ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND URBANISM ARCH 371 (Dharwadker/E2) Junior Design Studio, Fall 2023, CRN 71852 MW 1:00-5:50PM Architecture Building Room 200, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

PHASE 2: SKETCH MODELS

Office for Metropolitan Architecture, “Process Models”

PROMPT

Individually, create a series of “sketch models” to test formal, organizational, and material concept designs for the Public Library of Things located at our site in Albany Park. The program breakdown memo (provided in the next phase) will provide a guide to consider major categories of scale and activity types, but don’t worry about any of the specific rooms or functional requirements just yet.

REQUIREMENTS

1. Create multiple sketch models that each articulate a single and specific “big move” or conceptual driver. Test multiple separate options, as well multiple iterations or variations on a single “theme.”

2. Identify each model with a single action verb that will provide a title and indication of the big move. For example, “slice”, “nest,” “shear”, “stack,” etc.

3. Experiment with at least 3 different materials among your different models, including at least one surface material and one volumetric material.

4. Each sketch model should generally use a single material, or 2 materials max.

5. Create a site “place-mat” or model to provide the immediate neighborhood context; each sketch model should fit with scale accuracy on the site placemat (consult your instructor for section-specific requirements).

6. Each sketch model must be secure enough to be easily inserted and removed from the site “place-mat” or model.

7. Take well-composed photographs of each model positioned on the site place-mat.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Relationship to the street.
Relationship between landscape and building strategies—the building does not need to cover the entire footprint of the site.
Indoor vs. outdoor space; enclosed vs. unenclosed space.
Relationships to neighboring buildings and surrounding context.
Response to context phenomena, limits, and potentials identified in Ph1—Neighborhood Portraits.

MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES

For section E2, all materials must be found or recycled, i.e., something you already have or can easily access (like items from a dining hall).
Additive vs. subtractive form-making.
Surface materials (sheet goods like colored cardstock, chipboard, foam-core) vs. volumetric materials (massing materials like clay, or rigid foam insulation).
Linear materials (e.g. wood dowels, wire).
Permeable materials (e.g. wire mesh, screens, fabric).
Color highlights (i.e. bright materials set against neutral tones).
Non-traditional materials (e.g. sponges, cardboard egg cartons, foodstuffs, corks, glitter, textiles, stuff rescued from the trash).
Creating texture or changing forms of density (i.e., mounding sugar into varying piles with glue; modeling with marshmallows).
Experiment with the hot-wire cutter to cut foam or hot glue to create seams between materials.
Generally use materials that can be easily manipulated by manual tools.

RESOURCES

1” = 40’ model base drawing (11x17 sheet) Download PDF
Site Zoning Information (reference only) Download JPEG

SCHEDULE

Wed, Sept 13: Bring site “place-mat” at 1”=40’ completed to class; bring materials to make 4 sketch models during studio.
- Note: this class will begin at 10:30AM and we will stagger desk crits to accommodate individual schedules.
Mon, Sept 18: Six additional sketch models completed by 1:00PM; small group critiques.
- Note: this class will begin at 10:30AM and we will stagger desk crits to accommodate individual schedules.
Wed, Sept 20: Revised sketch models that respond to in-class critique.
- Normal class time.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND URBANISM ARCH 371 (Dharwadker/E2) Junior Design Studio, Fall 2023, CRN 71852 MW 1:00-5:50PM Architecture Building Room 200, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

PHASE 2: SKETCH MODELS

PROMPT

REQUIREMENTS

1. Create multiple sketch models that each articulate a single and specific “big move” or conceptual driver. Test multiple separate options, as well multiple iterations or variations on a single “theme.”

2. Identify each model with a single action verb that will provide a title and indication of the big move. For example, “slice”, “nest,” “shear”, “stack,” etc.

3. Experiment with at least 3 different materials among your different models, including at least one surface material and one volumetric material.

4. Each sketch model should generally use a single material, or 2 materials max.

5. Create a site “place-mat” or model to provide the immediate neighborhood context; each sketch model should fit with scale accuracy on the site placemat (consult your instructor for section-specific requirements).

6. Each sketch model must be secure enough to be easily inserted and removed from the site “place-mat” or model.

7. Take well-composed photographs of each model positioned on the site place-mat.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Relationship to the street.

Relationship between landscape and building strategies—the building does not need to cover the entire footprint of the site.

Indoor vs. outdoor space; enclosed vs. unenclosed space.

Relationships to neighboring buildings and surrounding context.

Response to context phenomena, limits, and potentials identified in Ph1—Neighborhood Portraits.

MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES

For section E2, all materials must be found or recycled, i.e., something you already have or can easily access (like items from a dining hall).

Additive vs. subtractive form-making.

Surface materials (sheet goods like colored cardstock, chipboard, foam-core) vs. volumetric materials (massing materials like clay, or rigid foam insulation).

Linear materials (e.g. wood dowels, wire).

Permeable materials (e.g. wire mesh, screens, fabric).

Color highlights (i.e. bright materials set against neutral tones).

Non-traditional materials (e.g. sponges, cardboard egg cartons, foodstuffs, corks, glitter, textiles, stuff rescued from the trash).

Creating texture or changing forms of density (i.e., mounding sugar into varying piles with glue; modeling with marshmallows).

Experiment with the hot-wire cutter to cut foam or hot glue to create seams between materials.

Generally use materials that can be easily manipulated by manual tools.

RESOURCES

1” = 40’ model base drawing (11x17 sheet) Download PDF

Site Zoning Information (reference only) Download JPEG

SCHEDULE

Wed, Sept 13: Bring site “place-mat” at 1”=40’ completed to class; bring materials to make 4 sketch models during studio.

Note: this class will begin at 10:30AM and we will stagger desk crits to accommodate individual schedules.

Mon, Sept 18: Six additional sketch models completed by 1:00PM; small group critiques.

Note: this class will begin at 10:30AM and we will stagger desk crits to accommodate individual schedules.

Wed, Sept 20: Revised sketch models that respond to in-class critique.

Normal class time.