DESST 3516 - Design Studio VI

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2024

Theme: institution/complexity/specialisation. This course comprises a number of independent discipline-based but interrelated studios and enable students to focus on architecture, landscape architecture, construction management or urban design as they consider their preferred area of specialisation in preparation for their professional Masters degree. This course explores design proposals for spatially complex structures that uniquely respond to a specific set of requirements for a medium to large scale institutional program (building, landscape or infrastructure). Cultural, environmental and programmatic parameters are examined. Propositions are inclusive of consideration of meaning, space, form, structures, engineering systems and materiality. Analysis and interpretation of these parameters will be used to generate designs with complex programs that are communicated using appropriate disciplinary conventions with consistent learning outcomes and assessment criteria for each studio group. The course provides the necessary knowledge and skills to generate complex, resolved designs. It develops critical skills required to attain a high level of architectural and construction judgement. Students will develop ambitious designs through advanced digital and 3D modelling to articulate proposals that comprehensively represent the intellectual and physical attributes of their schemes.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code DESST 3516
    Course Design Studio VI
    Coordinating Unit Architecture and Landscape Architecture
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 6
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Assumed Knowledge DESST 3513 or DESST 3027
    Restrictions Available to B.ArchDes students only
    Quota A quota will apply
    Course Description Theme: institution/complexity/specialisation.

    This course comprises a number of independent discipline-based but interrelated studios and enable students to focus on architecture, landscape architecture, construction management or urban design as they consider their preferred area of specialisation in preparation for their professional Masters degree.

    This course explores design proposals for spatially complex structures that uniquely respond to a specific set of requirements for a medium to large scale institutional program (building, landscape or infrastructure). Cultural, environmental and programmatic parameters are examined. Propositions are inclusive of consideration of meaning, space, form, structures, engineering systems and materiality. Analysis and interpretation of these parameters will be used to generate designs with complex programs that are communicated using appropriate disciplinary conventions with consistent learning outcomes and assessment criteria for each studio group.

    The course provides the necessary knowledge and skills to generate complex, resolved designs. It develops critical skills required to attain a high level of architectural and construction judgement. Students will develop ambitious designs through advanced digital and 3D modelling to articulate proposals that comprehensively represent the intellectual and physical attributes of their schemes.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr David Kroll

    Email: margit.brunner@adelaide.edu.au
    Contact Hours: Studio hours/ By appointment


    Studio Leaders

    Name: Dr Tanya Court
    Email: <tanya.court@adelaide.edu.au>
    Contact Hours: Studio hours/ By appointment

    Name: Dr Carlos Bartesaghi Koc
    Email: <carlos.bartesaghikoc@adelaide.edu.au>
    Contact Hours: Studio hours/ By appointment

    Name: Enzo Ferraro
    Email: <enzo.ferraro@adelaide.edu.au>
    Contact Hours: Studio hours/ By appointment

    Name: Felicity Sando
    Email: <felicity.sando@adelaide.edu.au>
    Contact Hours: Studio hours/ By appointment
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    As the last Design Studio of the Bachelor program, this course is designed to foster knowledge, understanding and skills that will assist the student in both their professional and academic careers through the development of a landscape design concept proposal at the urban scale.
    As an outcome of this course the students will be able to:

    1. Identify economic, social and ecological problems in a specific urban and/or landscape context.

    2. Analyse an urban and/or landscape design problem and evaluate its possible solutions.

    3. Respond to problems within an urban area with appropriate urban and/or landscape design techniques.

    4. Define appropriate materials and construction systems for a comprehensive urban and landscape design solution.

    5. Apply appropriate representation techniques for urban and/or landscape analysis and design.

    6. Communicate an urban and/or landscape design proposal to a public and/or peer audience through appropriate presentation techniques.


    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1, 2, 4

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1, 2, 3

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    1,2,6

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1,4,5,6

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    1,2,6

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    .

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    .

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1, 6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Readings:
    Various readings, assignment resources and recommended resources will be available on MyUni.

    Basic equipment:
    It is expected that each student will bring equipment to every studio as directed on MyUni to enable drawing, design and presentation including but not limited to:
    • Paper and trace paper for drawing
    • Pens, pencils, color markers, rulers, etc. i.e anything you use to design or draw
    • Printouts of research or reference material required for that studio
    • Digital equipment such as phones, ipads, laptops (not essential)
    Outside of class times students will be expected to conduct site visits and will require the following as a minimum:
    • Digital camera capable of storing a large amount of photos
    • Clipboard, pens, paper etc.
    Journal:
    You are required to maintain an A4 size journal for course notes & weekly tasks. It is preferable to use a notebook with unruled pages to assist with drawing.
    Recommended Resources
    Recommended readings:
    A recommended reading list is provided as an attachment to the course profile on MyUni which will aid you in the coursework and assignments. Please note these are not required texts for the course, but recommended reference and research material.

     
    Speaker Series and Public Conferences:
    The School has a fortnightly lecture series where respected practitioners and academics from the field deliver a public lecture on contemporary architectural practice. The exact detail of dates and speakers is available from the School website and the Front Office in due course. In order to expand their knowledge of contemporary directions in design the students are warmly recommended to attend these sessions and any Public Conference related to the topics of the course announced through MyUni during the semester.
    Online Learning
    University Email:
    The school uses the University email system to get in touch with the students. So it is imperative that all the students check their email regularly and keep up to date with any new announcements.

    MyUni:
    MyUni is an essential online tool which will be used to communicate information regarding the
    course including details of assignments and interim grades. Therefore it is recommended that all the students familiarise yourself with the various functions of MyUni and employ it to its fullest extent.https://myuni.adelaide.edu.auDiscussion

    Discussion Board:
    The MyUni Discussion Board can be used to interact with other students and tutors and is an essential tool to discuss information and increase your understanding of issues.

    Lecture Recording:
    An audio recording of most lectures is made available in electronic format through the MyUni system for students to listen to on their own time and make notes. Please note that while these audio recordings are a useful resource for revision they should not be considered as replacement for actual lecture attendance. The lecture sessions will include activities and discussions on visual material that cannot be captured properly in the recording. Furthermore, technical issues cause delays in the availability of recordings which might affect your ability to complete ongoing tasks, not to mention technical failures which might result in certain recordings being unavailable.

    Noticeboard / Handbook:
    General information about the activities at the School is available online from the Student Noticeboard which can be accessed at https://unified.adelaide.edu.au/group/professons-student-architecture/current-student.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This studio comprises 6 individual studio topics which will be presented by the individual studio leaders in Week 1.

    Students will be given the opportunity to choose which studio they prefer to enrol in and the coordinator will endeavour to place individual students in their preferred studio group. 

    These studios will be complemented by a fortnightly lecture series; details will be available on MyUni.

    The studios will involve group and individual work including:
    - Studio exercises such as drawing, designing, discussing, etc.
    - Individual studio time with tutors exploring your individual project or assignments.
    - Work on assignments.
    - Presentation of assignments.
    - Peer Review and Critique.


    STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
    Please respect the facilities throughout the University.

    In the School of Architecture and Built Environment students are required to fabricate models, projects and other hands-on creative activities. Of course, you will make a mess in the process! No problem! Please clean up after yourself. If the materials are recyclable and you don't want to reuse them yourself, put them in the recycling bins. Don't leave paper/cardboard/offcuts on the floor or table, put them in the bin. Don't leave broken blades etc. on tables, put them in a sharps bin. Don't leave work (models, drawings etc) in a space (tutorial room, computer lab, studio) and expect to find it when you come back. The facilities are shared. The School recommends that you store your work in a locker available from ASA or in Hub Central.

    The tables in the learning and teaching spaces (tutorial rooms, computer labs, studios) are NOT cutting mats. Would you use an exacto knife or a scalpel to cut model making materials directly on your dining table at home? No? Don't do it at the University. Use a cutting mat. If you don't have one, buy one. All students should have a cutting mat in their Equipment Kit. You are expected to bring this with you if you are model-making, using glue etc.

    Students are permitted to bring food and drink into the learning and teaching spaces. Please respect your peers. When you have finished your bottle of water, coffee cup, bubble tea, Coke, juice, Boost, Red Bull etc. etc. put it in the bin. Don't leave your takeaway meal festering on a table cultivating mould. Put it in the bin.

    The importance of hygiene and cleanliness is amplified during COVID 19. Respect your peers. Respect your facilities. Please clean up after yourself at all times. This is your responsibility.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The University expects full-time students (ie. those taking 12 units per semester) to devote at least 48 hours per week to their studies. Accordingly, students undertaking this 6 unit course are expected to devote 24 hours per week to contact activities and self-guided studies.

    Based on this framework here are some figures that might assist workload management:
    Total workload hours: 24 Hrs per week x 12 weeks = 288 Hrs
    Total contact hours: 6 Hrs per week x 12 weeks = 72 Hrs
    Total self-guided study: 288 Hrs – 72 Hrs = 216 Hrs

    These 216 hours should be used towards preparation of weekly tasks and for completion of the various assignments associated with the course, including development of various skills required to complete the same. Please organise your time wisely.
    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Task/Assignment No. and Name Due Date Weight Type Learning
    Objective
    1 – Interim Review Week 8 40% Summative 1,2,6
    2 – Major Review Week 12 50% Summative 3,4,5,6
    3 - Participation and MyUni Activities 10%


    Assessment Related Requirements
    The assignments require the material to be presented during the tutorials.
    All submissions of assignments will follow the following schedule:

    Task/Assignment No. and Name Due Date Where
    1 – Interim Review Week 8 In Class and MyUni
    2 – Major Review Week 12 In Class and MyUni
    3 – Participation In Class and MyUni
    All assignments will also have to be uploaded on MyUni in due date according to the specifications and details available from MyUni through the Assignments & Tasks Section.


    Assessment Detail
    Details of various assessment tasks and assignments are available from MyUni through the  Assignments & Tasks Section.

    Marking & Feedback (General)
    • Final results for the course will only be available through Access Adelaide and students SHOULD NOT contact the course coordinator or the tutors for the same.
    • Most assignments will be marked within 3 weeks of the submission and the interim grades will be made available through the My Grades system. Students are expected to inform the Course Coordinator if there are any errors with the marks entered on the system.

    • Feedback for in-class submissions will only be available during the tutorial as oral critique in the style of studio wall-crits. Students should arrange with peers to make notes for reference.

    Submission
    Please note the following general points about Submissions:

    General
    All submissions must include Student Name and Student ID Number. Submissions without Student Name or ID Number will not be considered for marking, and will receive zero marks in accordance with the guidelines. In addition, all assignments need to have an Assignment Cover Sheet which must be signed and dated by the student before submission. Please attach the cover sheet in front of the document, to the top left hand corner.

    Please adhere to submission deadlines and follow instructions provided.

    Students must not submit work for an assignment that has previously been submitted for this course or any other course without prior approval from the Course Coordinator.

    On occasion, the lecturer/tutor may wish to retain students’ work for future reference and the relevant student will be informed at such a time.

    Early Submission:
    There is an early submission box located on Level 4 which is cleared out daily at 10am. Please mark your submission clearly before placing in box.

    Models for in-class presentation cannot be handed in early.

    Late Submission:
    The school will NOT accept late submissions and any such assignment will receive zero marks. This also applies to electronic submissions.

    Printing delays & hard disk crashes will not be entertained as legitimate causes for delay, so please ensure that the work is finished in advance.

    Re-submission:
    The school has a resubmission policy whereby students can redeem failed work by submitting additional work as specified in the Student Handbook. 

    Good practice:
    Students should ensure that they regularly backup their work on multiple locations as hard-disk crashes are an unfortunate reality.

    When relying on community printing facilities, students should attempt to finish their work in advance to avoid unnecessary delays.

    Students must retain a copy of all assignments submitted (digital or hardcopy), as originals may be lost during the submission process.

    For modified arrangements of submission and assessment due to special circumstances see the following Assessment Task Extension(s) & Additional Assessment guidelines.

    Modified Arrangements (General)
    Students can apply for extensions or modified arrangements based on Medical conditions or other Extenuating circumstances. However, students need to submit their application along with supporting documents within 5 business days of the condition becoming applicable.

    The application forms are available from the Front Office and at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exam/mod_arrange.html and need to be submitted at the Front Office along with any supporting documentation.

    Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance and the Course Coordinator will inform the applicant if the application is accepted. Please DO NOT contact the Course Coordinator directly.

    Medical Reasons:
    In case of an extended medical condition which makes it impossible for the student to submit the work on time, an Application for Assessment Task Extension due to Medical Circumstances may be lodged with the Front Office along with a doctor’s certificate within 5 business days.

    Extenuating Circumstances:
    If the student is unable to submit the work on time due to extenuating circumstances an Application for Assessment Task Extension due to Extenuating Circumstances may be lodged with the Front Office.

    Please note that this is only available for certain military, religious, or legal obligations and does not extend to minor personal problems. (Refer to Student Handbook at http://www.architecture.adelaide.edu.au/current/resources/ for further details or contact Student Advisor).

    Compassionate Grounds:
    In case of certain extraordinary personal problems students can apply for extensions based on compassionate grounds. However, these must first be discussed with the Course Coordinator in person through appointment during the assigned office hours.

    To maintain privacy relating to personal issues students can contact the University Transition and Advisory Service at 8313 0100 or transition@adelaide.edu.au, or approach the Counselling Service on 83035663 for an individual appointment.

    Additional Assessment:
    If a student receives a Fail grade for the course with an overall mark between 45 and 49, they may be eligible for an Additional Assessment which would allow them to get a maximum of 50 Pass for the Course.

    Additional Assessment offers are made by the School and the student will be informed directly once these are made available.

    Disability:
    Students who have a disability and wish to seek modified submission or assessment arrangements need to contact the
    University Disability Services at 83135962 or disability@adelaide.edu.au for supporting documentation and then communicate these to the Course Coordinator in person through appointment during the assigned office hours.


    Elite Athlete:
    Students who have national/international sporting commitments and wish to seek modified submission or assessment
    arrangements need to register with the University Elite Athlete Support Scheme at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/eliteathletes/ and then communicate this to the Course Coordinator in person through appointment during the assigned office hours.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.