Beschreibung
des Entwurfs-programmes |
Outline:
The Japan Studio was established to exchange architectural culture between Japan and Switzerland in a contemporary context to look for new architectural answers to the sustainability issues that have rapidly become common world problems. In the Fall 2023 semester, a practical design studio will be conducted spanning architectural design and construction.
The task is to design a tea room as an annex of the Alumni Lounge at the Hönggerberg campus, and to assemble the designed building (or parts of it) using construction waste materials, referring to the Japanese architecture in the early modern period.
Because Japan was under a national isolation system in the early modern period, a sophisticated circular economy was established. The architecture then had been developed as a technological system that allowed for the reuse of materials as a matter of course. In addition, the influence of Zen culture led to the development of design techniques, such as "borrowed scenery" that harmonized and sublimated the surrounding scenery with the architectural space.
Such architectural thinking unique to early modern Japan must be helpful for modern architecture, which faces significant challenges such as the finite nature of resources and the chaos of urban landscapes. Students will challenge themselves to reinterpret the ideas of Japanese architecture developmentally in the context of contemporary Switzerland, and to create the germ of a new architectural philosophy and technology that will be required in the coming age.
Site and Building to Be Designed:
The site is located around the Alumni Lounge of the Hönggerberg campus, where we will design a tea room / Lounge furniture as an extension to the cafe. We want it to be a special and intimate place to spend special time with friends or guests invited to the university.
The design will consist of tea spaces of no more than 10 square meters deployed inside and outside of the cafe. The tea room will be realised, in cooperation with l with the operators of the Alumni Lounge.
Studio Configuration:
Japan Studio consists of three phases. Students will develop comprehensive architectural skills spanning history, design, and construction through these phases.
1st Phase: Building Elements Study (4 weeks)
In the first phase, students will learn about demolished buildings that provide waste materials to be reused, and will be trained to open up the characteristics of the waste materials to new architectural possibilities. Specifically, students will research the history and industrial background of the demolished building (Huber Pavilions), as well as create a full-scale portion of a building element using the waste materials.
2nd Phase: Designing ‘Tearoom’ (4 weeks)
In the second phase, students will learn about Japanese tearooms and spatial design, and design a "new tearoom" as an extension to a small café on the ETH premises.
While learning about the design concepts of "having a small but rich world", "feeling enclosed and connected", and "finding resources in a limited environment", all of which are common to tearoom architecture, students will observe the issues and potential attractions of the target site and how to find resources in a limited environment through the design of small architectural interventions. Final deliverables will include a presentation to the cafe operators.
3rd Phase: Building ‘Tearoom’ using Construction Waste (5 weeks)
In the third phase, students will produce the designed tearoom at 1/1 scale through group work and learn about the characteristics of basic materials such as wood, metal, and resin, as well as processing and joining methods. Students will be using dry construction methods that do not use adhesives, using details that will not wear off during assembly and dismantling. In order to realize the conceived space, technical invention from both form and material is required. |
Thematische und methodische Schwerpunkte |
Entwurf, Konstruktion, Handwerk, Visualisierungen |
Lernziele |
The studio is divided into three phases. The competencies to be acquired in each phase are as follows.
1st Phase: Building Elements Study (4 weeks)
- understanding of basic principles of building construction
- creation method by reinterpreting existing building elements
- craftsmanship skills in working with building elements
2nd Phase: Designing ‘Tearoom’ (4 weeks)
- ability to read the context of the surroundings
- planning ability to mediate conflicting demands
- conceptual ability to find an extraordinary space in an everyday space
- ability to design a distinctive form with an intimate space
3rd Phase: Building ‘Tearoom’ using Construction Waste(5 weeks)
- execution design ability from the perspective of construction
- understanding of basic materials and processing methods with construction waste
- ability to select appropriate materials, details, and processing methods
- ingenuity in construction, such as jigs for processing and assembly
- teamwork ability
A review will take place at the end of each phase, and the submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria, respectively.
Grading Criteria at the Mid Review 1 (1st phase)
- Understanding of basic principle of construction
- Conceive from building elements
- Working with building elements
Grading Criteria at the Mid Review 2 (2nd phase)
- Plan to mediate conflicting demands
- Find extraordinary space in everyday space
- Design a distinctive and intimate space
Grading Criteria at the Final Review (3rd phase)
- Execution design from the perspective of construction
- Understanding of basic materials and processing methods
- Selection of materials, details and methods
- Ingenuity in construction |
