11214 Spatial Communications 1

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a 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 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Design, Architecture and Building: Architecture
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This subject is designed to equip architecture students with a range of digital and analog tools for the communication of ideas. The subject focuses both on the funadmentals of architectural representation and documentation, thinking critically through a series of iterative exercises.

Students will explore a range of techniques including:

measured drawings
hand-sketching as an analytical and exploration tool
digital CAD drawing – the fundamentals of orthographic 2D drawing, 3D modelling, and technical drawing conventions
stylised representation, historic and contemporary precedents
curatorial exercises to assist students in constructing a cohesive set of documents for the communication of architectural thinking through drawing
verbal and written presentation – clearly communicate to a range of audiences

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1.	Demonstrate fundamental skills for digital drawing as a tool for Architectural representation.
2.	Demonstrate fundamental skills for hand drawing and analogue techniques as a tool for representation and exploration.
3.	Create and present verbally and visually a Communication Strategy as a cohesive set of documents.
4.	Demonstrate a spatial understanding of scale and proportion.
5.	Demonstrate an ability to position the work within broader disciplinary contexts.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:

Work cooperatively and professionally as part of a team (C.1)
Communicate ideas professionally and effectively through a variety of mediums: oral, written, visual, physical and digital (C.2)
Understand and challenge disciplinary conventions through an engagement with emergent forms of architectural practice, technologies and modes of production (P.1)
Thoughtfully apply disciplinary learning in work, with a continuing commitment to personal professional development (P.2)
Position work within an extended and critically reasoned context through the identification, evaluation and application of relevant academic references and architectural case studies (R.1)
Independently analyse, synthesise and formulate complex ideas, arguments and rationales and use initiative to explore alternatives (R.3)

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

The subject is delivered in Lectures, workshop Studio Sessions

Workshops will cover the basics of CAD digital drawing (definition of line weights, line types, printing…). These tools are implemented during the Studio Sessions, through a series of iterative exercises.

Students are given hand-outs that set the requirements for each assessment, the subsequent classes offer opportunities for feedback prior to student submission.

Regular one-hour illustrated lectures introduce theoretical concepts and present examples that are pertinent to the themes and activities of the subject. The attendance to the lectures is mandatory.

Studio sessions are structured as guided working sessions. These working sessions include participatory group discussion, using individual work as a means for group learning through discussion and critique. Students are expected to attend all lectures, studio sessions, and to follow the suggested progress patterns for each assessment task.

Recommended readings and graphic references will be provided online.

COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
UTS staff believe that collaborative peer learning enhances learning. You are encouraged to work in clusters throughout the teaching session. To facilitate this, assessments include group work and individual expectations. Students will form groups to develop the final assessment tasks.

FEEDBACK

1. Assessment 1 and 2 will be graded in ReView. ReView will be used as formative feedback of your submissions in relation to the criteria set. Students will also receive preliminary verbal feedback during presentations and ongoing feedback during studio time.
2. The subject is designed around the progressive development of the final documents In this sense, every weekly session helps students to progressively improve their work. Students are expected to actively participate in the group discussions, to present a draft version of their work, and to develop the week-by-week tasks in order to receive feedback during the tutorials.

Content (topics)

Topics include:

measured drawings
hand-sketching
digital CAD drawing
stylised architectural representation
curated documents
verbal presentations

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Measured Drawing

Intent:

Introduction to fundamental spatial representation and communication techniques - refer to Assessment 1 Handout on Canvas

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 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.):

C.1, C.2, P.1, P.2 and R.1

Type:

Design/drawing/plan/sketch

Groupwork:

Individual

Weight:

40%

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Ability to incorporate accurate spatial information from measured drawings, translated into Architectural orthographic representation	15	2	R.1
Ability to execute precise and accurate digital orthographic drawings following general disciplinary conventions - hierarchy of layers, line weights, line types, hatches and notations.	30	1	P.1
Ability to generate modes of representation from a precise working 3D digital model � axonometric, isometric and perspective, to architectural conventions	30	4	P.2
Ability to strategically lay out different types of information and documents as a cohesive visual catalogue.	15	3	C.2
Evidence of ongoing studio participation and peer to peer learning, engaging with weekly deliverables and topics of discussion.	10	5	C.1

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Architectural Representation

Intent:

Ability to apply fundamental spatial representation and communication techniques - refer to Assessment 2 Handout on Canvas

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 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.1, C.2, P.1 and R.3

Type:

Design/drawing/plan/sketch

Groupwork:

Individual

Weight:

60%

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Ability to execute precise and accurate digital drawings following Architecture disciplinary conventions	30	1	P.1
Ability to employ critical thinking in reference to historic and contemporary drawing and communication techniques	30	5	R.3
Precision of final presentation drawings, demonstrating cohesive visual narrative through deployment of graphic representational styles, diagrams and layout	30	3	C.2
Evidence of ongoing studio participation and peer to peer learning, engaging with weekly deliverables and topics of discussion	10	5	C.1

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

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.
Pursuant to “UTS Rule 3.8.2”, students who do not satisfy the attendance requirements may be refused permission by the Responsible Academic Officer to be considered for assessment for this subject.

The course is designed as a continuous, intense and participatory exercise. Assessment components function as an additive process in which it is expected that students work in the progressive improvement of the different deliverables. Students must print/present the work in progress to receive feedback during the tutorials.

Students must be aware of UTS University rules:
https://www.uts.edu.au/about/uts-governance/rules/uts-student-rules

Recommended texts

ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING

Bow-Wow, Atelier. Graphic anatomy 2. Tokyo: Toto, 2014.

Cook, Peter. Drawing: The Motive Force of Architecture. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2014.

Corner, James, and Alex S. MacLean.Taking Measures Across the American Landscape. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1996.

Evans, Robin, 1944-1993 (1997). Translations from Drawing to Building. Cambridge, Mass. : MIT Press.

Lewis, Paul, Marc Tsurumaki, and David J. Lewis.Manual of Section. First edition. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2016.

Stalder, L. (2009). Turning architecture inside out: Revolving doors and other threshold devices. Journal of Design History, 22(1), 69-77.

Tsukamoto, Yoshiharu, and Momoyo Kaijima.Graphic anatomy. Tokyo: TOTO Shuppan, 2007.

SKETCHING

Farrelly, L., & Crowson, N. (2014). Representational techniques for architecture. Bloomsbury Publishing.

Travis, Stephanie. Sketching: for Architecture & Interior Design. London: Laurence King Publishing, 2015.

IMAGE MAKING

Le Corbusier, Nathalie. Herschdorfer, Lada. Umstatter, and Tim. Benton.Le Corbusier and the Power of Photography. London: Thames & Hudson, 2012.

Shields, Jennifer A. E.Collage and Architecture New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group, 2014.

Stierli, Martino. Montage and the Metropolis?: Architecture, Modernity, and the Representation of Space New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2018.

References

Other Online References:
https://drawingmatter.org/

http://archigram.westminster.ac.uk/index.php

http://arqueologiadelfuturo.blogspot.com.au/

http://socks-studio.com/

http://drawingarchitecture.tumblr.com/archive

https://www.koozarch.com/

https://www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk/

Thomas Hillier http://www.thomashillier.co.uk/
Point Supreme http://www.pointsupreme.com/

Other resources

UTS DESIGN INDEX: online software support:
http://www.utsdesignindex.com

Other online resources:

Ching’s Architectural Graphics [Library Portal]:
http://find.lib.uts.edu.au/?R=OPAC_b2919061

Workshop and spaces booking:
http://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/dab/information-current-students/book-dab-workshop-space-or-studio/spaces

Lynda.com [Library Portal]:
http://www.lib.uts.edu.au/databases/search_databases.py?search=lynda.com

Online Film resources:
www.kanopy.com (UTS login)