What is a typical day in DESIGN like?

There is not much in the way of a typical day in the design class. In the first two weeks, we are in our studio. The class is photographing, drawing, and making models. The focus starts on abstract and concrete architectural terms. In the second week, students build individual models of a one- or two-room structure.

At the end of that week, the students learn to critique each other’s work. In a two-day process, the class decides which elements of all the models they want to develop into one cohesive structure.

From there, the class has to figure out how to physically construct that structure at full scale. This involves deciding what materials to use for the exterior and how to frame it.

This year, we built a 1/4"=1'-0" framing model to work out those issues. In that model, we adjusted some circulation issues and overall concepts. The workings of the doors, railings, stairs, and window openings are all looked at more carefully. The students establish what things are not working as well as they could. Students are working in a pair of on a team in one of the following areas-- overall form, exterior skin, circulation / stairs, interiors, and roof.

The class built 1/2 size models of particular pieces to see how the different pieces connect to each other. This helps to see what the materials really do and how they can be used.

In the building of the full-size model, the students are working outside actually framing and building the structure. Physics plays a real part in this phase. How do you use the structure to brace itself? How do you keep it from twisting and moving?

In our last week, the class finally has a chance to take a step back and critique their work. This is a great opportunity to talk about the things that went well, but also to see what could have been better.

The class works so incredibly hard and what they do pushes them to the limits of their physical endurance and their ability to problem solve while doing their work.