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Studio syllabus

The following syllabus includes the daylight modeling/testing as an early assignment within a design studio. This studio was first offered as a 10-week quarter at the University of Oregon, Winter 1995 and subsequently as a 15-week studio at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

The daylighting model assignment undertaken as a "Building Work-up" is Assignment #2 and was assigned two weeks of the studio.

Course Title: Architecture Inspired by Light

Professor: Don Watson

Course description

The studio will explore the architecture of light as form-giving and form revealing. Light is one of many concerns of architecture essential to the conception of design that responds to climate and environment. Related architectural issues of structure, materials, scale and detail will be integrated with the design conception as revealed by lighting. Lighting models will be used extensively as a medium of design inspiration, expression and testing.

A concept of a building design inspired by lighting studies will be developed in detail, integrating light with structure, construction and architectural details, presented in plans, sections, elevations and a cross-sectional model, detailed to a level of resolution sufficient for continued investigation in the design development (DD) studio level.

Course objectives

• Develop the capacity for iterative architectural design, using drawing and model testing as design/research exploration.
• Integrate the conceptual issues of lighting, structure, materials, scale, color and texture and detailing as revealed by light.

Premises

The studio is intended to explore the architecture of light, both sunlighting and electric light, as form-giving and form revealing. While light is but one of the many concerns of architecture, it is fundamental to the initial conception of design that responds to climate and environment. Behind this statement is the premise that sustainable architecture-that which sustains our cultural and environmental resources for future generations-will be naturally lit, inspired and inspiring by the poetry of light.

Design is defined as both artistic exploration and scientific measurement, at times undertaken with the flight of imagination, at others by rigorous testing. The studio schedule will consist of a set of iterative assignments that explore these two interrelated but often competing approaches to design, suggested by posing two questions:

(1) The case for art: To what extent is light a primary form-giver of architecture, when conceived imaginatively and inspirationally? This question will be explored by designs conceived poetically as light-responsive environments.

(2) The case for science: To what extent does light measurement and systematic light-model studies provide a guide to design? Is it inspiring or inhibiting? This question will be explored by structured design tests.

These questions will be explored by comparative design assignments, conceived imaginatively and tested rigorously. Lighting models will be used as a medium of design inspiration, expression and testing. Each student will develop a design concept of a building (from two- to four- stories) inspired by light, integrating structure, material, scale and architectural details, presented in plans, sections, elevations and a cross-sectional model.

Assignments

Assignments establish a consecutive series of design exercises, building upon one another to develop the capacity to conceptualize, represent and integrate aspects of architecture and lighting.

Review: In the last two weeks of the term, individual and team work will be documented as "lessons learned" and prepared for an exhibit during review week. In lieu of the traditional "end-of-term" review, a studio exhibit will be prepared by the class as an "exhibit opening and poster session," to which faculty and students in the School will be invited.

Approximate Schedule

Assignment #2a: preliminary daylighting case studies

• Read the references listed below.
• Review the case examples.
• Select one or an alternate example of your own choosing that most interests you.
• Using the information in both the references and the case example articles, prepare a series of analyses, using single-point sketches and cross sections, of what you believe to be the most significant successes and/or problematic issues with the daylighting design.
• Present your analysis on one board (rolled tracing is OK) 16" wide x 22" high

References: (Class reserve in Library)

Illustrative examples: (referenced in Binder "Preliminary Case Studies")

Option: You may select another example that is equally informative and of interest to you.

Assignment #2b: daylighting model: significant architectural example (team assignment)

Based on the presentations of Assignment 2a, select a team partner(s) and decide on a significant interior space from a work of architecture that interests you. Each team will develop a daylighting model for photographic documentation of the natural lighting of the interior, sufficiently accurate to analyze the work. Skills of architectural models and photographic documentation to be developed to professional presentation level. Measurement will be undertaken after the models are completed, using artificial sky and real sky conditions. The daylighting models will then be compared to actual conditions (for selected sites) and will include an "occupant survey" of lighting conditions and human factor responses.

References:

• excerpt pp. 75-76 D. Watson and Ray Glover Solar Control Workbook (class handout)
• DNNA/Schiler Simulating Daylight with Architectural Models (CLASS RESERVE Library)

Comments to author: vitalsigns@
ced.berkeley.edu

All contents copyright (C) 1998. Vital Signs Project. All rights reserved.

Created: 05/13/97
Revised: 09/09/02

http://www-archfp.ced.berkeley.edu/vitalsigns/workup/rpi/watson_syllabus.html