Examine the critical role of materials and methods for the design and construction of buildings. The primary focus is on materials and systems, their properties and connections, and their intrinsic relationship to structural systems and environmental performance.

Students will develop a fundamental understanding of: the relationship of materiality to construction systems and techniques, how building materials are manufactured, and how a material’s modular form, dimensions and intrinsic qualities influence the design process. Students will learn about various building systems, and how these systems assist in the expression of a design concept, through an examination of precedent projects whose design concepts were generated by material logics and systems. Students will work hands-on with building materials (concrete, wood, metal, etc.) to get an understanding of each material’s properties.

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Key to an understanding of architecture is an ability to move between aesthetics and geometry, spatial concept and materiality, art practice and technical production. This course will introduce basic drawing, digital and physical modelmaking, and post-processing skills and encourage experimentation with these diverse methods of working, providing students with opportunities to build and expand an understanding of what constitutes architectural representation. By iteratively working through various types of representation techniques, students will not only enhance their ability to communicate both visually and verbally, but also improve the final output of their studio projects.