University at Buffalo (UB)
In the second semester of their freshman year, students designed full-scale, occupiable structures. The projects are modest in size, use, and material, but ambitious in creativity, clarity, and quality.
Nida Ali
Lukas Fetzko
Zach Fields
Thomas Foederer
Michael Gac
Rachael Goff
Thomas Horvath
Elias Kotzambasis
Stanicka Mathurin
Sara Svisco
ARC 102
Spring 2019
BS Arch
In the second semester of their freshman year, students designed full-scale, occupiable structures. The projects are modest in size, use, and material, but ambitious in creativity, clarity, and quality.
This studio privileged space-making over shape and form-making. Students were asked to respond to the performance of material systems, building components, and programs and to allow their evolving understanding of the integration of these alchemical elements to create a whole with spatial and experiential qualities greater than the sum of its parts.
The studio began with a game-like approach to the design process. Students were presented with three “card decks,” one a set of building components, the second material systems, the third actions—cards drawn at random produced various combinations that would become the building blocks for the projects. For instance, a student may be asked to create a ceiling system using bent laminated wood to hold fire, and next to design a framed light timber floor to support a seated body
Students self-organized into 20 teams of 4-5 students. These teams selected one primary material system and program to create an occupiable installation consisting of multiple building components.
Hands-on exploration and peer learning led to an iterative process of brainstorming, analysis, and discussion. The scale of study increased progressively throughout the semester, transforming architectural proposals from 1”=1’-0” models, to half-scale prototypes, to fullscale construction.
for proposed installation at several realworld sites. They were then constructed on campus and displayed in the studio. Teams were asked to consider project budget, material efficiencies, and to design for disassembly and reassembly.
Each of the 20 teams, through the selection of their “cards” and refinement, developed a unique goal statement. The project at the top, for example, is a wall + stair system using stacked light timber to afford seclusion. Just below is a wall + floor + ceiling system using stacked light timber to support a seated body. There is a wall + floor + ceiling system for affording seclusion and supporting studies.