filtered by vegetation from the street
• Intimate living, almost no windows to the street

B. 6 (SM&SS)

Students field trip to CA

• ABQ-LAX visit Venice House under construction & Shindler House
• LAX-SD, visit Phoenix House, Wabi House, Salk Institute & Woodbury University
• Analyze 3 tour projects at “Trip” section on “Templates & Samples”

B. 7 (SS)

• Final Drafting (See sample)
• Floor plans
• Sections
• Landscape plan
• Students will upload plans for SM’s redline

B. Sketching & Drafting Deliverables (20%):

Upload Sunday March 4th the following minimum requirements at your USER website:

Design Tools & Workouts:

• Design by Freedom
• Design by Nature
• Labyrinth Design
• Emotional Room

Trip:

• Venice House, Shindler House, Phoenix House & Wabi House Analysis
• Photos, sketches, plan, comments, narrative…

Sketching:

• Sketch process from concept analysis to detailed floor plans & sections. (no elevations)

Drafting:

• Detailed Hand drawn Floor plans, Sections (min 3) & Landscape Plan
• Include PL, setbacks and 4×4 Grid

C. 8 3D Modeling and Digital Plans (SS)

• Detailed 3D Model per drafted plans (computer only as drafting tool)
• Real dims of structure, openings, floor heights, parapets, etc…
• Interior 3D more important than exterior
• DO NOT use real materials or colors. Only use 2 soft tones to contrast surfaces (gray tones are encouraged). The intention is to pay attention in the quality of the spaces and light. Keep it simple
• NO 3D furniture
• Keep vegetation simple
• Skype walk-through with SM & SS for comments

C. 9 (SS)

• Detailed 3D Model per drafted plans (computer only as drafting tool)
• Real dims of structure, openings, floor heights, parapets, etc…
• Interior 3D more important than exterior
• DO NOT use real materials or colors. Only use 2 soft tones to contrast surfaces (gray tones are encouraged). The intention is to pay attention in the quality of the spaces and light. Keep it simple
• NO 3D furniture
• Keep vegetation simple
• Skype walk-through with SM & SS for comments

Upload Sunday March 18th  

3D views (aerial, streets views, entry path, courtyards, spaces. Use sun light and shadows)

Make sure your 3D views are true to your narrative

C. 10  (SS)

• Digital Floor plans, elevations and sections
• See sample
• Line weights, Section lines, room labels, spot elevations
• Real dims of structure (walls, floors & roofs), depth for roof gardens, etc.

Upload Sunday March 25th

• All Floor plans, including Roof Plan
• 2 Street Elevations
• 4 Sections
• SM & SS will review and send comments

C. 11  (SM&SS)

Monday-Thursday:

(For after Studio hours reviews, fill out the form w Jason in advance)

• SM Lecture (Monday 5:30 pm)
• One on One 3D modeling detailing with SM & SS (Make sure each of you have enough time for this review(s), as it’ll completely define your project and your production process)
• One on One DD drawings review with SM & SS
• 3D Model & DD drawings completed per review
• 3D Renders (5 min)
• Physical Model in progress

Friday:

• Mid Crit by local invited guests. Pin-up presentation with additional digital material
• One student will briefly explain the project & design process-goals (student to be selected by all by March 19th). Main semester topics to be informed:
• Site location & size. Project type (your own house, you as your own client)
• “Preliminary Studies 10 steps”
• Prior to design, we need to know the facts that will challenge and define our design
• Design tools and Concepts
• Design by Music (High-Low notes & Silences), by Freedom (dots), by Nature, by Emotion (labyrinth, emotional room), Hidden & Filtered (Mystery and Imagination)
• Importance of Narrative (intention of your design). Connected to sensorial and immaterial vocabulary of Architecture
• Fragmented Architecture, increasing the mystery, uncertainty and creating the emotional event in the transitional spaces.
• Exterior Living, provoking the user to live outdoors and becoming a daily habit to connect to nature and climate to contrast the indoor, filter our mind and increase environmental tolerance
• Sustainability as an Eco-Romantic approach, rather than only as a selection of green technology features. Sustainability & Nature as a more humane way of living
• Design on floor plan and drawing by hand. To recover the timeless craft of architecture and the essential dialogue of mind and hand. To think the architecture from the inside out and disregard any formal or utilitarian ambitions.
• Each Student will present the following minimum:
• Brief Narrative of your project
• Any Preliminary Study item that resonates to your design
• Diagrams
• Sketched Floor Plans and sections (here is where you want most of your presentation to happen, to get input)
• 3D views
• Computer Floor Plans and sections
• Presentation Booklet for guests (Think of your presentation as a work or client presentation, not informal, but formal presentation that convince them. Be efficient on the use of your time. Engage them to your project. Practice and be proud and sure of your project’s integrity to reply and convince; be open and flexible to learn and improve your project from their comments)

C. 3D Modeling, Digital Plans & Mid Review Deliverables (25%):

Upload Sunday April 1st the following minimum requirements:

3D Model (final):

• 3D modeling process, 3D interior & exterior views-Renders (per above).
• Digital Final drawings per above.
• Mid Review images and project comments

D. 12 Shop Work / Physical Model and Mock-Up (SS)

• 1/8″ Physical Model
• Base, 10′ outwards each PL
• Purchase of materials (only Bass Wood and Mahogany)
• Mitered corners only
• Clean final model, not to be a study model quality. See samples
• Process and Final Model images

Upload Sunday April 8th

Process and Final Physical Model images

D. 13 (SS)

• 1:1 Mock-up (See Sample)
• Mock-up Time-Lapse (See Sample)

Upload Sunday April 15th

Mock-up images and Time-Lapse

E. 14 Animation (SS)

• Animation based on emotional path of travel, accentuate your narrative intents (See Samples)

Upload Sunday April 22nd 

Animation

F. 15 Design Development (SS)

• Digital Floor plans, Sections and Elevations. Set parameters (See Sample dwg and CDP checklist)

D, E & F. Shop, Animation and Design Development Deliverables (20%):

Upload Sunday April 29nd the following minimum requirements:

• Physical Model and Mock-Up images and Time-Lapse 
• Animation
• DD CAD package in PDF:
  • Floor plans, elevations & sections

G. 16 Presentation (SS)

• Semester Student Webpage updated and cleaned
• Jury & Exhibit Presentation preparation (Jury will be digital and Exhibition will be printed)
• Preliminary Studies
• Diagrams & Sketched Floor Plans
• 3D Renders
• Physical Model & Mock-Up
• DD plans
• Animation
• DD’s
• Final Booklet
• Skype review with SM & SS

Upload Sunday May 6th the following minimum requirements:

Jury Presentation and Exhibit Material

G. 17 Jury and Exhibit (SM&SS)

• Presentation review
• Project Conclusions
• Student’s project Exhibit (to be installed one day prior to Jury)
• Jury

 G. Jury, Exhibit & Student Full Webpage Deliverables (25%):

Upload Sunday May 13th the following minimum requirements:

Jury Presentation & Exhibit images, comments and conclusions