Architectural Design

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1st ProofTitle: BA: Architectural Design

Job No: PD0710-67/4028

Chapter 3 final (3.3)_.qxd:layouts to chapter one 7/26/10 8:45 AM Page 125

Journey model exercise

During the initial ideas phase, the site and brief provide

a vast amount of information. The architect must spend time

discovering which elements to prioritise and develop. One

possible technique is the journey model, which prompts

reflection on the nature of the journey to the site and

encourages the qualities of this experience to be continued

within the site and the building itself. This technique can

be used to make legible first proposals for internal space

without any need to design a fixed external form: no

enclosure or shell is required to understand the sequence

or nature of the spaces. You will need recycled scrap model-

making materials and/or found materials brought from site.

1 Remember(5 minutes): From memory, recall the journey to

the entrance of your site. Write down any significant features

of the route, landmarks, topography, materials, events,

sounds and so on.

2 Make(15 minutes): Starting from the point in your journey

where you could first see your site, make a sketch model of

the journey to the site. This model should link the significant

features of the route (see 1) and represent your impression in

abstract and not to scale.

3 Record (5 minutes): Photograph the model.

4 Reflect(5 minutes): Stand, lift up the model and look at it

from every angle, thinking about what this series of spaces

could be.

5 Adapt(15 minutes): The sketch model must now be

adapted to represent the possible journey within your project

proposal/building. First, decide at what point along the

journey you should set the entrance threshold (is it immediate

or is there a build-up to it?). Next, begin to bend, twist, break

and separate the model to represent the different spaces

within your proposal and their relationship to each other.

6 Record(5 minutes): Photograph the model and annotate

with a description of the nature, function and sequence of

spaces that you have created.

Site, context and place ›

Initial ideas

› Development and detail

Text

1st ProofTitle: BA: Architectural Design

Job No: PD0710-67/4028

Chapter 3 final (3.3)_.qxd:layouts to chapter one 7/26/10 8:46 AM Page 125