Designing risk and resilience: perspectives from participants
Date
2010
Authors
Edmonds, A.
Editors
Forsyth, G.
Advisors
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Type:
Conference paper
Citation
Proceedings of ConnectED 2010 2nd International Conference on Design Education, 2010 / Forsyth, G. (ed./s)
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
ConnectED 2010 2nd International Conference on Design Education (28 Jun 2010 : Sydney, Australia)
Abstract
This paper presents student and staff reflection of an Architectural Design studio which introduced students to complex decision making processes in concert with their designerly intentions. The fertile setting of final studio in the three year Bachelor of Architectural studies degree at an Australian University, offered students opportunity to demonstrate the multiple capabilities acquired in the degree through a studio focus on integration. The approach taken was to foreground a social issue in the students’ own city and consider design speculations which could address these issues and develop the affective domain of student learning. Students were presented with literature on the needs of Youth-at-Risk, complimented by narrative accounts of young people ‘ageing out’ of State care, in tandem with three fee paying clients, each with different sites embodying differing social and political contexts within which the needs of Youth-at-Risk were to be addressed. The students’ task to manage and respond to the needs of both the fee paying client and young occupants, exposed the challenging dialectic architects face when attempting to broker an effective design outcome for all concerned. Through dialogue with industry, government agencies, community advocates and housing groups, as well as design staff, students considered the integration of the social and urban fabric of their city. The paper discuses the carefully staged studio process and management which aimed to develop student confidence and decision making capability. It also reflects upon student’s own process to better understand the dynamic interplay between social and political influence, client needs and their own designerly intentions. Preliminary findings indicate student’s appreciation of the opportunity to engage with contemporary local social issues which challenged them to consider their architectural contribution beyond the customary formal scheme of an architectural design studio
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Dissertation Note
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Copyright 2009 The University of New South Wales (UNSW)