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Unit of study_

MARC4003: Digital Architecture Research Studio

Intensive June, 2020 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The Digital Architecture Research Studio explores the application of digital technologies in architectural design and fabrication, and explores their potential to reinvigorate architectural discourse, develop new forms of architectural expression and make significant contributions to improving productivity and sustainability in the built environment. The studio will prompt students to develop critical positions in response to a studio brief selected from one or more options that probe the possibilities of digital design and fabrication and extend and explore those positions through a research-based architectural design process. MARC4001 Urban Architecture Research Studio, MARC4002 Sustainable Architecture Research Studio and MARC4003 Digital Architecture Research Studio are all available in both Semesters 1 and 2. Students may enrol or pre-enrol freely, but some will be asked to swap to create equal groups. After three semesters each student will have done each of the studios. The studios examine the relationships between architecture and urbanism; architecture and sustainability; and architecture and digital design. Each is based around one or more design projects which address a specialised area of study, supported by lectures and seminars which introduce the relevant theory, knowledge and design precedents. Studios require the investigation of key technical issues and systems, and their innovative integration in the design, with the preparation of appropriate documentation. On the successful completion of these units, students will have demonstrated: an ability to formulate, interpret and communicate appropriate concepts derived from the study of brief and site; an ability to extend those starting points into a working design proposal; an ability to develop the design proposal in response to critique, and produce a building design which demonstrably embodies understanding of the principles associated with the specialised study area; an ability to communicate the design ideas effectively through appropriate graphic and three-dimensional means using architectural conventions; and an ability to cohesively design and execute a comprehensive presentation of the project. These units are core to the Master of Architecture.

Unit details and rules

Unit code MARC4003
Academic unit Architecture
Credit points 12
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Rizal Muslimin, rizal.muslimin@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Zie Liu, zie.liu@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation group assignment Assessment 1 - Preliminary Research
Online Presentation, Digital Report, Script File
40% Week 04
Due date: 15 Jun 2020 at 15:00
2 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO7
Presentation group assignment Assessment 2 - Final Presentation
Online presentation, digital report, script file
60% Week 07
Due date: 09 Jul 2020 at 13:00
3 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Preliminary Research: Students will present their site analysis, precedent studies, and literature review followed up by a proposed topic/theme for the school design with a set of design rules and exercises to generate the school's designs computationally. Along with the report, the students will also present their Grasshopper exercises on their project which will be divided individually within a group.

Final Presentation: Students will develop a set of design rules to generate an architectural component as the primary features of their school designs and integrate the component rules with the improved version of the school design rules from preliminary research.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.

Distinction

75 - 84

Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.

Credit

65 - 74

Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.

Pass

50 - 64

Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.

Fail

0 - 49

Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

If an extension is not sought, not granted, or is granted but work is submitted after the extended due date, the late submission of assessment will result in an academic penalty as follows: (a) For non-public assessments, work submitted after the deadline will incur a penalty of 5% of the total marks earned for the assessment per calendar day. Work submitted 20 calendar days or more after the deadline will not be assessed and will receive a mark of zero. (b) For assessments involving public, oral, and/or visual presentations completed after the deadline, a penalty of 10% of the total marks earned for the assessment will be imposed per calendar day. Work completed 10 calendar days or more after the deadline will not be assessed and will receive a mark of zero.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 02 Introduction + Project Brief Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Grasshopper Beginner Computer laboratory (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Group Tutorial Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 03 Rule-based Design Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Grasshopper Intermediate Computer laboratory (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Group Tutorial Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 04 Presentation and Review Presentation (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO7
Week 05 Project Case 1 Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Grasshopper Intermediate Computer laboratory (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Group Tutorial Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Project Case 2 Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Grasshopper Advanced Topic Computer laboratory (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Group Tutorial Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 07 Review and Presentation Presentation (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

Please refer to the Resolutions of the University School: http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/architecture/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 12 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 240-300 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Carpo, Mario. The alphabet and the algorithm. MIT Press, 2011.
Coates, Paul. Programming Architecture. New York, Routledge, 2010
Kalay, Yehuda E. Architecture's new media: Principles, theories, and methods of computer-aided design. MIT Press, 2004.
Knight, Terry, and George Stiny. “Classical and Non-Classical Computation.” Arq: Architectural Research Quarterly 5, no. 04 (2001): 355–72. doi:10.1017/S1359135502001410.
March, Lionel, and Philip Steadman. The geometry of environment: an introduction to spatial organization in design. MIT Press, 1974.
Mitchell, William J. The Logic of Architecture: Design, Computation, and
Stiny, G. Shape, Cambridge: MIT Press, 2006.
Terzidis, Kostas. Algorithmic Architecture. 1st ed. Oxford: Architectural Press, 2006

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. independently research, analyse, and synthesise diverse sources of design and computational design knowledge through appropriate measures, develop personal initiative, and critically review personal design research
  • LO2. demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of design driven by multiple parameters (e.g., program, context, and structural systems), and their impact on implementation as a design driver for an architectural project development
  • LO3. demonstrate an adequate level of computational design skills through a suite of parametric modeling software
  • LO4. develop, test, document, and communicate your design process at various scales through a variety of manual and parametric modeling techniques
  • LO5. resolve a complex design situation and creatively shape a major design project through detailed and technical solution
  • LO6. understand a building project cycle and the roles and responsibilities of the architect and other participants in a design team
  • LO7. communicate your semester work in a precise, clear, and coherent presentation

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Submission dates are extended

Additional costs

This unit has costs associated with it for digital fabrication (such as laser cutting, 3D printing, CNC), material expenses, and printing.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.