Design Approaches and Methods

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

The subject will critically explore approaches and methods in architectural design. It aims to undertake a careful, reflective engagement with a range of design approaches in architecture - from maximalist to minimalist - to examine their pros and cons, their ease of use, their outcomes and their utility and efficiency. The subject aims to assist students in developing a flexible and considered personal approach to architectural design so that they are able to judge which methods and approaches are useful in certain design circumstances.

On completion of the subject students should be able to:

• Clarify and consolidate their personal design predilections, tastes, working methods, approaches and ambitions.

• Engage reflectively with a range of design approaches and methods to examine their pros and cons, their ease of use, their outcomes and their utility and efficiency. These features may be examined in general terms and in relation to the individual student.

• Access a flexible, considered, "horses-for-courses" approach to architectural design.

• Make balanced judgements about the optimal design methods and approaches that are to be applied to a given circumstance.

• Make informed forecasts about the design outcomes (including advantages and/or shortcomings) that result from the application of particular design approaches.

• Appreciate that works of architecture intended to be art need to cue attitudes, responses and/or interpretations in those that use them and propose how this might be achieved.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

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

• Awareness of different approaches to design tasks.

• Ability to select the appropriate design approach.