Architectural Design

2nd ProofTitle: BA: Architectural Design

Job No: CPD0810-27/4028

008-033 Chapter 1 final_.qxd:layouts to chapter one 8/17/10 6:00 PM Page 24

The design studio

Design studio projects

Every design studio project is different. What follows is

an attempt to introduce the concept of project work and

to describe the characteristics of a typical project. Many

student project briefs will emphasise particular stages

of the project over others in order to teach those areas in

more detail. Some projects may even remove stages that

are not relevant to the aims of the exercise.

Starting a design project

A typical design studio project begins with a research,

experimentation and analysis phase to understand the

problems set by the brief: surveying the site, sketching,

interviewing clients and users, mapping and analysing the

site. The project may be real, based on reality or entirely

imagined. The brief may even be open, requiring the student

to complete it, to identify a site, client or building type(s).

The brief is normally designed to allow students to develop

their own interests and build upon those of the tutor. There

will often be elements of group work and cooperation at this

point to accelerate the group’s knowledge and understanding

at a time when much research is needed.

While absorbing all of this information, students will be

exploring multiple ideas and potential solutions to the design

problem through preliminary sketches, diagrams and sketch

models. Different ideas need to be explored and tested out.

Tutors often assist with the generation and direction of ideas

by running design workshops, group tutorials and pin-ups for

discussion of ideas, as well as lectures and building visits.

‘There are two ingredients when one is starting any project. One is

an understanding of the brief and one is an understanding of the site.

Strangely enough the relationship of the project with its site often outlives

the relationship of the project with the programme and certainly always

outlives the relationship of the project with the client.’

John Tuomey, O’Donnell + Tuomey Architects

Project: Oxford Literary Festival

Location: Oxford, UK

Designer: Joanna Gorringe Minto

Date: 2010

This early sketch model/drawing was

made at the beginning of a project.

It expresses the idea of a tunnel with

an open structure and patterned

cladding emerging from the

landscape and casting shadows

upon it.

Text

2nd ProofTitle: BA: Architectural Design

Job No: CPD0810-27/4028

008-033 Chapter 1 final_.qxd:layouts to chapter one 8/17/10 6:01 PM Page 24