STUDIO OVERVIEW
Students worked in the studio to prepare proposals for a multi-unit housing scheme in Washington DC.
The site was located in a culturally vibrant neighborhood with a culturally mixed population that has an unusually large proportion of young professionals and students. Students developed their projects in pairs, beginning with developing a program of unit types appropriate for the location.
From the perspective of its place within the undergraduate curriculum, the studio was designed to expose students to the challenges of designing a medium-sized building complex with a variety of uses within a lively and fast changing urban context. They were expected to respect constraints of economy, of constructability, and of local codes and zoning regulations. They were also expected to develop a feel for how buildings can help develop the character of the street they are on, and the city beyond.
From a broader perspective about the aims of architectural education, the studio aimed to push students to actively question their understanding of the functional consequences of design decisions. Social, behavioral and experiential outcomes were a focus of the studio. Students learned about this not just through reflection on their projects but through lectures, discussion, and travel.
The studio was supported through a generous fund provided by Niles Bolton Architects. Apart from the prize money, this support enabled students to spend a weekend immersed in the flow of everyday life in central Washington DC.