Class syllabus and schedule

ARC3181 sections: 0955|2505|2492 | ARC6912 section 2507 | 3 credits
class: Tuesday [FAB103]  - period 5-6 [11:45 AM – 1:40 PM]
Lab: Thursday [ARC116]
ARC3181|SEC.0955 + ARC6912|SEC.2507 2-3 [8:30–10:25 AM] – John Guinn
ARC3181|SEC.2492  6-7 [12:50-2:45 PM] – Charles Gurrey
ARC3181|SEC. 2505 8-9 [3:00-4:55 PM] – Kimberly Nofal

Contact information
Ruth Ron: rron@ufl.edu | Office:  ARC244
Office Hours: Wednesday+ Friday 9:30 AM - 10:30PM [or by appointment]
Class website: http://plaza.ufl.edu/rron/  **the class website will contain the most updated version**

GTAs contact information:
Kimberly Nofal [Thurs. 8-9]: k3689@ufl.edu
Charles Gurrey [Thurs. 6-7]: charles.gurrey@gmail.com
John Guinn [Thurs. 2-3]: jguinn@ufl.edu

Syllabus

“…recent architectural work exploring new digital tools and processes can be broadly categorized in terms of purpose as productive or generative.
The first, productive, is focused on enabling an architect to visualize, achieve or refine an architectural concept which has already been formally predetermined.
The second category of use concerns the generation of architectural form from data-inputs (referred to generally as parametric design).
…Both categories involve new technology … The key difference is in the way in which the digital processes are engaged creatively and the ultimate representational intent of the architect”.

Cynthia Ottchen, OMA- Office for Metropolitan Architecture

In the current state of rapid development in computation and communications, the architect is asked to not only grasp new technologies but to incorporate them into the design process. With new tools to create virtual and physical geometries, the architect must not only be proficient in this skill, but employ it toward new ideas and potentials. This advanced digital design class will require the student's ability to progressively challenge form, space and time. It looks into the realm of three-dimensional modeling, one that is no longer a simple representation of reality but becomes a generative apparatus.
The class will investigate advanced digital modeling techniques with the purpose of employing them in the design process. We will explore a wide variety of tool such as Rhino and Grasshopper, DreamWeaver for web design, Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. We will employ critical contemporary readings and precedent analysis, and will conclude with a series of digital design exercises.
The semester will be divided into 3 parts, each focusing on a digital theme. In order to use digital technology in an innovative and creative manner in Architecture, the class themes will be coupled with contemporary theory and practice. Additionally, it will not tie itself to specific software, but will work across the board with a wide variety of tools. For each project, we will start with a reading and precedents research. We will learn digital tools to support the new concepts and conclude with a design project.  
The class will meet for 2 hours lecture and 2 hours lab in smaller groups each week, attendance is mandatory! The lab sessions will reinforce digital tools learned in the lectures, introduce in-class tutorials and will track progress and give feedback for the 3 term assignments.

Class Objectives
Upon completion of the course, students will be:
- Able to use digital tools creatively for architectural design
- Familiar with a range of 3D modeling software. The goal of the class is not to cover all features in each software but rather to make the students comfortable with it, so they can continue to improve their skills on their own.
- Understand different modeling techniques with their strength and limitations.
- Up to date on contemporary digital architecture practice; understand their strategies, concepts and production methods.

Backup
You should back up your work weekly if not daily due to the fragility of the technology.  Never keep less than two or three copies of your computer files.  Disks regularly are corrupted, so do not trust any of them.  Routinely back-up your work to multiple disks, USB drivers and your share lab directory accounts. 

Prerequisite
Digital literacy and basic 3D modeling ability is required (ARC2180 or equivalent). All students must have basic experience with 3D modeling, digital image editing and 2D digital drafting.       

Grading

Attendance is mandatory! Late submissions will cause a FULL grade deduction
UF grading policies: http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/policies/regulationgrades.html

3 term Projects ......................................................................................... 70%
Reading discussions and precedent research presentation............................ 15%
Attendance, participation and lab deadlines (lectures and labs)..................... 15%

Students are expected to arrive on time to all classes and labs, turn off their cell phones and avoid an activity not related to the class during class time.
Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation.

Schedule (* Class schedule is subject to change) last updated 01/04/11

Assignments and Term Projects

There will be three design assignments, equally weighted, gradually growing in scale. Each assignment will focus on specific tools and concepts. The projects will be broken into intermediate steps and will be reviewed by the GTAs. The intermediate deadlines will be strictly monitored and calculated into the project grade.
In addition, there will be three reading assignments and one precedent research & presentation (in teams of 2-3). Weekly in-class lab assignments are designed to simply practice the material covered in class, and will be checked by the GTAs in the lab.
Assignment Submission:
please 1 or 2 11”x17” landscape orientation PDF, 300 DPI, white background, including your name, 1 short paragraph or titles to describe concept, diagrams of steps/ process, minimum 4 views, plan, section and elevation. Please include sketches or process if possible.
Submit your PDF + Rhino file to you class share folder [‘assignments’ subfolder] on designated time and date, name it:  ARC3181_SP11_LastName_FirstName_projectNo_1.pdf
To connect to ‘student storage drive please follow this link:
http://sharepoint.dcp.ufl.edu/sites/IT-Support/Wiki%20Pages/Student%20File%20Storage.aspx  

Class Website: starting with project 2, you will have to load your projects to your personal website (low resolution jpg's and precedent as PDF).  Information about the university student webpage can be found in this link: http://help.gatorlink.ufl.edu/webserv.html
Plaze website tutorial

Readings
There is no required text book for this class; Recommended help resource for Rhino: Rhino 4.0Visual tips. The mandatory readings will be linked from the class web site. Please come prepared to discuss the reading in class and lab:

	Mandatory reading assignments [please come prepared for class!]
	01/18/11 - Cynthia Ottchen- The Future of Form: The location of Meaning in Data-driven Architecture. - PDF read p. 520-528 ONLY Optional additional readings: 1. Bradley Horn- Meaningless Form / Formless Meaning PDF - read p. 515-519
	02/22/11 - 1. Performalism – Form and performance in Digital Architecture download PDF- ****RightClick and 'Save target As'*** to save a copy to your computer 2. Lev Manovich – a. ‘The Shape of Information’ http://www.manovich.net/DOCS/IA_Domus_3.doc Optional additional readings: 1. Branko Kolarevic & Ali Malkawi– ‘Performative Architecture – Beyond instrumentality’ get book in the library 2. Neil Leach – ‘Digital Morphogenesis’, AD magazine PDF
	03/29/11 Michael Meredith - 'From Control to Design' - part 1: INTRO | part 2: Never Enough Optional additional readings: 1. Digitally Mastered - MoMA exhibition 2007 2. Defne Sungurog˘lu- Complex Brick Assemblies - AD Magazine PDF

Precedent Analysis
Precedent analysis will be conducted in groups of 2-3 students. Each group will sign-up for a precedent study on an assigned date from a provided list: SIGN UP with your GTA DURING LAB. On that date, the group needs to load a short 5 minutes PPT (or PDF) on my computer prior to class.  In your presentation- show images of the project and explain how it relates to the class and the current theme. [Please provide detailed references to all the images included in your presentation by adding web-link or book/ magazine reference]. Submit your presentation to you class folder (for each group member): create a new folder ‘assignments’ and name it: ARC3181_SP11.PrecedentName_group last names.ppt (or PDF)
The list of precedents will be posted on the class website; you may use it as an inspiration for your project.

Deleuze and Guattari – A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia
“The Smooth and the Striated”
[p.474-500]

Advanced text! Manuel Delanda describes Deleuze concepts in depth and provides the needed background and mathematical explanations Deleuze will take for granted.

Manuel Delanda Intensive Science & Virtual Philosophy
read: Introduction + 1st chapter: p.1 - p.44

Pamphlet Architecture 27: Tooling (Paperback)

by Benjamin Aranda (Author), Chris Lasch (Author), Cecil Balmond (Foreword), Sanford Kwinter (After word)

ARC3181|SEC.0955+ ARC6912|SEC.2507

Due 01/24/10 - LINK TO PRECEDENT STUDY FILES
1. Joel Sanders – five minutes bathroom (wallpaper 2000)
2. Office DA - banQ restaurant, Boston
3. Zaha Hadid - exhibition in MAK Austria
4. Vito Acconci - Mobius Bench

Due 01/31/10
5. TDC - 'Framebar' St George Lycabettus Hotel
6. Ball Nogues Architects - Rip Curl Canyon, Tiffany &Co. Gehry Jewelry Launch
7. UN studio – the changing room, Venice Biennale 2008
8. Massimiliano e Doriana Fuksas Architects - Emporio Armani store, Hong Kong

ARC 3181 section 2492

1. Lewis, Paul, Marc Tsurumaki, and David J. Lewis - MSK Lobby Wall
2. Massimiliano e Doriana Fuksas Architects - Armani ginza tower
3. Herzog de meuron - M.H. de Young Museum
4. UN studio- Omotesando, Japan

5. IwamotoScott Architecture -Jellyfish House, IN-OUT Curtain, PS1-reef, citris Lobby
6. nArchitects - New ABC Logo Lattice Facade, Beirut, Prelim phase
7. field operation- campus walk(university of Puerto Rico), international cinema park- korea
8. Chuck Hoberman – Emergent surface

ARC 3181 section 0955

Due 4/5
1. Manuelle Gautrand  - Offie Tower- Issy Les Moulineaux+ WEBSITE
office tower in La Defence, Paris+ Tena tower, France
2. Studio Gang- Aqua tower, Chicago
3. Diller+ Scofodio - the Broad Art Foundation, LA
4. RUR- tower Dubai

Due 4/12
5. David Fisher - dynamic towers
6. MAD architects - Absolute Towers, Canada
7. Evolo Magazine - Skyscraper Competition
8. Michel Rojkind - tower r432

Scale/program

site

Due date- MIDNIGHT

1. Loft/ morph

Multiuse furniture

ARC entry

02/12/11 5:00PM

2. Performative architecture

Building facade/ bridge/ roof/ garden "ADD ON"

ARC building and atrium

03/26/11 5:00PM

3. Repetition/ variation:
distorting the grid

A sky scraper in Miami:

Miami, FL- see top of page

04/27/11 NOON