Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
AR40359 Digital tectonics |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Masters |
| Semester: 1 |
| Assessment: CW100 |
| Requisites: |
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Before taking this unit students must have a basic competence in digital skills in the use of Rhino and Digital Project (Catia) undertaken during MArch 1. Aims: This unit aims to introduce a thread of history concerned with the nature of building components and assemblies, or tectonics. Specifically, this thread is one of an interdependency of form and construction; a fusion of differing construction requirements into a single material system. Lectures explore ideas of proportion, with its associations of elegance and beauty, based on a variable dimensional relationship of elements (such as structural bays, window openings, roof vaults) that follow a single set of rules. This 'rule based' design will be explored with digital drawing and visualisation tools. Learning Outcomes: Students who have completed this unit will take a theme from one of the six lectures and will have researched a single aspect of this theme, explored through digital means and analysed in a clear and concise argument. Skills: Digital skills are required in Rhino and Digital Project (Catia) which were taught and applied in the 5th Year Studio. Analytical skills acquired during preparation of the Dissertation are also required. Content: The six lectures will comprise the following themes: 1. Gothic cathedrals; the interdependency of material system and built form. 2. Gothic Revival work of Viollet le Duc and his influence on Antonio Gaudi. Parallels with Pugin and the English Arts and Crafts Movement. 3. Hector Guimard, Victor Horta and European Art Nouveau. 4. Oscar Niemeyer and Eduardo Torroja; sculpting materials and space. 5. Eero Saarinen; sculpting form and space; Santiago Calatrava sculpting structure. 6. Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid; sculpting surface and modelling form. |