College of Architecture Newletter

Spring 2007 Studios

Graduate Studio
Lighting design:
This semester, the BSED students and MArch I students have been working on the same projects.  The first of the semester was a lighting design.  Each student chose a building they had designed the previous semester and created a light fixture to complement their previous design.  Materials included wood, acrylic, metal, and Japanese rice paper.  The fixtures were designed, and then completed in the model shop. 

GWS Competition:
Guaranteed Watt Savers is an engineering and consulting firm in Oklahoma City who specializes in sustainable strategies and technologies.  They are currently in the process of building a new office, and sponsored a design competition for the graduate studio.  There was a great range of solutions, all of which addressed both aesthetic and sustainable concerns.  Now that the designs have been finalized, the next step will be design development.  The graduate studio will compete in one more competition this semester and then finish with portfolio work.

Studio IV, Second Year
Second year studio is currently being taught by Geoff Parker and Adam Lanman. Geoff's areas of interest and research are in freehand drawing and sketching as both a design tool and a means to better graphic communication. His section is focusing on the principle of "animation" in architecture. They are working at a quick pace, doing a series of 1-2 week projects. These are intended to introduce students to some fairly basic architectural issues, while at the same time exploring ideas about motion, scale, time, etc. Geoff's goal is to strengthen his students' information gathering and anlaysis skills. There will also be a focus on hand drawing and model building skills and techniques.

Studio X, Fifth Year

The Kerman Studio taught by Dr. Bozorgi is continnuuing work from last semester. In the fall, a 25 foot scale model of the city of Kerman in Iran was built and the site was carefully analyzed. Students have now completed schematic design models that have been added to the model. Work continues on the projects through the end of the semester. Anyone interested in seeing the work is welcome to stop by the fifth year studio during regular studio times, MWF, 1:30-5:20. For additional information, visit the Kerman Studio blog at http://kermanstudio.blogspot.com/