space laboratory for architectural
research and design
Max. of 16-20 students to match the number of students in the QCA Elective.
"A work of architecture should possess the greatness to present itself in a way that gives the art inside a chance, so that the art is not ousted by the buildings' claim to be a work of art or - what is even worse - without the architecture exploiting the art as "decoration."
- Markus Lupertz, Catalogue Rethinking: Space-Time-Architecture, Staatliche Museen Berlin, 2002.
Space, material, colour, light, dimension, proportion - artists and architects share in their work the central elements of theory, planning and delivery.
The culture of temporary use is an important urban resource, which can generate new activities.
This collaborative design project involves a small scale temporary intervention but requires a high level of resolution in the integration of spatial, structural and material strategies.
Scale: An installation for temporary exhibition, on a public site - the South Bank Parklands - to explore the nature and relationship of space and materials. We will keep the installation appropriately small to be able to realise some of the proposals, if selected; maybe only one or a few people at a time can enjoy the piece.
We are looking for a poetic proposition and spatial experience that establishes a dialogue with the art student, his/her work and the site-specific condition. The relationship between an artist's work and the experimental transformation of space is to be examined. In this exercise, the site context is only of secondary importance.
Convincing arguments for the selection of the location will be required. The art work should be a space-engaging piece, like for example the works by Constantin Brancusi, Vladimir Tatlin, Nam Jun Paik, Rachel Whiteread, or Walter Pichler.
You will need to select a location within the first week and bring pictures, measurements and other information to support your proposal.
Daylight and artificial lighting are to be considered. The notion of a garden (existing part of the Parklands) as a way to approach the installation or as an extension of it is to be explored. The installation should respond to topography, orientation, and views in a carefully considered manner. The first impression and the approach should be made memorable. Minimal impact is an important consideration as the work will only be a temporary installation. Re-think the 'Architect' and 'Artist' relationship.
It is important to understand that this is not about an art gallery condition; we should question the role of the Modernists classical white cube. This project is supported by our phenomenological material research. A large-scale sectional model is recommended to study the light condition and scale.
For this project you will need to give clear reasons for your architectural design decisions: special attention must be given to the formal articulation of the major space, its proportion and height. This will also lead us to discuss a particular articulation within the possibilities offered by wall architecture‚ and/ or by transparency‚.
The following schemes are to be critiqued for discussion in tutorial groups in week 2
Study the work from the range of artists mentioned below, who work with space-engaging installation concepts:
Four major themes have been identified for the project participants and will help to bring out the possible diversity of collaborations between the architecture and art students. Select in week 1 from:
To help in the evolution of an independent approach, the unit will meet each week to review work, with weekly in-class reviews (pin-ups) of the project work. Special focus is given to the development of the work and to the collaboration with the artist, at an early stage, and the inclusion of comments in the work from the previous week. You will be issued with a tutorial feedback sheet to record weekly discussions. This feedback is formative and tutorial attendance will be part of the overall assessment. Visiting critics will be invited to contribute to the Studio.
Our goal is to help students with starting to 'think like an architect' in the sense in which we understand that term, and to help in applying this way of thinking when designing. Therefore, architecture is understood as an assembly of formally related parts whose relations with each other are not arbitrary. To develop compositional skills, we intend to introduce strategies to a) interpret works of other architects as compositions, and b) develop students' own compositional skills.
The intention of the unit is to guide students to a point where they start to enjoy designing because they trust their own judgement and possess the confidence on which this trust depends.
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks or health and safety issues associated with this unit in its day-to day experience. There might be meetings at the nearby QCA South Bank precinct.
The unit may require you to partake in a field trip, of either a supervised or self-guided nature. A risk assessment for the trip has identified only low impact risks. You will be provided with relevant safety guidelines prior to any field trip. You will be required to obey all safety guidelines and directions while attending field trips.
This unit may also require you to attend tutorial sessions in the school's model making workshop facility. Participation will require previous attendance at an induction course offered by the school workshop staff. You will be required to comply with safety clothing requirements, and with safety directions given by workshop staff.
This is a complex project to be developed over a short amount of time. You will need to stage your work carefully to create the best opportunity for a good outcome.
Students are expected to produce initial sketches and sketch models, and to find an appropriate name/theme (max. 1 sentence) for their proposal.
Crit: Final presentation with invited guests on Wednesday, 21st April 2004, 2:00pm onward.
The Final Crit is an important event; students are asked to pin-up their work at 1:00pm, to attend the entire crit session, and to engage in discussion. Students from QCA and QUT present together.
Additional Tutorials available at QCA, from Jay Younger at QCA South Bank (Griffith University), at the Webb Centre, Level 6 / room 6.37 on: Tuesday 09/03, from 9:00am-12:00pm and Tuesday 16/03, from 9:00am-12:00pm,
Steffen Lehmann will be sitting in on tutorial groups during the afternoon sessions. From time to time Jay Younger (QCA) will also join these sesions. Tutorial attendance will be noted on your feedback sheet and forms part of the assessment for this subject - refer to ADB009 Unit Guide.
Forthcoming collaborative exhibition project between artists and architects: art+arch infinite in Brisbane, 09 September to 03 October 2004
Space, proportion, material, colour, surface; artists and architects share a whole range of criteria in their work along with the central elements of theory, planning and delivery. Today the influence of works by artists such as Richard Serra, Donald Judd or Gordon Matta-Clark on architects and planners is frequently evident.
A collaborative exhibition project in Brisbane will involve national, international, well-known, as well as young, still un-known, artists, architects, urban planners and landscape architects. The Concept of the Project is to have at least 15 site-specific installations at different locations all over the city, stretching from Fortitude Valley, to the CBD, to South Bank and to West End . The culture of temporary use and temporary installation is an important urban resource, which can generate new activities and make a significant contribution to Brisbane city life. This project proposes temporary exhibitions to demonstrate the potential in interdisciplinary crossovers between artists and architects/landscape architects in urban and suburban spaces, and seeks to reveal the unique character of these places. The aim of the project 'art+arch infinite' is to investigate contemporary and relevant crossovers between the disciplines, as well as, testing an d experimenting with new forms of collaboration. We have recognised the need for working beyond our conventional boundaries to enable new forms of communication and collaboration between these disciplines, and to initiate a public debate about it. Today, the task of art and architecture with regard to public space cannot be reduced to decoration without content, critical thinking and spatial engagement within the cityscape.
Locations: Using prominent places, such as galleries, the Museum of Brisbane, and the Powerhouse, as well as little known spaces such as lane ways and alleyways off the CBD, or under croft spaces along the river, artists and architects will collaborate in site specific installations to present a new view, context, concept or landscape. A book of the selected exhibits - an independent jury will ensure a high standard - together with a new "art+arch map" of Brisbane, and a collection of critical texts by prominent writers, artists and architects, will be published. A joint lecture series entitled "Absolutely Public" will also accompany the exhibition project. The exhibition will be on show from 09 September to 03 October 2004, parallel to the Brisbane Festival.
The possible impact for Brisbane : While the ascendance of globalisation is beyond doubt, the forms of critical engagement are contested. "art+arch infinite" is an interdisciplinary exhibition project that will intensify the local collaboration between artists and architects, and in doing so, will hopefully stimulate a dialogue on the role of art installations in public space. It will potentially give answers to questions about how to integrate artists in the building process at an early stage. The method of working will ensure that the art is an essential part of the whole, not simply a later application.
Four major themes have been identified for the project participants and will help to bring out the possible diversity of collaborations between the disciplines:
A schedule of deadlines is projected as follows (to be confirmed):
It is planned to organise this event as the inaugural of three exhibition projects planned for 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Professor Dr. Steffen Lehmann and Kathi Holt-Damant
elective advanced studio
year 5 collaborative