Architectural Design

1st ProofTitle: BA: Architectural Design

Job No: PD0710-67/3184

Chapter 3 final (3.2)_.qxd:layouts to chapter one 7/24/10 7:42 AM Page 100

The design project

Site, context and place

Site sketch

Outdoor theatre for The Tempestby

Jonathan Motzafi-Haller. This initial

sketch of a sound wall was drawn in

pen and overlaid on the existing

photograph. This is an effective way

to show an early idea in context.

The student experience

This section charts the progress of a group of architecture

students as they begin a 12-week design studio project

and learn how to analyse a site, identify the characteristics

of a place and design a proposal for an outdoor theatre that

considers the local and global context in which it is set.

The site

The site was located close to the design studio so that

students could spend time there and make frequent visits to

experience seasonal and temporal change. At the beginning,

students had not yet developed the brief or made any design

proposals so their efforts on site were focused on data

gathering and absorbing the atmosphere. Students were

asked to use objective methods, such as measurement in

order to grasp the scale of the site, as well as subjective

methods, such as drawing the atmosphere at a certain time

of day. This improved their understanding of the physical

facts about the site and the metaphysical qualities that

distinguish it as a place.

Context

Students were encouraged to share information and

compare interpretations of the site. They worked in groups

to gather site data, interpret it and communicate it graphically

at a review. They surveyed the land, trees and surrounding

buildings; used light and sound meters; mapped the type

and frequency of activity in the park; and researched the

local climate, ecology, geology, culture and history. They

then correlated the information in order to understand it

better and put it to use in their own project. For example,

a student who wished to design within the trees may link

their knowledge of tree species, seasonal change and light

levels to consider how the tree canopy and light quality of

their building will alter from summer to winter.

Site plan

Outdoor theatre for Macbethby

Farah Yusof. This site plan was

made by montaging a photograph

of a physical site model, a map and

a scaled site plan of the building

proposal. This process has added

several layers of information about

the site to the final drawing.

Text

1st ProofTitle: BA: Architectural Design

Job No: PD0710-67/3184

Chapter 3 final (3.2)_.qxd:layouts to chapter one 7/24/10 7:42 AM Page 100