University of Technology Sydney

86882 Experimental Spatial Representation

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 2024 is available in the Archives.

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

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 48 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10325 Bachelor of Design Architecture Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation OR 48 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09079 Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Honours) OR 48 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10271 Bachelor of Design Interior Architecture OR 48 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10272 Bachelor of Design Interior Architecture Bachelor of International Studies OR 48 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10322 Bachelor of Design Interior Architecture Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10004 Bachelor of Design Architecture OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10423 Bachelor of Design Interior Architecture Bachelor of Languages and Cultures OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10413 Bachelor of Design Architecture Master of Architecture

Description

This practice-based elective investigates the critical agency of architectural drawing.

Students are introduced to advanced theories of representation and the work of significant spatial designers in order to explore the edge condition between art and architecture image-making. The outcomes are large-scale drawing works that extend each students’ creative agenda, exhibited in a group show that critically addresses new ideas of spatial image-making.

This studio is highly suited to students from Architecture, Interior Architecture, Visual Communications and Animation with existing interests in experimental drawing practices and an ambition to advance their use of drawing as a critical and creative lens in their design thinking. Students will be guided through the exploration of experimental drawing and multimedia techniques, hand drawing and hybrid analogue/digital practices on a case-by-case basis. This studio will also include several visits to significant architectural drawing collections at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, The State Library of New South Wales, and private collections.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

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

1. Develop knowledge of critical and creative spatial design drawing practices
2. Develop knowledge of experimental theories of image production in spatial design
3. Foster a ‘risk-taking’ agenda through an experimental approach to image-making techniques
4. Develop skills in understanding, analysing and responding to a design brief by developing an individual, ethical and informed response
5. Develop an informed position on the field of image-making in spatial design by active participation in class discussions, peer feedback, workshops/exercises, exhibition organisation and field trips

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

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

  • Ability to communicate ideas effectively, including oral, written, visual, analogue and digital presentations (2D and 3D) (C.2)
  • Ability to initiate and execute meaningful self-directed iterative processes (I.3)
  • Ability to rigorously explore, apply and extend multiple representational techniques (P.2)
  • Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of interior and spatial design precedent and to contextualise one's work within the extended discipline (R.3)
  • Ability to reflect on, challenge and interrogate theoretical speculation (R.4)

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

This subject uses various teaching and learning strategies to induct students in the skills and knowledge of experimental image production in spatial design. It is structured on a two-fold approach over three (3) weeks that includes: one (1) preparatory week, and two (2) practice-based production weeks.

Preparatory week: Students will critically engage with theories of image production in spatial design through reflecting and responding to learning activities that may include: field trips, reading workshops and precedent analysis. The purpose of which will be to develop a self-directed critical position, and strategic approach, to the production of experimental drawings.

Practice-based production weeks: Through a practice-based approach, students will develop knowledge of experimental spatial design drawing techniques using their self-directed critical position and strategic approach established during the preparatory week. The teaching and learning strategies for this studio emphasise a flipped classroom method via activities that may include: participation in discussions and analysis of drawing theories and precedents, daily formative peer-to-peer feedback, active contribution to the exploration of techniques from workshops/exercises and engagement in facilitating the studio exhibition.

Students will develop and demonstrate their application of drawing skills and knowledge through their practice-based project. Multi-modal responses to issues of image production in spatial design will be addressed via learning strategies that may include: collaborative learning, individual self-directed work, case study analysis, brainstorming and iterative experimentation. Formative feedback from the studio leader will be provided on a daily basis.

STUDIO EXPECTATION:

For all preparatory week and practice-based production weeks’ activities, students must bring all relevant work for their projects to each engagement. It is imperative that students arrive prepared and on time for all of this subject’s activities. Students must bring all drawings and progress work to all studio sessions for ongoing feedback. Where no progress has been made, preparation has not been done, or work has not been brought in, the studio leader will be unable to give feedback. The use of mobile phones for private use is not permitted during all preparatory week and practice-based production weeks’ activities.

Content (topics)

  • Advanced theories of image production in spatial design
  • Visual research and drawing precedent analysis
  • Drawing technique development
  • Exploration of creative approaches to image production
  • Informed position on critical spatial practices

Assessment

Assessment task 1: The Plan: Critical Position and Strategy Approach to the Production of Experimental Drawings

Intent:

Based on reads and precedent analysis, students will develop their own critical position on what spatial qualities they wish to explore through experimental image production and their own strategic approach on how they wish to explore it. Further, students will outline the specific space which they have chosen to explore via experimental image production. This assessment includes a presentation that addresses the following details:

  • Specific qualities of space that students wish to explore via experimental image production, based on detailed interpretation of drawing theories
  • Thorough investigation of precedents to determine the suitability of aesthetic signifiers to the chosen theoretical approach
  • Preliminary exploration of techniques and mediums, based on the precedent analysis, to demonstrate exploration of the chosen approach
  • Detailed existing documentation of the space that the student has chosen to explore, and how it relates to the theoretical position, chosen precedents and techniques.
Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

2 and 4

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.):

R.3 and R.4

Type: Presentation
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 35%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Exploration of Theoretical Ideas 50 2 R.3
Proposed level of engagement 50 4 R.4
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: The Project: Practice-based Productio of Exprimental Drawings

Intent:

Based on summative feedback from Assessment 1, students will develop large scale drawing projects and exhibition. This project will extend the theoretical, precedent and technical exploration from Assessment 1 to fulfil the spatial qualities of the students chosen space, in drawing. The size and number of the works will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Students will present their work as an exhibition, where they will outline their critical position on spatial image-making and how they have explored it through their work.

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.2, I.3 and P.2

Type: Project
Groupwork: Group, individually assessed
Weight: 65%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Rigorous Exploration of Technique 30 1 P.2
Experimental and Creative approach 60 3 I.3
Engagement in a Community of Scholarship 10 5 C.2
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.