Architecture Drafting and Design

Teacher: Mr. Pickman Email: jpickman@colonial.net

0. Instructional Goals:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Encourage creative as well as systematic investigation of formal and conceptual issues. Emphasize architectural design as a process that involves the student in informed and critical decision making. Develop technical skills and familiarize students with the functions of architectural drawing tools in order to achieve intended effects and results. Increase aesthetic awareness to enable more informed judgments about architectural elements and principles. Systematically pursue creative process and strategy. Develop your awareness of the way architecture tells us about our own and other cultures.

1. Textbooks
Although there is no textbook for this course, the art library in the classroom is available for research and reference. The wide spectrum of books and magazines are a tremendous resource necessary for the informed development of each student's personal vision as an architect. These two books are recommended for the beginning architecture student. Francis D. K. Ching, Architectural Graphics, Van Nostrand Reinhold Francis D.K. Ching, Architecture: Form Space and Order, Van Nostrand Reinhold

2. Materials
Most art materials are generously provided for the class and are available for sign out. However each student is required to purchase an 8" x 11" unlined sketchbook. The students are also expected to provide some of the materials necessary for "At Home Projects." The sketchbook is used to explore ideas visually through sketches and verbally through journal entries. Many of the journal entries are open opportunities for reflection, but some are specific assignments directed by the teacher to support specific projects in the classroom.

The following materials will be useful for At Home Projects: Pens and pencils, tracing paper, architects scale, x-acto knife and #11 blades, cork-back ruler 18, masking tape.

3. At Home Projects: 3 hours/week

There are regular at home projects. These projects make up a substantial part of your portfolio and are crucial to the development of your talent. These projects are designed to be challenging and enjoyable. It is important that you set up a drawing area in your house where you can work on projects, make a mess and leave on-going projects that you can return to without setting up and taking down every time you work. You are now a working architect and you need a specific workspace where you will be comfortable spending time being creative and inspired. Late homework is a problem because there is usually a critique scheduled for the due date. If you are going to be late handing in a homework assignment, please let me know AHEAD OF TIME and we can work together to solve the problem. Upon the second missed assignment, the student is required to stay after school the day of the second missed assignment and every subsequent day that an assignment is missed. A note about Quality: Do not produce pieces of work that are mere excuses for not having devoted enough time and effort. These types of works will be viewed as negative elements in the evaluation of the portfolio.

4. Class Format and Procedures

You are expected to be in class and ready to work by the time the period begins. If you know that your work from the previous day is needed, please begin working immediately. Classes will not have a standard format. Room organization, activities and sequences vary. In most classes you will spend time making things and some of these projects will run over several days. In addition to creating work there will be time for discussions and reflection. You may from time to time be required to work on two projects and budget your time between them. There are two major components of the Architecture course: I. Drawing Drawing is the foundation of all visual arts. The drawing component is designed to build the students' foundation of drawing skills, inquiry skills (creative solutions for openended problems) and VISUAL PERCEPTION. We will explore several styles of drawing from freehand and measured perspective to industry standard elevations and floor plans. 1. All work must have a strong COMPOSITION; all of the parts must work together and be relevant to the rest of the composition. An object stuck in the middle of a white sheet with nothing around it is unacceptable.

2. All work should have informed drawing technique such as hatch strokes, soft rubbing for shading and graded value areas, gesture, etc. 3. All work must show a complete VALUE RANGE from very dark to extremely light with several middle tones. II. Model Making Model making is just like drawing; we will be making models from observation and from our own imagination. We will be using traditional modeling materials such as card and foam-core as well as non-traditional materials such as found objects. The class will be using expensive and often very sharp tools. Taking responsibility for these tools requires constant vigilance for safety and organization. Any student who misuses a tool will lose the privilege to use classroom tools. Most projects have three stages: I. Planning. Each project begins with a lecture/slide show and a teacher demonstration. Other planning may involve a homework assignment, research, sketching and developing an idea through a series of drawings. It may also involve discussions and group work. Production. Usually this will be the time that you make something individually but can also mean cooperating with others to make something together. It is important to take advantage of the entire class time. Another aspect of production is clean up. Students are responsible for their individual areas as well as the entire classroom. We are a team and we are done when everyone is finished cleaning up. Evaluation and Critiques: The Critique process will focus on the development of the vocabulary necessary to discuss the visual success of portfolio pieces. The ability to analyze and critique is a crucial tool students need to develop intellectually. Students are also required to reflect upon their learning in regular journal entries. Describe formal qualities in architecture. What art elements or principles are present? Ex: LINE- effectiveness in use of different types SHAPE- geometric & organic together and separate TEXTURE- visual, hatch stroke, and dots, etc VALUE- light to dark COLOR- intensity, emotional content, balance, originality SPACE- alignment and transition CONTRAST- for emphasis REPETITION- for balance and visual movement

II.

III.

Evaluate through specific inquiry: How successful are the literal and formal qualities? How well are the materials used? How clear is the concept articulated? Is there a sense of focus, style or personal involvement? Is the work creative/intelligent or pedestrian/mundane? Policy for make up work: All work missed due to excused absence must be made up within one week of returning to school, except in the case of an absence of more than one week. In that event, arrangements for make up work need to be made with the instructor upon return to school. Policy for attendance and tardiness: You are required to be familiar with the school's attendance policy in the Handbook for Students and Parents. Remember that at the second unexcused tardiness you will serve a detention the day of the second unexcused tardiness or the following day. Any unauthorized absence from class will exclude you from participation in co-curricular activities that school day. If you know you are going to be absent please tell the teacher before hand so that we can make a plan for making up work and/or rescheduling activities. Procedure in the event of a substitute teacher: Usually the class will be informed I will be absent. I expect you to conduct yourself in the same manner as when I am here. There will be appointed classroom helpers and plenty of work to do. It is of utmost importance that you are respectful, helpful and kind to the substitute. You are ambassadors of the Fine and Applied Arts Department and must be mature hosts.

5. Respect
I cannot emphasize the importance of respect. Respect for each other, materials, and the room itself will be monitored and discussed. As students in the Architecture course you will find yourself on field trips and in various parts of the school building in order to exploit as many visual resources as possible. During these times it is important to remember that you represent the FINE AND APPLIED ARTS DEPARTMENT and you must display maturity and an independent work ethic at all times.

Grading
Classwork: 45% Demonstrating quality craftsmanship, control of basic techniques and materials Creating a finished body of work demonstrating invention, experimentation Strive for personal expression, rather than just technique Pushing beyond the minimal requirements

Homework: 30% Historical/Contemporary Architect Project Sketchbook; exploratory sketches that demonstrate the pursuit of a personal artistic vision Independent Studio Time Taking Advantage of resources and reference materials including museums and library visits

Effort and Participation: 10% Attendance and punctuality Daily engagement during critiques and class discussions actively voicing and exploring your ideas Meeting deadlines Working independently, incorporating learning from life experiences Respect for others, the art room and it's materials

Independent Final Project: 15% Demonstration of individual artistic process, investigation and visual problem solving