Consolidated Hub brief for STW & CTD

A COMMUNITY HUB         

consolidated brief_subjects: STW & CTD
CPUT 2^nd year 2011.................................

[Refer to 2ndyearclassof 2011 facebook group & Hub design exercise brief of 22 January 2011]

Note: the brief describes the MINIMUM requirements. Please refer to any reading work, discussions and crits on fb and skype, and with your peers and employer.

“We require of any building that it acts well, and do the things it was intended to do in the best way, that it speaks well and says the things it was intended to say in the best words; that it looks well, and pleasures by its presence, whatever it has to do or say.” John Ruskin 

Introduction
The first project for the year involves “out of the box” thinking with regards to providing shelter. You are required to design a small, low tech, low cost, sustainable, multi-functional and easily assembled structure that will act as the prototype for a public landmark facility. This landmark may be repeated in a variety of community locations.

These “community hubs” will provide sheltered places and landmarks that will offer the relevant communities access to information as well as opportunities for learning, communication and social interaction.

Site information

Assume that the site is flat. However, you need to design for a generic and not a specific site, since the structure will be repeated in a variety of community locations.

Functional requirements

A masonry service core of 1m² and 5m high must be lockable after hours.

Its main function is the provision of a wi-fi spot.

In addition to this function, you may select ONE of the following functions –

consider the relevant anthropometrics:

• homework
• creative performance
• play
• meeting
• shelter

Technological requirements
The basic structure must be a lockable masonry core of 1m² and 5m high with an access panel.

The remainder of the structure must contain gum poles and marine ply as the main materials – these are provided to the community "for free."

The technology must allow for a flexible structure to suit various locations and climatic conditions.

It must allow simple assembly with unsophisticated equipment.

Pay attention to the junctions between various elements.

Foundation conditions will be confirmed by your lecturers.

Project outcomes: STW
To foster an understanding of TECHNOLOGY and FUNCTION and the influence that technology and function can have on the form of the final design and detail resolution

• To develop an understanding of design generators
• To develop awareness of architectural language and formulation of the architectural idea
• To develop research and information gathering techniques
• To develop graphic and model building communication techniques

Project outcomes: CTD
To foster an understanding of TECHNOLOGY and FUNCTION and the influence that technology and function can have on the form of the final design and detail resolution

• To understand the properties of the building materials, and putting them together
• To understand how to formulate a technological solution, in line with the architectural design idea
• To develop research and information gathering techniques
• To develop graphic and model building communication techniques

References

• Ching, Francis D.K.  Form, Space and Order, Van Nostrand Reinhold (1996)
• Righini, Paul.  Thinking Architecturally, UCT Press (2000): chapter 5 and p143-147
• Alexander, Christopher. A Pattern Language, Oxford University Press (1977)
• Unwin, Simon. Analysing Architecture, Routledge London (2009) case study pp 231-234
• Loyd Kahn (Ed.) Shelter ISBN-10: 0-936070-11-0, ISBN-13: 978-0-936070-11-7
• Look on the internet at the “Hole in the Wall” project in India and what it achieved.

Assessment weightings

Final assessment on 08.0:8 combined poster pin up presentation with models

STW_ 20% of total year mark

CTD_20% of total year mark

Your interim submissions must be on time. Feedback will be provided on these, but assessment only happens in August, based on the combined pin up submission. Interim submissions must be uploaded to your own blog. Please create pages as per the class blog, namely STW, CTD, Hub, MIP, ATR and PSS, so that your work is easily accessible.

Project programme

04.03   

Submit Hub Function and Technology investigation and precedent analysis online: post to your student blog. Integrate into poster submission for August

18.03   

Hub idea development, model 1: post photo and sketches to your blog/ online portfolio of work

01.04   

Hub idea development, model 2: post photo and sketches to your blog/ online portfolio of work

15.04   

Hub idea development, model 3, analysis, description of your design process: post photo and sketches to your blog/ online portfolio of work

08.08

Pin up completed hub project: all models, integrating function and technology investigations, precedent, analysis & description of your design process

24.10

Last date for resubmissions

Interim submissions & requirements

_________________________________________________________________________

04.03   

Submit Hub Function and Technology investigation and precedent analysis online: post to your student blog by noon, 04.03, then integrate into poster submission for August

The Hub Function and Technology investigation and precedent submission follows on the group work done during block 1. However, this time you will do INDIVIDUAL work. Clearly indicate your name and the number of your original group. At this stage you do not need any Block 1 Hub group work/ drawings. Please complete the functional and technology analyses and precedents individually, and not using any material generated in your groups.

• Functional investigation & precedent

Clearly indicate your chosen Hub function, other than the wifi tower. On A3 pages (as many as you need) show your understanding of the functional requirements of your selected Hub function.

Use diagrams and text to explain, and reference any sources. Refer to ergonomics, the experience (use verbs!) etc. Now find at least one FUNCTIONAL PRECEDENT. That is, a structure/ building similar in function. This precedent must be good published work (local or international), appropriate and useful. Contact your lecturer if you are not sure. Use diagrams and text to explain how this chosen precedent(s) is/are relevant to your given problem (Hub).  Explain how this chosen precedent(s) is/are relevant to your given problem (Hub).  

• Technological investigation & precedent

Now you move on to the technological requirements. On A3 pages (as many as you need) show your understanding of the functional requirements of this project. You must investigate the given materials, i.e. gumpoles and marine ply. Research the sizes, material properties etc. Illustrate this with diagrams and text. Reference all sources. Now find at least one TECHNOLOGICAL PRECEDENT. That is, a structure/ building using similar (framed) technology/ materials. It may have a different function.This precedent must be good published work (local or international), appropriate and useful. Contact your lecturer if you are not sure. Use diagrams and text to explain how this chosen precedent(s) is/are relevant to your given problem (Hub). This analysis will provide you with the necessary clues/ design informants to continue with the design process.

_________________________________________________________________________

18.03   

Hub idea development, model 1: post photo and sketches to your blog/ online portfolio of work, then integrate into poster submission for August

Once you submitted the functional and technological analyses online, you will get feedback on the Hub group project (architectural idea formulation), by means of a podcast (audio) per group. We will also forward to you the architectural idea on which to base your individual design work.

Now, based on the ARCHITECTURAL IDEA formulated during Block 1, you will start preparing individual designs. You will not be using any group work other than the joint architectural idea, as a point of departure.

Prepare a working model and sketches. Refer to the architectural idea and the discoveries made in the functional and technological investigation. Approach your employer, peers and lecturer for crits. Watch the fb group and blog for online crit arrangements. Use your weekly blog posts to explain your progress and learning.

_________________________________________________________________________

01.04   
Hub idea development, model 2: post photo and sketches to your blog/ online portfolio of work, then integrate into poster submission for 08.08

Develop your ideas by building another working model and more sketches. Always refer to the architectural idea and the discoveries made in the functional and technological investigation, as well as crit feedback. Approach your employer, peers and lecturer for crits. Watch the fb group and blog for online crit arrangements. Use your weekly blog posts to explain your progress and learning.

By this stage you must have plans, sections and elevations, and start to look at construction details.

_________________________________________________________________________

15.04   
Hub idea development, model 3: post photo and sketches to your blog/ online portfolio of work, then integrate into poster submission for 08.08

Develop your ideas by building another working model and more sketches. Always refer to the architectural idea and the discoveries made in the functional and technological investigation, as well as crit feedback. Approach your employer, peers and lecturer for crits. Watch the fb group and blog for online crit arrangements. Use your weekly blog posts to explain your progress and learning.

By this stage you must have plans, sections and elevations, and resolved the key construction details.

_________________________________________________________________________

08.08

Hub final poster submission: integrating all interim work and models submitted

Integrate all work (investigations, precedent studies, models, sketches, drawings. Explain your design process, with key decisions made. Illustrate the influence of the most prominent design informants.

Now also analyse your design proposal, using architectural concepts e.g. circulation, hierarchy, composition, organisation (Ching), space-defining elements (Righini) etc.

THIS BRIEF IS PROVISIONAL AND MAY CHANGE AT ANY TIME – ALWAYS REFER TO THE LATEST VERSION. This is the version dated 28 February 2011.

ALSO REFER TO SEPARATE INPUT E.G. DISCUSSIONS ON THE BLOG AND FACEBOOK, CRITS (ONLINE AND FACE TO FACE, BY YOUR PEERS, EMPLOYER AND LECTURER), REFERENCES (USE BOOKS, NOT ONLY ONLINE SOURCES) ETC.

One month post block 1

Dear 2nd years,


during block 1 we explained that this year we are presenting the second year program in a format that has never been done before. It is not only a first for CPUT, but also a very first in South Africa!


There are many reasons why we are attempting this approach. Some are:


- architectural practices are transforming to new ways of ICT and communication, and education must keep up with the times
- to allow students to find work in places other than in Cape Town, perhaps nearer to home
- unnecessary time and money spent traveling is wasteful and not sustainable and should be avoided where possible
- there may be new ways of creating a vibrant studio environment and community of practice, other than the face-to-face mode


We are most certainly not new to architectural education, but we are new to this alternative way of learning and teaching. We therefore anticipated some teething problems and allowed for a month of catching up, finding jobs and getting used to the new online learning environment. We are also not surprised that there are many of you who are not feeling quite that confident yet with this new way of communication.


Therefore we are suggesting that we have another session in the computer lab, with personal attention to all technical and other difficulties. We will confirm the date and time, but will try to stick to a lunchtime slot.


Furthermore we are also in the process of streamlining the class blog so that all project briefs are integrated in the (blog post) text for ease of reading, with links to all downloadable briefs in a separate easy to find place.


We suggest that the class blog be the one central place where all relevant information is kept and updated, and that the facebook group remains the place for discussion, sharing interesting links, organising and chat.


Please let us know your thoughts, on the fb group, or comments under the Q&A tab on the class blog.


We need your help to make sure that we all succeed this year.


Thank you in advance,
Jolanda & Hermie 

Updated program

Follow this link to the updated program.

http://issuu.com/jolandamorkel/docs/2nd_yr_programme_rev_23_02?viewMode=magazine

Due for 4 March: STW + CTD

The Hub Technology and Function investigation and precedent submission (STW + CTD) due on 4 March, follows on the work done during block 1. However, this time you work INDIVIDUALLY. On A3 pages (as many as you need) show your understanding of the functional requirements of your selected Hub function. Use diagrams and text to explain and reference any sources. Refer to ergonomics, the experience (use verbs!) etc. Now find at least one FUNCTIONAL PRECEDENT. That is, a structure/ building similar in function. Explain how this chosen precedent(s) is/are relevant to your given problem (Hub).  Now you move on to the technological requirements. You must investigate the given materials, i.e. gumpoles and marine ply. Research the sizes, material properties etc. Illustrate this with diagrams and text. Reference all sources. Now find at least one TECHNOLOGICAL PRECEDENT. That is, a structure/ building using similar (framed) technology/ materials. It may have a different function. Explain how this chosen precedent(s) is/are relavent to your given problem (Hub). This analysis will provide you with the necessary clues/ design informants to continue with the design process.

where we are and where we are heading

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: ON MONDAY YOU WILL RECEIVE A PROGRAMME FOR THE YEAR. IT WILL BE POSTED ON THE BLOG. BY TOMORROW ALL YOUR NAMES SHOULD SHOW ON THE RH SIDE COLUMN OF THE CLASS BLOG, WITH LINKS TO YOUR OWN BLOGS. REMEMBER THAT THE FACEBOOK PAGE IS FOR GENERAL COMMUNICATION AND INFORMAL DISCUSSION, BUT THE INFORMATION WILL BE SHOWN ON THE BLOG. MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE BLOG AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK.

 

We will get a list from Alexia, of all those people who actually actively contributed to the putting together of the base information. The others should not worry! There will be other tasks that we will allocate to you as the year progresses.

LATE AND VERY LATE - TO CATCH UP

If you did not participate in the FULL BLOCK ONE, make sure your name is listed below:

LATE GROUP
(did complete design workshop, and general test, BUT must still visit sites, create blog, and watch this space for online CATCH UP TEST.)
- Karjieker
- Daniels
- Capindissa
- Dos Santos
- Van Neel
- Quental

VERY LATE GROUP
(MUST STILL COMPLETE HUB EXERCISE and general test, visit sites, create blog, and watch this space for online CATCH UP TEST.)
- Carstens
- De Castro
- Sons
- Jansen
- Rylands
- Basson
- Jansen

Very late group:
- please make contact with your other group members
- make sure to create your own blog
- do the "this is me" post on the blog
- do one blogpost on your work/ search for work
- watch this space for more information
- study the Hub brief
- select (as a group) one finction other than the wi-fi tower
- meet and brainstorm the functional aspects related to the function you selected
- formulate these ideas on an A3 and bring along on Monday, 14 Feb, to discuss at 12h00
- meet me in the library (meeting room)

IF YOUR NAME IS NOT LISTED HERE, AND YOU DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE FULL BLOCK 1, YOU RUN THE RISK OF FAILING!
PLEASE INFORM YOUR LECTURERS VIA THE FACEBOOK GROUP BEFORE NOON ON FRIDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2011.

Getting on board

Good day to all!

It is good to see that everybody is now getting on board: even the latecomers and the very latecomers! You know who you are:-). Thanks for your active participation in the (latecomers') catching up session yesterday. Good luck with your assignments. Please make sure to join the fb group, if you have not yet done so, and to start blogging! Latecomers will write extensive STW and CTD tests. Those only registered for PSS and ATR must catch up on log books and weekly blog reports.

Please check fb regularly and visit the blog for information. You can select the tags at the top pf the page for specific information.

Also make sure that your blog link appears in the rh side column of the blog.

Good luck at the office or job hunting if you have not yet found a job. Remember, you may look outside of Cape Town!