Architectural Design 4A

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject explores the hypothesis that design quality is in many ways the outcome of a collaborative effort and the successful combination of different dimensions and scales. In developing a medium-density housing scheme, students are required to investigate the relationships between individual buildings and collective environments and between micro and macro spaces. Regulatory constraints, urban policies and building technical issues are introduced and treated as design parameters. The creative and communicative function of architectural representation is emphasised by asking students to convey their design intent through specific technical descriptions. These range from urban massing models to building sectional drawings, and from perspective sketches to spatial details. Three small assignments are used in conjunction with the lecture program to clarify particular issues of the larger brief.

On completion of the subject students should be able to:

• Relate individual buildings and collective environments, micro and macro spaces.

• Adapt individual choices to group decisions.

• Convey design intentions through specific technical descriptions.

• Translate regulatory constraints and urban policies into design parameters.

• Evaluate design decisions against industrial environmental conditions, building scale and program requirements.

• Identify performance differences and mutual impacts within the spatial program developed.

• Understand the problems implied in the proposal rather than prescribed in the brief.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of the subject students should have developed the following skills and capabilities:

• Ability to think, coordinate and design various urban and architectural design scales.

• Ability to comprehend urban complexity and make appropriate design interventions.

• Ability to work in a design team and to manage group and individual contributions.

Formerly available as 702-403 Architectural Design and Practice 4. Students who have completed 702-403 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.