Comparing Randomness
Contribution to the seminar Matters of Abstraction, Intermediating Objects organized by MoA And Thinking/Making, KU Leuven Faculty of Architecture, Ghent on Feb. 3rd 2023.
Abstract:
The Pedagogical Innovation Week is, as its name suggests, a moment for radical pedagogical explorations at the Faculty of Architecture La Cambre Horta. This one week workshop marks a mid semester break from the architectural project studio and constitutes a compelling laboratory for teachers and students alike. It is within this distinct context that our reflection originates.
This article interrogates how can students produce architectural objects, questioning the role of the physical model in a short span project making exercice? And what systematic process can be put into place to foster the understanding of material inherent properties in the rapid prototyping approach?
The two iterations of our learning activity named (Fig.) and (Fig.22) asked a small group of third and fourth year students to question the limits of three fundamental facets of the architectural project by designing an artefact. Students were randomly assigned one model making material, representation type, one architectural and one element to explore. The main hypothesis of this exercise is that the realm of interpretation is restricted by the serendipity of each random combination. The Making was treated according to two understandings.
The first explores The Making trough the exploration of unusual model making materials such as foundry sand or paraffin wax, each one implying a specific technicality, disrupting students’ model making habits.
The second, also understands the act of drawing as a Making process that generates forms. Each drawing convention implies a specific design attitude. This aspect, coupled with specificities of each material shapes the final object.
The week was punctuated by keynote speakers who’s practices involve resonate the workshop’s themes. As a way to diversify points of views, the talks included two designers, Jonathan Muecke and Bram Vanderbeke, two architects, Trees studio NY and Marius Grootveld, as well as one artist Rafal Zajko. Their plurality and diversity of approaches allowed students to draw knowledge from adjacent fields.
The short-term exercise led to quick decision making which forged uninhibited productions and fruitful incidents coming from the experimentation process. As an added explorative layer, the second edition implemented the use of a drawing machine, linking the digital drawing to analog model making.
