19.3.12

handout6_evaluation

2 evaluation
the evaluation is a critical review of the analysis. the intention is to identify possible conflicts and opportunities that can feed into the concept of the design. the task is to graphically illustrate those constraints and possibilities and discuss the spatial development on a multitude of layers in various scales that go beyond the immediate and visible, like political issues, legal affairs, land values, historical development, sustainability. in this phase the larger context of possible interventions will be finally framed. the work can be done in groups with an individual conclusion that prepares the following phase, the urban design framework.

a
use the drawings produced for the analysis to evaluate your findings.
organize your information in two main categories -

1 possible conflicts | constraints
2 possible opportunities

separate the different layers you used in the analysis like -
politics, land values, history, neighbourhoods,
public and private spaces, movement patterns,
residual space, institutions, typologies,
densities, thresholds, architectures, programmes
rhythms, rules + regulations, access

identify the role your intersection plays on a larger and a very local scale with regards to the above mentioned layers re: constraints and opportunities

3 based on your findings, write a brief for possible interventions to improve the existing situation.
this will be the base for your urban design framework.

remember the three principles of contextual urbanism:
- it starts with a precise description of everything empirically encountered, while making no distinction between the planned and the unplanned or the physical and the non-physical. it aims to avoid qualitative judgements.
- it endeavours to distil a story, an image and a distinguishing characteristic from what it has encountered, while treating complexity and in some cases paradox as positive qualities.
- it formulates projects from the standpoint of the continuity of the city as analysed, and implements these projects as a series or more or less mutuallty independent interventions, of limited scale although with an impact on the whole.
from: wimby! hoogvliet, future, past and present of a new town, 2007, nai publishers

recommended format:
maximum 5 pages a3 landscape

dates
hand out 19 march
preliminary presentation 22 march
final presentation + hand in 12 april

assessment
the submissions will be marked as follows:
content 40%
idea and concept for evaluation
scales and layers covered, understanding of subject matter
originality, innovation and relevance of scenarios
techniques 40%
research, method, process and presentation
presentation 20%
clarity and quality of the presentation
aesthetics and quality of visuals, language, completeness

16.3.12

urban dictionary -- how to proceed…

the urban dictionary is basis for a discussion on urban matters.
it asks for a general definition of each term to start with, followed by a multi-layered detection of the subject matter within the south african context.
each subject requires an idea, a strategy/ working method on what to tell and how to show it.

these are some guidelines on how to start.

1
general: always visualize what you write. use architectural conventions to describe urban issues: plan, section, elevation. make a drawing, take a picture. write a caption.

2
sampling: use separated sheets for the different layers: one (or more) for the general spatial definition, one (or more) for the personal experiences, one (or more) for changes over time etc. if you don’t know where to start, sit down and brainstorm, write down everything that comes to mind in reference to the word. then take a walk and try to or find situations/ moments in real life that capture the word. make a drawing, take a picture. write a caption.

every thursday each group has to present a word of their choice from the given list:

1 -- word (for example morphology) in arial 72pt
2 – general definition
first use a common dictionary, not wikipedia, then try to locate more specific explanations, uses of the word, relate it to space and urban context
3 – personal experience
what does the word mean to you, how did/do you experience it ?
4 – international/ south african context –
outline choice of examples, what to you want to compare and contrast?
5 – changes over time
relate subject matter to major political/ historical changes, set up a timeline
6 – sa case studies physical/ non-physical
identify what you can see and what you can’t see but what influences, defines, changes the word you are exploring, illustrate with graphics
Note: This point is closely linked to ‘changes over time’.
7 – visuals
choose specific ways to illustrate each word, will you do panoramas on different times of the day, will you use arial photographs, will you take images of different entrances, public spaces etc.
this is not a different category/ point but something you will use to demonstrate other points

the urban dictionary is meant to be illustrative (drawings and photographs) complemented by explanatory text, not the other way around.

14.3.12

urban dictionary

from brief:
dates: every thursday, 8-8.30h, 15 min per word, 1-2 words per session, to be announced on the blog, first hand 22 march, final hand in 3 may 2012 8am.

words:
access, edge condition, morphology, politics, programme, public, scale, threshold, typology

remember: all groups have to define all words

session 1- (was a long catch up session as we started later than planned)
access -- group 1
edge condition -- group 2
morphology -- group 3
politics -- group 4
programme -- group 5
public -- group 6
scale -- group 7

session 2_15 march_all groups to prepare:
threshold
typology


to clarify:
the thursday sessions are meant for discussion and development
the first hand in 22 march will cover 4 words from the original list, propose a layout/ format and get feedback on content and graphical representation to allow room for improvements
the final hand in will cover all words from the original list, presented in reworked layout/ format

the dictionary is work in progress and cannot be produced in the last minute.
it requires engagement with the subject matter on a multitude of layers and the exploration of various ways of representation. it should stir the discussion within the class and teach you how to see, how to read context in its complexity.

intersection_digital submission

as posted earlier:
compile the work presented
+ any additional addendum's
for digital submission
for 15 march 2012

re: requirements
follow the analysis hand-out
and take comments from the
presentation into consideration

the aim is to produce material
that can be used for the evaluation
and ultimately the udf.

8.3.12

monday 12 march 2012

class will commence
in the studio
at 08.30
for a lecture.
we will then depart for
melrose arch
at 10.30

5.3.12

intersection_ preliminary feedback

excellent work demonstrated this morning.
very well done.
thorough feedback to follow.
but for now
compile the work presented
+ any additional addendum's
for digital submission
for 15 march 2012

urban dictionary_thursday 8 march_2012

access -- group 1
edge condition -- group 2
morphology -- group 3
politics -- group 4
programme -- group 5
public -- group 6
scale -- group 7

each group is to prepare a 15 min per word
digital presentation
for projection starting at 08:00

ALFREDO BRILLEMBOURG URBAN-THINK TANK

Urban-Think Tank is an interdisciplinary design practice dedicated to high-level research and design on a variety of subjects, concerned with contemporary architecture and urbanism. Alfredo Brillembourg will be presenting as a founding partner of U-TT, jointly invited by the School Talk series of the Wits School of Architecture and Planning, and the Faces of the City seminar series hosted by CUBES, Gauteng City Region Observatory and NRF Chair in Development Planning and Modelling Programme. This invitation reflects a shared interest in, and commitment to re-working the city, through interactions between progressive social change, strategic thinking, and creative design and building, with a particular focus on Johannesburg.
Alfredo Brillembourg completed a Master of Science in Architectural Design in 1986 at Columbia University, and a degree in architecture from the Central University of Venezuela in 1992. In 1993 he founded Urban- Think Tank (U-TT) in Caracas, an interdisciplinary design practice dedicated to high-level research and design concerned with contemporary architecture and urbanism. Brillembourg has been a guest professor at the Graduate School of Architecture and Planning, Columbia University, where he co-founded the Sustainable Living Urban Model Laboratory (S.L.U.M. Lab) with Hubert Klumpner. Since May 2010, Brillembourg has held the chair for Architecture and Urban Design at the Swiss Institute of Technology (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule, ETH) Zürich in Switzerland.
The respondent will be Zahira Asmal, Director of Designing_SouthAfrica.
INFRASTRUCTURE OF SOCIAL SPACES
ALFREDO BRILLEMBOURG
URBAN-THINK TANK
SCHOOL TALKS
06 03 2012 16:00 -18:00
A1 JOHN MOFFAT BLDG

1.3.12

handout4_urban dictionary

pud4
handout04 - 1.3.12
urban dictionary

what?
- perception of the city and analysis of city form and architecture

how?
- develop urban vocabulary
walk, watch, read, write, quest, converse, capture and draw

why?
- construct basis for design works within an urban context in an age of rapid change

production
develop an urban dictionary (in intersection groups of 3 people)

dictionary, urban
the dictionary aims at creating the basis for an urban discussion within your future work. understanding of urban scale, design and process – the production of (and within) context – should be part of every architectural project.
a dictionary usually defines/ describes the meanings of a word. In order to cover the complexity of urban life, this dictionary has to operate on various levels, using visuals, graphics and specific methods of capturing the subject matter.

any of the terms below have therefor to use the following layers in its definition:
- general spatial definition, role within the urban context (text)
- visual representation, storyboard that illustrates the topic (photographs, drawings, diagrams)
- personal experience of the subject matter (images, drawings, text)
- changes related to subject over time and related topics (illustrations with subtitles, eventually a mind map for connections of various topics)
- sa case studies, that cover various scales in
a) physical space
b) non physical space (laws, languages, timetable etc.)
(for example various forms of access to a mall (sandton city), black township, city centre, cluster in bryanston, 4 room house in soweto, park, public transport system, non physical: group areas act)
- comparison of the south african to international context

words
access, edge condition, morphology, politics, programme, public, scale, threshold, typology

all submissions as work in progress on a4, clear layout, no backgrounds, font: arial, running text 10pt, final format to be issued.
the evaluation is based on the following parameters:

- clarity of presentation: is it possible to understand the subject matter? 25%
- scales and layers covered, critical understanding of subject matter 25%
- methodology of research 25%
- quality of visual representation 25%

dates: every thursday, 8-8.30h, 15 min per word, 1-2 words per session, to be announced on the blog, first hand 22 march, final hand in 3 may 2012 8am.

this structure refers to the programme in course outline.
weighting: 10% of year mark

addendum to course outline

weighting of components:
urban dictionary 10%
essay 10%
intersections 20%
udf 60%

all projects have to be passed with min 50% to pass the course.