SLOW, OPEN, and IMPERFECT

A Comprehensive Approach to Teaching Freshman Architectural Design Studio

Abstract

The challenge is to work with these often complex forces, to allow their innate creativity to blossom, to build the confidence of young professionals, to properly support the ones who feel confused, and to retain as many students as possible who show innate talent and enjoy the process of architectural design.  We introduce fundamental ideas about design, proportion, scale, materials, joinery, the body inhabiting space, creative risk-taking, exploration, and craft. We seek to develop rigor and precision in their work.  The fall and spring semesters have a slightly different emphasis and tone as the curriculum builds on the skills the students develop over two semesters and they become more acclimated to the studio environment and culture