Design, Illusion and Reality
Fall 1998

Weeks 1- 3
Phase 1, Process, Remarks

The Problem:

- Defining the Problem In class

- Setting Objectives In class

- Nature, Kind and Sources of Information Needed In class

- Information Gathering Out of class

Week 1 - September 1, 1998

Announcements and introductions, description of the course, process, requirements, and expectations:

1. A completed project in the form of models, drawings, descriptions, web site, multimedia etc.

2. Ongoing journal documentation in the form of a web site or notebook, consisting of reference quotes, original text and imagery (drawing, photo, video, collage, animation etc.)

3. Short weekly report on the web of project progress and weekly reading

4. A formal final report along with the final model and drawings.

5. Delivery of all documentation of your groups project, using electronic media

Definition of the problem:

Students are asked to design a bridge for a specific site, which can be physical or conceptual. It can be a bridge in New York City or a bridge between cultures, ideas, points in time or any other spaces you want to connect. There are many dimensions to every bridge: technical, political, legal, economic, esthetic, environmental, but above all imaginative and philosophical.

Film in class: Death by Design (a film about cells in the body)

Assignments for class 2:

1. Collect at least 10 ideas, examples of bridges that are usually not perceived as bridges and describe how these examples function as such. Present your ideas to the class. Your response can be written or in the form of images.

2. Assigned reading from the bibliography. Prepare a response that reflects how these texts are connected. This can be done by written text or image or whatever medium you find appropriate.

Week 2 September 14, 1998

A 3 minute verbal presentation of your responses to the assignments. Open class critique. Discussion of bridges as metaphor, as symbol, as structure, as form, as function, as narrative and the imaginative bridge. Discussion of the human body in relation to city architecture. Discussion of the bridge as life span, biography as bridge.

Lecture by Professor LeMee about design concepts

Discussion of the issue of constraints - real and artificial

Assignment for class 3:

1. Make a proposal for linking specific sites. Start with collecting ideas for your bridge design, or for the sites that you want to link, and make a rough proposal.

2. Experience/ document a Bridge. Visit a physical bridge for at least one hour and analyze how it works - and its side effects. Think about how the 2 linked sites function socially, economically and aesthetically and how the bridge functions as a metaphor, symbol, structure and system. Describe your ideas and illustrate how it does relate to ideas you have about bridges.

Week 3 September 21, 1998

A 3 minute verbal presentation of research and responses to assignment, open class discussion, and brainstorm. Decide on the basis of these presentations who you would want to work with.

Form groups. Discuss within groups the research, rough ideas of what you want to do.

Film in Class: La Jetée - a film by Chris Marker

Assignment for class 4:

Decide the topic you want to develop during the semester.

Meet with your group to produce the following:

1. Describe your idea for the proposal in writing. Think about characteristics of the site, and the function of your project

2. Complete a map/drawing/model of your proposed project, i.e., as a sketch with an example worked out.

Weeks 4, 5

- Phase Process Remarks
- Options and Solutions 2
- Establishing Design Criteria In Class- Generating Options and Solutions In Class/Out of class

Week 4 September 28, 1998

5 minute project presentation to the class, open class discussion

Lecture on types of bridges, their behavior and design - by Professor Tzavelis

Work in class

Professors circulate among groups and critique and discuss projects.

Individual assignments for each group

Week 5 October 5, 1998

5 minute project presentation of your final proposal (and schedule), open class discussion

Work in class

Professors circulate among groups and critique and discuss projects.

Storyboard, drawings and a paper model of your project and individual assig

nments for each group

Weeks 6 - 8 Phase Process Remarks

Options Evaluation 3
- Evaluation of Options In class
- Ranking of Options In class
- Selection of Preferred Options(s) In class
- Knowledge Base for Preferred Option(s) Out of class

Week 6 October 12, 1998

5 minute project presentation of storyboard and drawings, open class discussion

Work in class

Professors circulate among groups and critique and discuss projects.

Models and individual assignments for each group

Week 7 October 19, 1998

Midterm Presentations - 10 minute presentations with materials and worked out examples: including drawings, models, electronic imagery, storyboard, texts etc.)

Critiques by instructors and by a guest (to be announced)

Individual assignments: readings, writings, and exhibitions and sites to see

Week 8 October 26, 1998

Critiques and exchange of the presentations by Poly and Cooper students

Individual assignments for each group

Weeks 9 - 13

Phase Process Remarks

4 System analysis

- Feasibility Study of Preferred Option(s) In class

- Detailed Analysis of Preferred Option(s) In class/Out of class

Week 9 November 2, 1998

Reading seminar - discussion of readings assigned in week 7

Discussion of the Bridge idea - the class as a whole - discussion of the final class website

Professors circulate among groups and critique and discuss projects.

Individual assignments for each group

Week 10 November 9, 1998

5 minute project presentation to the class, open class discussion

Work in class

Professors circulate among groups and critique and discuss projects.

Individual assignments for each group

Week 11 November 16, 1998

Discussion and plans for finalization of entire class web site

5 minute project presentation to the class, open class discussion

Work in class

Professors circulate among groups and critique and discuss projects.

Individual assignments for each group

Week 12 November 23, 1998

5 minute project presentation to the class, open class discussion

Work in class

Professors circulate among groups and critique and discuss projects.

Individual assignments for each group

Week 13 November 30, 1998

Work in class

Professors circulate among groups and critique and discuss projects.

Individual assignments for each group

Week 14 December 7, 1998

Final Presentation to the class and guests. Critique.

Week 15 December 14, 1998

DOCUMENTATION CLASS - all deliverables due.