Time Schedule:
Douglas Zuberbuhler
ARCH 312
Seattle Campus
Lectures, demonstrations, and exercises to develop skill in graphic visualization and representation as used in architecture. Concepts, conventions, and techniques of both freehand and technical drawing are used as a vital means to imagine, develop, and represent design ideas. Course material coordinated with ARCH 305 studio to integrate drawing in all phases of the design process.
Class description
ARCH 312 is intended to supplement ARCH 310 and 311 by providing the opportunity for students to further develop their ability to manipulate three-dimensional design solutions with the ease of the abstraction of two-dimensional drawings. While the emphasis is on graphic visualization, projections introduced in ARCH 310 and 311 will be further developed toward a more sophisticated application to architectural design. New graphic tools and techniques are also introduced including digital modeling, topography, advancements on perspective, sun & shadow, and presentation using traditional and digital tools.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Course sessions will alternate between the lecture rooms (Gould 007F for digital work and Gould 110 for non-digital work) where concepts and techniques are introduced and demonstrated and your design studio or the Gould 007F Computer Lab where you will have the opportunity to practice the drawing skills and internalize concepts covered the lecture. Assigned drawing exercises are intended to concisely focus on the issues discussed in lectures. Whenever practical the studio projects will be used as the vehicle for the graphic exercises.
Recommended preparation
The first two courses in this design-drawing sequence are intended to nurture your ability to see, visualize, and represent with drawings a real or imagined visual environment. In the previous quarters constructed and freehand drawing techniques were introduced as analytical tools; however, there was insufficient time to cover a wide array of techniques that have proven to be useful in solving architectural design problems.
Class assignments and grading
Typically, there will be a short homework exercise due at the beginning of each lab session that illustrates methods, techniques, and concepts covered in the lecture. There will be an additional in-class assignment that expands the skills and understanding of the material, typically due at the end of the lab.
Attendance is mandatory. This course is a participatory workshop in which the student is expected to learn by actively participating in all exercises and discussions.
This course focuses on developing skill with tools used in design. Emphasis is placed on the student’s ability to understand and apply, through exercises, the methods introduced and discussed in class. All individual exercises will be evaluated and marked using a number system of 1 through 10. In addition to the specific instructions included with each project statement, general criteria that apply to all work are: First and foremost, your ability to demonstrate your understanding of concepts presented and mastery of skills taught (marks 1-7); correctness of the work, accuracy, illustrating methodology (showing and labeling construction) and draftsmanship (neatness, line weight, and line quality) can add up to 3 additional points for a maximum of 10. Timeliness of completion is important and marks will be appropriately reduced for late work.
The quarter grade is based on the sum of the evaluations the individual exercises; weighted to reflect the relative time required for each. In this manner, the grade is an assessment of a student's understanding of concepts and quality or work; adjusted for the student’s participation and progress. An average evaluation of 7 on the exercises is equivalent to a 2.6 grade. Note that this places a premium on responding to all of the assigned exercises. There will not be a final exam.
