WOVENTutor:Sean McMahon

Title: Woven

Structures can be considered, thought as, seen as, a highly organised interconnecting overlapping overlaying systems - this given, it would seem reasonable to suggest that structures could be considered as kind of weaving, structures could be considered to be woven.

This studio will be conceptually based around the premise that the earliest architecture was essentially a process of weaving. This position further permits an examination of the role of ornament in the process of making architecture. We will also discuss the structure/ornament relationship and how students might use these relationships to develop their own design strategies with regard to ornament, decoration and structure.

The main focus of the studio will be to consider

How we might think about weaving buildings, how we engage materiality in making the boundary forming, structural and spatial elements of buildings, how we might start to think about the inherent woven nature of structures, how structure has the potential to be more than the simple load-bearing element of a building and how it may be possible for structure to be considered and expressed decoratively

Students will be asked to develop, to inform their own designs, providing the opportunity through a discussion on weaving and structure to explore and expose alternative methods to bring an architecture into being.

Programme: Design a library.

Production: The use of traditional plan, section, elevation and 3D drawing will be expected in developing design intentions. The use of any graphic medium that will aid in exploring ideas and for conveying design intentions will be strongly encouraged. Key to the project will be the extensive use of modelling as a tool to develop ideas employing the laser cutter and 3-D printer technologies. A finished model will be expected as part of the final submission.

Explore: Alternative approaches and theories on how architecture can and has addressed the outer membrane of buildings, including disciplines outside of architecture. The role and place of ornamentation and what it might mean to openly attempt to decorate.

Objective: To develop student’s awareness of the different paradigms that have informed architecture. To better understand how to generate architecture. To address and investigate individual approaches to design and design generators.

Aim: To attempt to help/encourage students to become aware of and understand how it is that they personally go about making architecture. To enable students to embark on a reflective and critical process on how they think about architecture through the process of creating architecture. To address contemporary issues of design with regard to the treatment of the structures of buildings and how these can be expressed through design.

1Nur Asriah Abdul Talib

2Shann Ching Pei Yong

3Shann Ching Pei Yong

4Mastura Othman

5Mastura Othman

6Joshua Pui

7Joshua Pui

8Chun Yik Kho

9Mohamet Firzada Abdul Ghafur

10Suraya Md Abdul Azis

11Suraya Md Abdul Azis

12Fei Teng

Design studio members:Joshua PuiFei TengJenya ItskovichDesmond LooiShann Ching Pei YongKarina EtengIntje SiswandiMastura OthmanMohamet Firzada Abdul GhafurSuraya Md Abdul AzisNur Asriah Abdul TalibMaria MonicaChun Yik Kho

Thanks to guest critics:Ben MilbourneFraser PaxtonElida De Felice

Studio Details Title: WOVENTutor: Sean McMahonPole: Urban EnvironmentsDate: Lower Pool, Semester 1, 2009

This and other documented examples of design studios run as part of the RMIT University Architecture program can be found on issuu.com