Course Syllabus

My Info

Professor: Beth Abels                                                   

Email: abelsbh@piercecollege.edu or abelsbh@laccd.edu

Please check canvas several times a week.  

Here are my office hours and links to them:

Office Hours,  Zoom Links and Events 

you can click on the time slot to go directly to my office hours 

(please link at the time stated, I will not be there if it is not on the schedule)

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
Virtual Office hours on zoom click here between1:30-2:30 pm Live in person office hours these are held in the computer lab in Ginger 1604 11:15am 1:15pm  Virtual Office hours on zoom click here between9:30-10:00am
  Virtual Office hours on zoom click here between3:00-5:00 pm until Oct 54:00-6:00pm starting Oct  12

 

Contact Me

I can be reached by email, office hours and pronto. I try to respond as quickly as possible to requests. Emails will usually get a response with in 24hours -during the school week.  48 hours during the weekend.  In the interest of maintaining a reasonable amount of separation between work and life I will probably not answer late night emails until the following day. You can contact me through the canvas inbox or directly email me at abelsbh@laccd.edu  

 

Course Description

This course will be delivered entirely online through the learning management system, Canvas. You will use your Pierce College username and password to log in to the Canvas course. 

In Canvas, you will access online lessons, course materials, and resources. At designated times throughout the semester, we will participate in a blend of self-paced and group-paced activities using Canvas, Zoom web-conferencing and other internet-based technologies. Activities will consist of design projects, discussion forums, and announcements. All student work is submitted/posted online in Canvas.

The projects that are required for this class will take time.  Always assume the work with take 3 times longer than you think.  And budget your time accordingly.

This is a tectonic design studio introducing formal and spatial design concepts and principles, strategies and systems related to the design of the built-environment. Two and three-dimensional problems are introduced, processes studied and solutions evaluated. Drawing and modeling techniques are developed as investigative tools, representational and expressive media.

The design process is just that, a process.  It requires attempt after attempt after attempt.  Each of these iterations brings us closer, or, possibly even further from our goal, but it is these “mistakes”, “failures”, “first drafts” that create the road to reaching a well integrated and aesthetic and (abstract, because that’s how we work) design solution.   Architects will tell you, they design by failure.  

Design work in this studio is collaborative. Take advantage of my input and your fellow students as well to develop your work.  This is a team effort, and I am just one team member.

 

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS

This introductory studio course explores basic principals of 2 and 3 dimensional composition though a series of design exercises, lectures, and critiques. We place emphasis on design as a creative, conceptually driven, iterative process.  We rely on collaboration to help drive this.

We will look at theories of context, unity, order, proportion, shape, balance, form, and space as they apply to making and reviewing abstract compositions. We will explore the expression of our ideas and values, always present in physical form through observation, analysis, transformation, and synthesis. We develop and document projects using a variety of means, including model making, sketching, mechanical drawing, and photography. I hope to add computer elements as well. I do stress project craft and execution. These are vital skills for all architecture classes.  This course includes research and analysis of a variety of architectural theories as they relate to design issues. 

 

Student Learning Outcomes

The student that is successful in this course, will be:

  1. Able to develop, test and refine 2 and 3 dimensional design ideas using a variety of problem solving methods.
  2. Able to use various media to communicate design ideas.
  3. Able to develop study and finish models to refine and present architectural designs.

Goals:

  1. Apply two and three dimensional formal design principles and theories to simple design problems.
  2. Develop alternative solutions to a given design problem through the use of iterative design process.
  3. Employ fundamental theories of visual perception to create spatial unity, dialog, contrast, balance, tension, rhythm, and harmony in design projects.
  4. Use research, critical thinking, and analytical skills to find and reveal the cultural values embedded in a physical object created by a society.
  5. Through abstraction, create design projects that reveal the essential meanings of their subjects.
  6. Employ knowledge of ordering principles such as proportional systems, scale, solid/void, figure/ground, balance and symmetry, balance and asymmetry to organize a design solution that clearly reflects a design concept.
  7. Demonstrate mastery of basic presentation craft and organization though verbal, graphic, and model building means.
  8. Communicate a comprehensive design concept using verbal, graphic and model making skills.
  9. Able to verbally present design projects to class and juries.
  10. Able to research and critically evaluate design problems and solutions.
  11. Able to apply appropriate organizational and proportional systems to order design projects.

 

COURSE CONTENT (HOW WE GET THIS ALL DONE)

    • Research:  Students will perform research including interviews, libraries, the Internet, museums and galleries and by visiting significant works of architecture.
    • Observation:  We will spend time looking in order to understand the relationship of the whole environment to its parts.
    • Formal Analysis: Introduction to two and three-dimensional analytical techniques. design theory
    • Contextual Analysis: Study of factors effecting the perception and meaning of environments.
    • Problem Analysis: Investigating constraints and opportunities presented by a variety of design problems.
    • Application:  Synthesis of the above critical process into coherent design solutions that creatively address issues revealed through analysis.

Design principles: 

  1. What are Primary Elements of Form?
  2. How are forms generated and used in the design process? 
  3. What are the relationships between context and meaning, or an object and its environment? 
  4. How do scale and proportion affect meaning?.


Organizational principles: Essential Questions

  1. Proportion: How are proportion systems are used to organize designs? Hint: Ancient and modern systems used to organize works of architecture and art
  2. Balance and Symmetry: How does balance and symmetry affect meaning and perception of form?
  3. Balance and Asymmetry: How is balance achieved between design elements in asymmetrical relationships?
  4. Figure/Ground: How do figure and ground interact to create and define spatial relationships?
  5. Solid/Void: What are Solid and void interrelationships and what is their effect on meaning and experience.

Design realization 

  1. Synthesis: How is it possible to have Integration and resolution of disparate and conflicting design issues develop into clear, well organized, and aesthetically sound solutions??

 

Course objectives will be achieved through the following methods:

  1. Lectures and Slide Presentations.
  2. Assigned readings
  3. Design Projects
  4. Class Discussions, critiques, and presentations
  5. Research paper

________________________________________________________

Class Requirements

Required Reading 

  • Architecture: Form, Space and Order, Francis Ching, (A great long term reference about design concepts).  
  • Art and Visual Perception , Rudolph Arnhiem  This book is free and available through a link on our Canvas page or use name as hyperlink. We will only read a portion of this book.  A library version or a cheap used copy is fine as well. You will need them by the beginning of the second week.
  • Various assigned articles  These will be available through the library, Announcements will go out at the appropriate time.

Reading the assigned reading will contribute greatly to your success! 

Suggested Reading:

Architects are considered generalists, and must have current, general knowledge in a wide variety of fields, such as science, the arts, the environment, history, mathematics, economics, politics, psychology, medicine, engineering, construction, etc. It is strongly recommended that students subscribe to and read a daily newspaper such as the Los Angeles Times. In addition, free weekly papers such as the New Times and The LA Weekly offer different viewpoints on local issues than the mainstream press. The New Yorker, Time magazine or Newsweek are good, though condensed, sources of national and international news and issues. Email newsletters are valuable, as are online news sources such as Archinect.com, Inhabitat.com, and many more. Please feel free to browse our class library and to ask me if you need help finding resources.  Also our facebook group site is a great way to stay connected with other students and the activities of the class. 

Design Problems

The principal activity and learning tool we will use in this class involves design problems. Each design problem builds on previous problems. Both drawings and models will be used as to explore our design process.  In these projects we will use several types of media, including writing.

Sketchbook

Student will maintain a written and / or graphic record of class lectures, sketches, design process drawings, other assignments, and discussions in a Hard Bound Archival Sketchbook Only. This book can be used for all your other architecture classes and will function as a container for your thought processes, observations and sketches. It is expected that you will fill a sketchbook per semester.  All of your design ideas, notes for this class, thoughts and sketches want to be recorded in this book

Portfolio 

Document absolutely everything!

Each student will be required to create a portfolio page for each project and submit a compiled portfolio at the end of the semester. The content should be thoughtfully presented in an 8-/2” x 11” maximum-size portfolio. Since all assignments must be included in the portfolio, regular documentation throughout the semester is highly recommended. Portfolio guidelines will be distributed. Please be sure to create a digital format, and submit both in print and digitally through Canvas at the end of the semester. Document absolutely everything!

Cultural Engagement

Architects are engaged in a constant dialogue with their world.  Someetimes we forget to indulge that dialogue and it has been harder with COVID

To that end students are required to attend a minimum of 4 cultural events during the course of the semester. 

Proof of attendance in the form of photographs, receipts or brochures is acceptable.  Must be uploaded to Canvas at anytime during the semester.  Outside of class Lectures, Architecture Site Visits, Museum Visits, Gallery Visits and other cultural events count. If you are not sure- ask

Required Materials and Supplies

You can view a materials and supplies list here

 

RESPONSIBILITIES AND GUIDELINES

Students demonstrate knowledge acquired during this course through periodic  presentations as well as reading/writing and research assignments.  I am here to help you to develop your designs and will spend one on one time, and group time working on design ideas

IN-STUDIO WORK HABITS

Interaction between students in a design studio course is beneficial for increasing the level of quality and learning process that takes place by having classmates critiquing or offering their view on an approach to a design problem at hand. This is one reason that it is important to be here. The level of positive synergy is often times evident in the overall design quality and production of the entire class to an instructor from year to year. In small groups of students the synergy developed is oftentimes clearly evident, whether it is a group of friends or an overall class size.

REVIEWS

Virtual studio reviews will be held regularly throughout the semester. These group discussions are designed to provide students with varied perspectives and insights from fellow instructors’ and invited jurors’ comments and criticisms. In addition, these discussions provide valuable insight into the work of your colleagues.  You can participate through canvas discussion,  through video or live.   

Develop your own work

It is highly unlikely that two projects will turn out the same in this class.  Sharing ideas and practices is what make a studio environment successful.

GRADING 

In this class we practice ungrading.  Studies show that students are fearless and far more creative when their choices are not going to be reflected in a grade

You will have an "A" in this class if you complete all of the class work to the best of your ability and make sure that you turn it in to canvas as requested.  This includes:

  • Submitting the completed project
  • Submitting a portfolio page if required
  • Submitting  project self reflection on each project where it is required

Each project will be receive a mark of "complete" or "incomplete".

These are the components that make up complete classwork

Cultural Engagement 15%

Final Portfolio 10%

Design Projects 75%

CRITERIA

Design Problems                        

Studio Participation/Work Habits
  • Research and analysis 
  • In class work habits 
  • Understanding of essential concepts
  • Completion and on time submittals
  • Ability to apply concepts to design
  • Contribution to the overall design studio
  • Positive attitude and response to criticism 
  • Cooperation with classmates/instructors
  • Design exploration through models, drawings, show process
  • Contribution/Participation in studio including discussions/crits
  • Overall excellence
  • Willingness to express alternatives
  • Ability to refine and develop the design solution
  • Personal skill development

Late Projects

Time management is an essential skill, not just for this course, but throughout your career and life.  Employers identify dependability as one of the fundamental skills that employees need, across industries and job titles. This is job training!

Most of the work in this class builds on itself, so you’ll need to keep up with assignments in order to understand the new topics.  In addition, it becomes difficult for me to provide timely feedback for everyone when assignments are not submitted on time.  

With that said, I understand that you may face challenges from time to time that impact your ability to meet due dates.  Therefore, my policies regarding deadlines are as follows:

Due dates will be indicated with each assignment.  When necessary you can submit some assignments late.  However, there are some assignments that must be submitted on time because the assignment is needed for a discussion or other activity.  If assignments cannot be submitted late there will be an “available until” date and I will indicate that the assignment must be submitted by this date.  Make sure to check assignments in advance so that you are aware of the deadline and whether it is flexible.  

 

 

Incomplete Grade

An incomplete grade will only be assigned to a student that under special circumstances due to an unforeseeable emergency beyond the control of the student cannot complete the work. Proof must be submitted to the instructors to verify an emergency. Student must speak to the instructors in a timely manner. 

  •  Unexpected and unfortunate events (personal illness, family emergency, death in the family, change of work schedule etc.) that require out full attention for a few days happen to everyone from time to time.  This is understandable.  However if your family or personal emergency or sudden change of circumstance is going to cause you to to fall behind, it is highly recommended that you drop the class and repeat it at another time that will permit you to attend class on time
  • Students who remain enrolled in this class after the third week of the semester will be issued a grade at the end of the semester. It is your responsibility to drop the class and to be sure that you are enrolled in the correct class.

 

Student Comfort and Safety

Please let me know at any time during the semester what name you would like me to call you. I will do my best to learn your name, but it may take time.  Gentle reminders are always helpful. If at anytime during the semester you are made uncomfortable by me, or other members of the classroom please let me know, so that I can address it right away.

 

“Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological, who believe that they may need accommodations in this class, are encouraged to contact Special Services as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Authorization, based on verification of disability, is required before any accommodation can be made. The phone number for Special Services is (818) 719-6430 and they are located in the Student Services Building, Room 48175”.

University Policies

[ EX: There are important University policies that you should be aware of, such as the Academic Integrity, Discrimination and Harassment, Add/Drop, and Student Conduct policies. - LAPC College Student Services]

Office of Special Services/DSPS

Special Services is the program on campus providing services to students with disabilities. This program has been serving students since 1974. Each semester over 900 students with disabilities receive a wide range of support services that are not provided by other departments on campus and many services that are. This "One- Stop" approach creates a more user-friendly atmosphere for all our students.

Student Health Center