ILLINOIS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
Term Offered: Spring 2015
Location: Temple Buell Hall, Room 315
Day and Time: Tuesdays & Thursdays 2-3:20
PM
Credit: 3 hours
Instructor: Kevin Hinders
office: Temple Buell Hall, Room 206
PREMISE AND DESCRIPTION
Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday 1:00-1:50 PM or by appointment
Course Description
The
design of the built environment is both culturally significant and contextually
based. It reflects individual creativity and collective values. The purpose of
this offering is to provide a greater understanding of the built environment
which we move through every day and the complex intertwining of form
determinants which weave together to create our surroundings while
simultaneously exposing students to the design process.
Course will present Architecture and
the Built Environment (including interior design, architecture, landscape
architecture, urban design and planning) while concentrating on place making.
The components emphasized are the
interdependent aspects of culture: design, economics, politics, technology,
phenomenology, and tectonics. Therefore this course is built upon the belief
that context forms the basis of design and that culture forms the basis of
context.
Students will participate in three
related aspects of this course: first, a set of guided lecture/walking tours
includes venues (such as the campus tunnel system and building mechanical
system, University of Illinois Campus ‘culture’ walks, visits to downtown
Champaign , Urbana and Campustown, graveyards, Erlanger House, gardens, etc.).
Each visit will have a concentration while also discussing the interdependence
of aforementioned components.
Students will keep a journal of brief personal observations for each excursion;
second, students will read and discuss primary and secondary source texts
(including Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino); These first two aspects
form the basis for personal investigations/design inquiries. Three design
exercises at three different scales introduce students to the (architectural)
design process where synthesis of information is required to make creative,
artistic work, primarily in model form (no previous modeling experience
necessary).
Required
Texts:
-I.
Calvino, Invisible Cities (1972)
Jan
van Dijk, “Experiencing Architecture”, http://www.vandijkarchitects.com/media/uploads/Experiencing_Architecture.pdf
Grade Breakdown:
Trip
Participation (20%) includes a journal entry per site visit.
We will
discuss this one the first day of class as to the best vehicle for your
entries.
Discussion
Participation (20%)
Design
Assignments (60%; 20% each)
Course Grade
Letter grades for this course
are established as follows:
Excellent (A+, A, A-):
Student’s work is of exceptional quality, and solutions to the problems show a
depth of understanding of the project requirements. Project is fully developed
and presented well, both graphically and orally. Student has developed a strong
and appropriate concept that clearly enhances the overall solution. The full potential
of the problem has been realized and demonstrated.
Good (B+, B, B-): Student’s
work shows above-average understanding and clear potential. All project
requirements are fulfilled and are clearly and concisely presented.
Fair (C+, C, C-): Student’s work
meets minimum course objectives and solves major problem requirements. Work
shows normal understanding. Quality of project, as well as the development of
knowledge and skills, is average.
Poor (D+, D, D-): Student’s
work shows limited understanding and/or effort. Minimum problem requirements
have not been met. Quality of project, as well as development of skills, is
below average. This is the lowest passing grade.
Failure (F): Student’s work is
unresolved, incomplete and/or unclear. Minimum course objectives or project
requirements are not met, and student’s work shows lack of understanding and/or
effort. Quality of project or performance is not acceptable. This grade is not
acceptable for degree credit.
Preparation for Class
1. Students
shall be prepared for each class period. Faculty shall not accept a student’s
verbal explanation of a concept without supporting visual material as a basis
for design criticism. To that end, an instructor shall not engage in critique
of a student’s work without two and/or three dimensional
evidence of the development of a design, be it in a desk crit, pin-up,
or review. A student should not expect to receive design critiques unless clear
development of the project has been made since previous discussions.
2. Faculty
shall engage in dialogue with students to facilitate the development of
students’ design ideas.
3. The
critic’s role is to extend a student’s thinking and challenge a student to
explore and substantiate his/her design. Critiques will prompt students to
explore an in-depth understanding of the
ramifications of design concepts and their development.
School Policy on Attendance:
1. Attendance is
required at all classes and all required external events. Unexcused absences
equaling the number of one week’s class meetings will result in a full letter
grade reduction for the semester (e.g.: three absences for a three time a week
class, two for a two time a week class, etc.). Any additional unexcused absence
beyond this amount will result in a failing grade.
3. Students must attend
all classes, reviews, pin ups,
lectures, field trips, etc. in their entirety. If a student arrives late or
leaves early, without the consent of the instructor, (s)he is considered absent
for the entire class. Repeated patterns of late arrival or early departure will
be noted and considered as unexcused absences.
4. An absence may be
excused for medical emergencies or family emergencies only. These emergencies
must be supported by proper documentation, such as a doctor's note on
letterhead or an obituary. The student is responsible for providing proper
documentation for the absence to the instructor, and must do so prior to the
end of the current semester. The student is also solely responsible for
arranging for materials, etc. from a class (s)he has missed.
5. An absence will
not be considered an excused absence if it is for any other reason including:
work, vacation, or computer failure.
6. Students who wish
to observe their religious holidays shall notify the faculty member by the
tenth day of the semester of the date when they will be absent unless the
religious holiday is observed on or before the tenth day of the semester. In
such cases, the student shall notify the faculty member at least five days in
advance of the date when he/she will be absent.
7. Attendance is
required at all scheduled studio reviews for the full time period of the
reviews.
This is
theISoA's Policy - You will get 2 unexcused absenses for Arch 199 but all
required work will need to be completed.
Late Work
All assignments are due at the
specified date and time indicated by the instructor. Deadlines for assignments
will be strictly enforced, with late work resulting in grade penalties as
follows:
1. Work submitted
late (after the assigned deadline, but within 24 hours) shall be penalized one
full letter grade (from B+ to C+, for example).
2. Work submitted
more than 24 hours late shall be penalized two full letter grades (from B+ to
D+, for example).
3. Work submitted
more than 48 hours late is not acceptable and may receive a failing grade.
4. Students must
have all presentation materials prepared and displayed on time for reviews.
Missing a scheduled presentation time and/or not presenting at a project review
without approval from the instructor is the equivalent of missing an exam, and
shall be graded accordingly.
This
syllabus is for general use. The instructor reserves the right to alter
syllabus content as needed throughout the semester. Written notice via email
and/or verbal announcement will serve to alert students to any alteration in
the syllabus. Since the weather in Champaign is unpredictable please come to
class prepared to go on site visits even if not listed in the syllabus. We will
take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves. Also note- the
instructor will be away from campus Jan.29- Feb 6. Visits and course material
has been arranged for these dates. You shall arrive promptly at the assigned
venues on these dates.
.
Schedule of class meetings
and readings (2-day per week schedule) NOTE: due to weather and scheduling of
events tours may be altered. The instructor will notify students via email and/or
written variation to the syllabus as needed.
Week 1-
January 20 &22: Introduction
1-Tour – The South Quad: From Stock
Pavilion to Foellinger Auditorium
2-Lecture/Discussion: What is
Architecture? (tour the Architecture Building)
Reading
Assignment: Experiencing Architecture (pages 1-6)
- Assignment 1- The Creation of a
Threshold ( due Week 4)
Week 2-
January 27 & 29: The Making of Place
1-Tour- The Main Quad/ Engineering Quad
2- Tour Power Plant-
How Things Work, Part 1: Mechanical Systems Instructor Away
Tour- Arranged with Facilities and
Services Power plant on Oak Street- Go to Abbott Power Plant at Gregory and Oak - SOUTH ENTRANCE
Week 3-
February 3 & 5: Instructor Away
1- Self led Tour/Scavenger
Hunt- Looking for Columns, the role of the past in the creation of the present
Students are to explore
campus and find the following orders- teams of 2 or 3 people: One hour time
limit!
Ionic, Doric, Corinthian,
Composite and Tuscan- use whatever means you have to determine what these
orders are and look like. Teams MUST SPLIT UP! Photo document at LEAST one of
each order with one or more of you hugging the
column then upload photos in a word document to the Arch 199 Folder. Use YOUR
NAMES /Columns as the title of the Word document.
2- Tour of Krannert Center
for the Performing Arts - led by a guide >show up at the ticket office
Week 4-
Febraury 10 & 12:
1- How Things Work, Part 2: Mechanical Systems
Tour- Temple Hoyne Buell Mechanical
Systems
2- Assignment 1- The Creation of a
Threshold DUE
Reading Assignment,
Invisible Cities (pages 1-39)
Week 5-
February 17 & 19: How Things Work, Part 3: Structural Systems
1-Tour- Armory, Huff and the Football Practice
Facility
2--Assignment 2- The Creation of Place (within
the rules)- the Shoebox project”
Discuss Reading
Assignment, Invisible Cities (pages 1-39)
Week 6-
February 24 & 26 : The Making of Place, Domesticity
1-Tour- Erlanger house- confirmed 2-3:30
2- Discussion of Reading
Assignment
-Assignment 2- The Creation of Place
(within the rules)- the Shoebox project”
Week 7-
March 3 & 5: Sustainability, LEED and Conservation
1-Tour- Business Instructional Facility
(BIF)
2-Discussion of Reading
Assignment
Studio Preliminary Review
of Assignment 2 - The Creation of Place (within the rules)- the Shoebox
project”
Week 8-
March 10 & 12: The United States Continental Grid and the Making of Place
in America
1-Tour- Downtown Champaign
2-Tour- Downtown Urbana OR Tour-
Campustown (Politics and the Public Realm)
Week 9-
March 17& 19: : ‘The Dead and Living’: Landscape
1-Tour – The Mount Hope Cemetery
2-In- Studio FINAL Review of Assignment
2 - the Creation of Place (within the rules)- the Shoebox project”
Reading
Assignment: Excerpts from Invisible Cities- Students to determine from pages
39- 163
-Assignment
3: The Depiction of an Idea- An Invisible City Made Visible (and edible)
Week 10
March 31 & April 2 Constructing the Edifice
1-Tour- Building Construction Site (under
construction)- TBD with Facilities and Services
2-Review: Groups 1 and 2 of Assignment 3: The Depiction of an
Idea- An Invisible City Made Visible (and edible)
Week 11
April 7 & 9: Precedents in Architecture; Part 1
1-Tour- Campus Buildings and the search
for meaning
2-Preliminary review of Assignment 3- The
Depiction of an Idea- An Invisible City Made Visible (and edible) -“desk
critiques”
Week 12
April 14 & 16: Precedents in Architecture; Part 2
1-Tour-
Education Building & garden along with places of interest- a student
‘led’ tour
2-Review: Groups 1 and 2 of Assignment 3: The Depiction of an
Idea- An Invisible City Made Visible (and edible)
Week 13-
April 21 & 23: Small Towns and the Rural Landscapes
1-Tour- Philo, IL (requires the use of a
University vehicle)
2-Review: Groups 3 and 4 of Assignment
3: The Depiction of an Idea- An Invisible City Made Visible (and edible)
Week 14-
April 28 &30: Phenomenology and the Poetics of Space
1-Review Groups 1 Assignment 3: The
Depiction of an Idea- An Invisible City Made Visible (and edible)
2- Review Groups 2 Assignment 3: The Depiction
of an Idea- An Invisible City Made Visible (and edible)
Week 15- May
5- Conclusion - General discussion, Turn in Journals, ICES,
etc.
