KEAN UNIVERSITY MICHAEL GRAVES COLLEGE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE
ARCH 3106 STUDIO 6: Traveling Studio Urban Spaces | Professor McKay & Steenblik
Purpose Built Cities - Theoretical Implications of Computational Influence on Urban Spaces
KEAN UNIVERSITY MICHAEL GRAVES COLLEGE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE
ARCH 3106 STUDIO 6: Traveling Studio Urban Spaces | Professor McKay & Steenblik
Purpose Built Cities - Theoretical Implications of Computational Influence on Urban Spaces
Image by Jared Tarbell from complexification.net
COURSE INFORMATION:
Course Title: ARCH 3106 STUDIO 6: Traveling Studio Urban Spaces
Purpose Built Cities - Theoretical Implications of Computational influence on Urban Spaces
Course Number and Section: ARCH 3106, SECTION 01 & 02
Semester: Spring 2021
Course Meeting Days/Times: Mon. 1-3:45pm, Wed. 8:30-11:15am, Fri. 2-4:45pm
Course Meeting Location: Third Year Studio or Zoom
Instructor Names: Graham McKay & Ralph Spencer Steenblik
Office Location: General Education Hall, Room A405 or WeChat
Office Hours: see Keanwise
Wechat ID: Graham_McKay | steenblikrs
WKU Email: gmckay@kean.edu | rsteenbl@kean.edu
INTRODUCTION:
This is an ambitious studio looking at the ground up or purpose-built Capital city intended to be a traveling studio. Due to the global pandemic (even with the situation relatively under control in China), we have been limited in our ability to travel to any notable extent. As an opportunity to look beyond the physical world to travel - we have resorted to virtual travel. In turn we will be resorting to virtual explorations, and thus documentation as an outlet for our creative efforts.
We will be considering historic, technical, and theoretical aspects of purpose built cities. Even the cliche statement: “form follows function” still holds significant merit due to the fact that it is almost futile attempting to consider form with the challenges of the function demanding consideration. It is for this reason that a large focus will be put on technical aspects of the city. For example one key element of focus for the studio is the mundane need to integrate housing into the solution set for any urban condition. Yet these are not the only technical aspects we are interested in covering. Conceptions such as Arcology or more concrete instantiations such as Mazdar have taken on the impact of human development on “spaceship earth”. Thus sustainability will be an important part of the studios objectives and foci.
Throughout time many cities have been premeditated, purpose built, planned cities. As we live with globalization and rural flight, we are seeing much more of a precedent for ground up, purpose built or planned cities; particularly in Asia and China. We have seen ‘Special Economic Zones’ announced throughout the recent past. Some of these have been less successful than others, yet we do see the overwhelming and unignorable successes of others, such as Shenzhen, etc. But China also has a long history of emperor decreed cities rising out of a designated plot of land, and China is not alone in this act. For example, recently we have seen several successful examples in the Middle East, including the current effort in Egypt (The new administrative capital).
Yet when considering purpose built cities, should we only consider built ones? Can we expand our definition of ‘city’? Looking at the origin of the word: “from Old French cite, from Latin civitas, from civis ‘citizen’”(Oxford). Does a citizen have to only be human? How about a termite mound? Does it have citizens, a video game, or cellular automata?
Much of what drives design are performative aspects of the outcomes, yet if we are only driven by the utilitarian requirements, we will never allow ourselves the opportunity to imagine alternatives. By pushing beyond what is possible we enable new possibilities for the future. This can be referred to as the development of possible futures. This studio builds on the heritage of the digital studios pioneered by Bernard Tschumi. We see the legacy of that effort going on to create such projects as the digital Guggenheim, New City, and has even influenced Hollywood world building see examples from Alex McDowell and the World Building Media Lab at the University of Southern California. Yet this is not the only lineage of computation influencing the future of urban conceptions. We have seen, particularly in the last ten years, the influence of computational methods such as parametric, procedural, and machine learning rework the possibilities of creativity to incorporate computation as a collaborator. Beyond those technical aspects driving creativity and innovation there are other stirrings including more cultural ones such as the post-digital movement which has worked to flatten and colorize predominant conceptions of our future.
QUESTIONS TO KEEP IN MIND INCLUDE:
FUNCTIONAL SPACE REQUIREMENTS:
Instead of predefining traditional programmatic areas, students will begin by examining and capturing the rituals, priorities, and everyday life of the individuals who would live there.
Projects are expected to propose concepts of sharing and equity that incorporate community beyond a simple solution for office space, while speculating on functional space requirements and their potential configurations. At a minimum, spaces, either indoor or outdoor, should include some method of delineating programmatic spaces in the city.
Projects should be a series of experiential moments expressed through architectural means. This may include: a network of multiple buildings, a re-purposing of existing buildings and infrastructure throughout the site zone, possible futures.
Example of Arcology(above), The Map of Despair(below), Paulo Solari link
DELIVERABLES:
The studio seeks to allow for experimentation regarding both the content and the presentation of your work. With the internet continually moving further into ubiquity we seek for a digital presence from this studio. As a part of the complimentary representation course we will be exploring with different novel methods of representing architectural work. As we explore, it will become clear which methods are most compelling / successful. We imagine that those methods will become more heavily leaned upon for the key reviews of the work. Our intention is that the studio will leave behind an archeological record of your best work. Thus you will be required to maintain your own github webspace for the entirety of the course. That space will be evaluated periodically at key moments throughout the semester.
The studio will evaluate 3 main final studio deliverables
(MJ = Midterm Jury Deliverable | FJ = Final Jury Deliverable):
2. FINAL BOOK SPREADS
You will be required to produce a maximum of two B5 size spreads for the school wide portfolio
3. Updated Webspace based on critique from final review
RESOURCES:
https://steenblikrs.github.io/2021-Spring-Studio/ (This location may change during the semester)
SCHEDULE (This schedule is flexible to address the needs of the studio, as revisions and iterations are necessary, some assignments may be revisited for further clarity of the ideas presented):
Assignment 1: Research [1 weeks+]
Assignment 2: Exploring Possible Futures [1 weeks+]
Assignment 3: Storyboarding [1 weeks+]
Assignment 4: Schematic Worldbuilding [1 week+]
Assignment 5: World Building [1 week+]
Assignment 6: Documentation [1 week+]
Assignment 7: Final Deliverables [1 weeks+]
See https://wku.edu.cn/en/academics/academic-calendar/ for other important dates or refer to Fall Semester Academic Calendar at the end of this Syllabus.
Methods of Assessment and Student Responsibilities:
A. Review of studio assignments
B. Performance-based assessment of graphic assignments
C. Self-and peer-evaluation
D. Evaluation of critical thinking skills
E. Written assessments
In addition, the following criteria will guide the determination of the student’s Final Grade:
Grading is based on careful consideration of all the factors listed above and evaluation of all class assignments and course requirements. Please be aware that unexcused and/or excessive absence from class will also impact your grade. Students are responsible for all assignments, even if they are absent. Late assignments, failure to complete the assignments for class discussion and/or critique, lack of meaningful contribution to class discussions or active participation, and lack of preparedness for in-class discussions, presentations, pinups, and/or critiques will jeopardize your course evaluation.
Final grades will be determined by a combination of quality as assessed against all assessment criteria, participation, and individual student growth and performance in determining your final grade. Students need to maintain a Grade Point Average of 3.0 or better to remain in the Program. Students enrolled in the ARCH, BFA and BID [design] programs are required to maintain a 3.0 grade point average in major requirements to continue in the program and to receive the degree. See page 240 in the catalog for more information: http://www.wku.edu.cn/en/org/office-of-registrar/undergraduate-catalog/ Kean University’s Grading Policy is based upon a 4.0 Grade Scale. Kean University’s Grade Scale is as follows: grade grade legend A Excellent A- Excellent B+ Good B Good B- Good C+ Fair C Fair D Poor F Fail IN Incomplete Mid-Term Progress: Information will be provided to students by the instructor via KeanWise. Please see the 2020-2021 Undergraduate or Graduate Catalog for more information. | Cloud by Wolf Prix, 1968 |
STUDIO REQUIREMENTS/POLICIES:
1. Attend class and reviews on time and participate in discussions. Arriving more than fifteen minutes late or leaving more than 15 minutes early is recorded as an absence. Unexcused absences will affect your Final Grade (three or more will result in a failing grade for the course).
2. Adhere to the Studio Culture Policy of the School of Architecture, which emphasizes creative thinking, ethical behavior and personal commitment.
3. Develop the design project weekly through sketches, drawings, physical models, diagrams, renderings, and other representation techniques; read assigned texts and complete assignments on time.
4. Attendance at all Field Trips is Mandatory. All students should come fully prepared for each Field Trip with
materials to produce the analysis and documentation for each site visit.
5. Participation in the Thinking Creatively Workshops/Mini-Conference are both mandatory and counted as
part of a student’s overall Grade.
6. The assumption is made that all students will strive to acquire a mastery of each assignment. If the work
produced by a student is deemed unsatisfactory, that student will be required to “re-do” the assignment as is necessary until its mastery is achieved. The student will then be invited to commence work on the next
assignment.
7. Produce all required deliverables to a high level of resolution for each Weekly Pin Up/Review and for both
the Midterm collection of work for evaluation and the Final Review; failure to submit work for Midterm
evaluation or to attend the Final Review on time, with the completed required deliverables, will result in a
failing grade.
8. No mobile device/tablet/laptop use allowed during Studio Class Meeting time, except for Studio Work.
Violations will incur impoundment of offending devices and/or dismissal from the Studio session.
9. Appropriate behavior is expected of all students while in Studio. Any inappropriate behavior will result in
a student being asked to leave the Studio session.
Important University Policies and Information:
Students are responsible to review and understand the University Academic Integrity Policy (available at the
Center for Academic Success or at: http://www.kean.edu/admin/uploads/pdf/AcademicIntegrityPolicy.pdf
Students should review the Student Code of Conduct, as it discusses expectations of appropriate conduct in the classroom: http://www.kean.edu/KU/Code-of-Conduct
Americans with Disabilities Statement & Non-Discrimination Statement:
Kean University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution. Students with documented disabilities
who may need special instructional accommodations or who may need special arrangements in the event of an evacuation should notify the instructor as soon as possible, no later than the second week of the term. Students may contact the Office of Disability Services to discuss special needs.
Title IX:
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities. Sexual harassment in any form will not be tolerated at Kean University. Sexual harassment by students should be reported to the Office of Affirmative Action Programs, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs or the Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct immediately.
Information about the University’s Sexual Misconduct Policy may be found at the following:
http://www.kean.edu/policies/sexual-misconduct-policy.
Wenzhou-Kean University Non-Discrimination Policy: Wenzhou-Kean University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.
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