Practice Based Research Studio

About the Studio

Teaching architecture involves, in our opinion, a pact of trust between teachers and students. The pact is about personal development and involves the challenge of transformation. Students are asked to entertain abstract ideas, turn them into a cohesive concept, and then translate all in a creative way to a physical entity. Meanwhile, they have to consider a large number of variables. The challenge of Architectural education arises from the teachers’ dual role: they are asked to lead yet play only a supportive role. Students are taught to develop and act on their own vision and creativity (rather than their teachers’), within a frame of meaning and purpose of a living human complex interpreted with the help of teachers. Success means that students managed to form their own architectural identity, understand their strengths and weaknesses, exploit the former and find ways to overcome the latter. These assumptions form the conceptual foundations of my pedagogical vision. From an abstract point of view the heart of my vision can be depicted as a funnel in which individual development forms the vertical axis while the program and teachers produce a spinning momentum which gains students lift. The funnel framework involves four efforts. First, to create custom tailored education that supports the specific development of each student. Second, to establish a holistic teaching program that inspires students to think broadly and in interdisciplinary manner. Third, to amalgamate learning and research into a program that supports the study of applied issues and sustainability in a cost effective manner. Fourth, to form opportunities for students to experiment with a variety of building materials and architectural tools (such as CAM and nanotechnology), and work/research in proximity to the industry, while strictly preserving ethical standards.

Courses

4:1 (A42Y1B) International Architecture Competition

Practise Based Research studio-Competitive edge: Through participation in an international architectural competition in 4-5 teams of teachers and students, this Studio shall investigate different creative processes and advanced Holistic design production strategies. Teachers are the “producers and consultants” to the students’ teams, yet this part of the course is a “joint venture” between teachers and students.

4:2 (A42Y2B) Women in Black

The two fall and winter courses will deal with Europe’s edge, this time Israel and Jordan. The project aims at analyzing and than creating a holistic solution for the complicated seam connecting Jaffa and Tel Aviv: a place of contradictions, Jews and Arabs, old and new money and culture, this project is a town-plan down to house-plan. The frame of the projects range is such:

1. We shall investigate the terminology” border” with-in a functioning city, between two neighbouring cities (Tel Aviv and Jaffa), between two people and their colliding cultures (Jews and Arabs), between old and new, reach and poor.
2. We shall crystallize a personal concept (each student according to his hers political economical an human perception) , a concept dealing with the PHYSICAL meaning of borders.
3. We shall challenge the notion weather it is possible for two polarized cultures to exist togethe (in close vicinity with rather blurry borders) and is it possible fore these two groups to live as a blended entity.
4. We shall understand the notion of conservation with-in a city with live and active fabric, and if creation of “living museums” (that later are often inhabited by economically strong individuals) is an acceptable solution and if not how could other directions be taken.
5. Is there place for “public memory spaces” in our physical environment?
6. We shall observe the reality of a dominant culture take over and almost annihilate a previous and weaker one.
7. We shall create physical (architectural) tools to try and pacify national, economical and social pressures in an environment that saturated with profound conflict that have lasted for decades.

These projects will start with a work shop in Sweden and than a study trip and a workshop on site (2-3 weeks) in Israel and Jordan; our partners are local Israeli architects. We shall continue to develop the project back in Stockholm (we sponsor part of study trip costs)

4:3 (A42Y3B) Widows in Black

We will continue to develop the project: chose a specific part and or individual project (living culture leisure) and develop this entity down to 1 to 1 solution (material details etc.). Final critique will occur during March 2012 in Stockholm. Course 1 and 2 shall be coached and criticized as one large project (with our Israeli teachers as critiques).

4:4 (42Y4B) The Future of the Satellite Cities

Practise Based Research studio –Europe’s front line: The last leg of studio will deal with “urban corridors” from Helenelund Centrum in Sollentuna, through Helenelunds alle and Kistagången to Kistamässan. This axis shall be investigated with the intention of creating intensity and urban complexity through attempting to develop vertical identity (Today, a low-high rise is already in place). This project is a real life project coached and supported by the community chief architect, expecting unorthodox and superior design solutions to be applied by the community. ***Year 5 students can chose between the fourth year courses and the proposals below

5:1 (A52Y1B) Full Proof 1

Students shall engage in an international competition in teams or single handed With each team/ individual a teacher we will be coach alternative partner of the proposal. The purpose is to create an optimum project in a given frame of time and a clearly defined program and goal, a good repetition for the thesis work.

5:2 (A52Y2B) Full Proof 2

A pre project related to the thesis, with accentuation on methodology presentation and general portfolio preparation (could be updating, upgrading and professionalizing the presentation portfolio)

5:3 and 5:4 (A52Y3-4B) Full Proof 3-4

Thesis Project

Studio Culture

Our studio deals with your personal capacity (we have no isms), and strives for holistic apprehension of architecture, there fore our study process and final presentation shall take you through all available media from free hand sketches to the outmost sophisticated 3D modelling digital and physical as well as a heavy dose of animations. We cover with you (based on your personal judgment) a full complex process from concept to perfect presentation and if asked down to cost calculations. For us design is every thing and every thing should be designed from your project down to the lettering you chose. And back to the perfect portfolio material you shall have at the end of this study year. If research or theory is your aim we shall create with you a program to fit your personal need and see to it that you achieve your personal goal. Some project shall be individual an some personal you will do both. We travel but in a different manner than the rest of the studios, (trend is rather mundane to us) this years study trip is a good example; since our first two courses are dealing with “Europe edge” we will spend two weeks in the south of Sicily in the town of Vitoria, besides an exotic workshop we shall learn the Socio-Economical and cultural background of the region as well as Sicily, (the culture, history foods wines music etc.) again we deal with holistic understanding and complex projects not trends. Our teachers are available at least two days a week as personal coaches in class. Based on our long experience we achieve with each one of you results that are highly personal and extra ordinary.

Tutors, Teachers, Professors

• Ori Merom KTH A (MeromVidan Architects Stockholm/Tel Aviv)
• Robert Petren KTH A
• Ori Vidan (KOV Architects Israel)
• Professor Amnon Bar-or Tel Aviv University (Amnon Bar-or Architects Israel)
• Zvi Hareel Tel Aviv University (Hareel Architects Israel)
• Jan Enfors (City Architect Sollentuna)