ARC3703H S
Instructor: An Te Liu
Meeting Section: L9101
Synchronous
Wednesday, 6:00PM - 9:00PM

This course involves the design, prototyping, and fabrication of functional objects at the most intimate scales of architectural experience - that of the body and the hand. While we are engaged with the broader conception of buildings and cities, we also attend to the immediate perception of our surroundings through the haptic senses of touch and proprioception. Moving from the big to the small - with dexterity and sensitivity - has been a key trait of many significant designers through time.

In this workshop and fabrication-based course students will explore a wide variety of media and techniques in the design and making of architectural fittings. As functional forms such as handles, knobs, pushes and pulls, they operate as the “hardware” which mediates between the person and the building. The course will begin with the development, either manually or digitally, of prototypes (the positive or “original”), then move to mold-making (the negative form of the original), and then final realization through the casting of another material using the mold. Iterative experimentation with different media and workflows are encouraged in the pursuit of a final product with highly specific material, aesthetic and functional properties.

Coursework can be completed using materials and tools commonly available at art supply and hardware stores, such as polystyrene foam, plaster, and concrete. Depending on location and access, students may also opt to develop their projects in ceramic, cast aluminum, or bronze. Detailed workshops will be conducted to familiarize students with a broad array of mold-making methods and casting and finishing techniques.