86009 Communication and Construction: Generative Methods
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particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2023 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 86008 Communication and Construction: Representation
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Recommended studies:
Students are required to be inducted through the DAB Fabrication Workshop prior to Week 6.
Description
This subject is designed to equip students with principles and fundamental skills for the communication of spatial interiors and an understanding of how structural and material decisions influence built outcomes. It provides a learning experience for students to explore connections between materiality and sustainable practices through a defined project brief and develops skills commonly used in practice.
Students learn how to represent construction materials, building components, interior linings and finishes and the connection between them in orthographic drawings and physical models. The studio and workshop tasks develop an ability to produce technically proficient details of assembly, by testing construction strategies that respond to a set of environmental, social and material conditions.
The subject frames a series of research-based inquiries to build an awareness of strategic decision making and structural performance that can be adapted to project briefs of various scales and functions. Through an informed understanding of the elements that form built places, students develop skills as critical and ethical design thinkers and an ability to deliver quality design outcomes.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
| 1. | Demonstrate a capacity to differentiate various construction components within simple structural systems |
|---|---|
| 2. | Understand and apply the construction specific grammars and drawing conventions to communicate construction systems |
| 3. | Respond to environmental and sustainable concerns regarding material choices through a research-led investigations of structured solutions. |
| 4. | Develop, construct and present a physical model that demonstrates an understanding of materiality, structural framework and cladding systems |
| 5. | Synthesise an understanding of materiality, construction components and sustainable practice in drawn, fabricated and spoken modes |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:
- Ability to take autonomous responsibility for actions and decisions (A.1)
- Ability to communicate ideas effectively, including oral, written, visual, analogue and digital presentations (2D and 3D) (C.2)
- Ability to apply and utilise appropriate communication techniques, knowledge and understanding to enable practical applications in spatial design (P.1)
- Ability to rigorously explore, apply and extend multiple representational techniques (P.2)
- Ability to independently select and apply appropriate research methodologies to carry out investigative study (R.1)
- Ability to reflect on, challenge and interrogate theoretical speculation (R.4)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
The term CAPRI is used for the five Design, Architecture and Building faculty graduate attribute categories where:
C = communication and groupwork
A = attitudes and values
P = practical and professional
R = research and critique
I = innovation and creativity.
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs) are linked to these categories using codes (e.g. C-1, A-3, P-4, etc.).
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject is structured with successive, skills-based construction project exercises.
Lectures provide foundations for investigations and discussions that follow in the studio and worskhop sessions each week.
Lecture sessions
Lectures introduce construction and communication skills and explore specific themes relating to assessment tasks and real world practice. Lectures will be delivered live on campus, and will be recorded and uploaded each week. It is mandatory to attend or view lectures prior to studio/workshop attendance. Students are encouraged to ask questions during the lecture.
Studio sessions
Studio sessions will focus on activities that progress towards the completion of the assigned tasks. Tutors will provide feedback on work developed both during and before the studio time. Students should always bring material to work on in studio sessions. Students are expected to continue working on their projects outside the allocated studio times to complete weekly tasks or deliverables prior to the following studio.
Workshop sessions
Students have access to the Fabrication workshops to assist with the model making component of the subject. These sessions will be run according to the rules and conditions set by the Workshop staff. Students will need to bring their own safety equipment (masks, eye protection, shoes, hair ties) and will need to be fully inducted. Students will need to supply their own model making materials - the workshop staff can assist with suggestions.
Collaborative learning
To facilitate collaborative learning, Assessment Task 1 involves group work and individual components. Group work is important in terms of building data, however, the Assessment Tasks relating to the group work are assessed individually.
Online coursework
There are a number of online resources used to support the learning objectives of this subject. There are essential readings available online and a selection of recommended readings and helpful resources.
Feedback
The subject provides formative feedback strategies. There is a "no work, no feedback" policy for all sessions, however being in studio even without work will greatly assist in completing the subject. In order to gain most effective feedback, drawings should be printed for tutors to assist with the completion of the tasks. Drawings can be reviewed on a laptop screen, but not marked up. Feedback for submitted assessment tasks will be provided verbally during studio time and through ReView. Tutors are not required to give additional feedback outside studio/workshop time. If there are issues with progress, please email the coordinator.
Content (topics)
This subject addresses the following issues and topics:
- Basic principles of construction drawing conventions and components
- Material typologies – properties, types and transformation techniques in the manufacture of components
- Hierarchy in relationships between structural systems, subsystems and components
- Types of connections and assemblage between components
- Potential for the construction documents to translate design intentions
- The physical model as a construction ‘prototype’
- Sustainability as a key strategy in design and construction
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Material investigation and drawing construction
| Intent: | This tasks aims to develop skills in research and investigation of a construction material in order to reveal the formal, spatial, environmental and performative potentials. It will also develop skills of analysis and translation of a precedent example, to create a construction drawing that communicates scale, type, connection and function with clarity and accuracy. The skills demonstrated by this task are relevant to the discipline in terms of aligning industry knowledge of relevant construction standards with appropriate drawing techniques required to communicate more detailed construction systems. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 5 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): C.2, P.1, P.2 and R.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Design/drawing/plan/sketch | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 50% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Modelled space and drawing synthesis
| Intent: | This assessment task further develops the skills attained in Assessment Task 1 by:
This task will demonstrate an understanding of construction components, technical detailing knowledge and materiality through the construction of a physical model based on Task 1 drawings. Students are required to build a base plinth structure to support the sectional model in the fabrication workshop under the supervision of workshop and studio staff. The building structure can be built in the studio or in the workshop. Model making materials are to be supplied by students and do not have to replicate the real-life construction elements. Card, balsa, timber, and metal are all acceptable materials. MDF and other composite materials are not accepted in the workshop. Students will need safety glasses and closed toe shoes for workshop sessions. This task synthesizes design intent, structure and materials in a way that is reflected in practice and it demonstrates an ability to work with accuracy and technical proficiency in spatial resolution. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 2, 3, 4 and 5 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): A.1, P.2, R.1 and R.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Design/drawing/plan/sketch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 50% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
1.0 The Faculty of DAB expects students to attend 80% of all classes for all enrolled subjects. Achievement of the subject’s aims is difficult if classes are not attended. Where assessment tasks are to be presented personally in class, attendance is mandatory.
2.0 Pursuant to UTS rule 2.5.1 students who do not satisfy attendance requirements may be refused permission by the Responsible Academic Officer to be considered for assessment for this subject.
The DAB attendance policy requires students to attend no less than 80% of formal teaching sessions (lectures and tutorials) for each class they are enrolled in to remain eligible for assessment.
Required texts
Other resources
- Miriam Delaney, Anne Gorman (2011) Studio Craft and Technique for Architects (Laurence King)
- Building Code of Australia (2011) ABCB