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Design Studio Alpha (ARCH10003)
Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
Underlying the undergraduate design course is the development of both design thinking and dexterity with tools and techniques. The focus of this design subject will be on generating design ideas, translating them into architectural forms, spaces, materials and programs. Students will learn how to refine architecture through consideration of spatial organisation, environmental context and structural necessity. Students will also learn how to communicate comprehensive architectural propositions through 2D- and 3D-modelling (physical and digital), visual and written media and oral presentations.
Methodologies of critical observation, critical inquiry and critical thinking are introduced through a series of short assignments that build on one another and focus on architectural concepts such as form, space, proportion and scale.
The design studio will develop four distinct investigations throughout the semester, touching on a range of design issues and approaches including use of precedent, use of critical analysis in the design process, elements and systems, additive and subtractive geometry manipulation, cultural/artistic transposition and basic generative modelling. This will be produced through iterative processes of production, review, incorporation and resolution.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who have successfully completed this subject should be able to:
- Understand and employ the conventions of architectural drawing systems, including plans, sections, elevations, diagrams, three-dimensional representations, renderings and animations;
- Think in three dimensions, through graphic, digital and physical modelling;
- Understand form, space, proportion and scale as they relate to architectural design;
- Understand design processes and methods, including design thinking and iterative processes of production, review, incorporation and resolution and an ability to use them to generate both responses to design problems;
- Communicate design concepts both verbally and in writing;
- Formulate a conceptual design proposal that tests a design idea or design method in the form of a speculative architectural design proposition;
- Present, substantiate and advocate for design proposals in a public setting, and accept critique in a constructive manner;
- Engage with and contribution to studio culture.
Generic skills
Students completing this subject will have developed the following generic skills:
- Ability to generate and iteratively test design ideas
- Ability to work with design precedents
- Ability to work with different design methodologies
- Physical and digital model-making and its translation process
- Ability to integrate digital tools into the design generation and design development processes
- Graphic communication (including orthographic projections: plans, sections, elevations, axonometric and other projections)
- Verbal presentation and appropriate use of design terminology
- Time management and project management
- Constructive acceptance of feedback and criticism.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ARCH10001 | Foundations of Design: Representation |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Corequisites
None. However it is recommended that students also enrol in ARCH 10002 Construction as Alchemy.
Non-allowed subjects
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ENVS10004 | Designing Environments |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Recommended background knowledge
ABPL10004 Global Foundations of Design
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Assignment 1 (approximately 15-18 hours of work ). Individual review (critique) and oral presentation, demonstrating design output that may include physical or digital models, drawings, written assignments, site analyses, journals and sketches
| Week 3 | 15% |
Assignment 2 . Individual review (critique) and oral presentation, demonstrating design output that may include physical or digital models, drawings, written assignments, site analyses, journals and sketches (approximately 20-24 hours of work)
| Week 6 | 20% |
Assignment 3 (approximately 50-60 hours of work): Major Project Final submission. An individual oral presentation of final designs, which will be reviewed by a jury of academic staff/industry practitioners, building on skills and themes developed throughout the semester, demonstrating design output that may include physical or digital models, drawings, written assignments, site analyses, journals and sketches. There is an interim presentation in week 9 before Major Project Final submission (this is a hurdle requirement of individual oral presentation of work in progress that may include physical or digital models, drawings, site analysis and sketches.)
| From Week 9 to Week 12 | 50% |
Design Journal, completed throughout semester, based on themes developed through the lectures. Quizzes completed in lectures.
| Week 12 | 15% |
Hurdle requirement: Attendance of 75% of studio classes. | N/A |
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Kelum Palipane Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 46 hours: 10 x 1 hour lecture and 1 x 3 hour Studio per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 30 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020 Assessment period ends 3 July 2020 - Semester 2
Principal coordinator Kelum Palipane Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 46 hours: 10 x 1 hour lecture and 1 x 3 hour Studio per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Subject notes
Students will be required to purchase modelling and drawing equipment for the subject. Students also need to cover their own laser cutting and weekly printing costs which can amount to approximately AUD 70-130 in total for the semester.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Bachelor of Design Elective Subjects Informal specialisation Non-allowed Breadth Subjects within the Bachelor of Design - relating to specific majors - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 11 April 2024