003_building a model making practice_2022-09-18
“In what follows we shall try to think about dwelling and building. This thinking about building does not presume to discover architectural ideas, let alone to give rules for building. This venture in thought does not view building as an art or as a technique of construction; rather it traces building back into that domain to which everything that is belongs. We ask:
1. What is it to dwell?
2. How does building belong to dwelling?”
- Building Dwelling Thinking by Martin Heidegger from Poetry, Language, Thought, translated by Albert Hofstadter, Harper Colophon Books, New York, 1971
How can we challenge the way we practice? How can we learn
from a post-pandemic environment? Now that we’ve worked
on pushing our virtual collaboration in a hybrid work model,
how can we improve our in-person experience to benefit our
practice at large?
Description
Back to BuildingThis proposal takes an introspective look to ask the question of how we can re-think the in-person and internal process of model making, and how it be pushed further in our practice and implemented in all stages of our work to achieve design excellence.
Model making, and not just of final presentation models, has been a tool for collaboration, communication, and construction for a long time, and has the power to touch the practice at large. By learning from other practices and bringing back shared knowledge, we can reinforce our strong bridge between physical and digital - both in the sense of design to construction as well as in our everyday hybrid workflow.
Topics of interest involve how studios have re-imagined their model making practice post-pandemic, design communication and collaboration, increased innovation and exploration, and fostering diversity.
Essentially, examining the practice of others through the lens of our principles of practice excellence:
- Foster Collaboration, within groups, across groups, across studios, with the outside world;
- Foster Diversity, inclusivity to create critical discussion;
- Foster Relationships, openness to collaboration, safety to collaborate: respect;
- Foster Knowledge, knowledge exploration, knowledge creation, knowledge networks, information systems; and
- Foster Innovation, experimentation, strategic risk taking.
The goal of the proposal is to spark inspiration in members to think more critically about craft and model making, and to bring back knowledge on how we can improve our work as designers of the built environment through model making and design communication. The proposal supplements the on-going work that is being done, both with project teams as well as with the technology team, to grow digital innovation and craft studio-wide. Digital fabrication tools are already incredibly accessible - let’s explore how to use them to their fullest potential.
A direct path can be drawn from sketch to full project realization, where every line has a meaning. Model making equally has the potential to become an integral part of bringing a design to fruition. Concept models, maquettes, working models, detail models, presentation models, interactive models, and more varieties have the power to describe all aspects of design at any stage and grow into full-scale mockups, on-site augmented reality models, digital twin models, digitally fabricated facades, and art gallery showcases. We have seen great examples of architects like Anthoni Gaudi, Shigeru Ban, Wolf D Prix, and others where the model is critical to the understanding of the design and of tectonics.
The stage is set, let building models build buildings.
Method
Proposed Plan
Travel to meet with, and interview, practices that actively build models of all types at all scales, implement lessons learned from the model process into their design workflows or manufacturing, and achieve design excellence in their practice through model making.
Question the values, processes, outcomes that model making has on a practice beyond the built object.
Document the interviews, spaces, models in the form of a documentary/publication to supplement the conversations and use it as a reference for practice-wide learning.
Proposed Timeline
One week to travel and document, to occur during the spring of 2023, and one week to refine, to occur during the summer of 2023.
In preparation for the documentary a videographer will be carefully chosen, outreach to various model-making focussed practices to gauge interest and arrange meeting, and discussions and engagement with fellow studio members to determine the desired impact the video should have on the studio and the public.
Proposed locations
Option 1 - Canada. (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver)
Option 2 - USA (New York + LA)
Option 3 - Beyond North America (London, Copenhagen, Berlin, Austria, Japan, etc.)
Potential candidates include, but are not limited to, the following
•
SHoP Architects
•
Cobe Architects
•
Oyler Wu Collaborative
•
BIG
•
Coop Himmel(b)lau
•
Mamou-Mani
•
Gehry Partners
•
Zaha Hadid
•
Greg Lynn Form
•
Tadao Ando
•
Herzog and de Meuron
•
Foster + Partners
•
Shigeru Ban
•
Adjaye Associates
•
UN studio
•
Studio Gang
•
MVRDV
•
SoomeenHahm Design
•
Jean Verville architecte
•
Renzo Piano Building Workshop
•
Studio Libeskind
•
Lucy McRae
•
Atelier Jean Nouvel
•
Kengo Kuma
•
OMA
•
Peter Eisenmann
•
Santiago Calatrava
•
Morphosis
•
Toyo Ito
•
Patkau Architects
•
Caruso St. John Architects
•
6a Architects
•
Spearhead
•
UAP Company
•
Shim Sutcliffe Architects
•
Eric Owen Moss Architects
Budget
Videographer/Editor* ................................................................. $3500
Transport (Airfare and local transportation) .............. $1500
Accommodation (6 nights @ $250/night)................... $1500
Food (7 days @ $71.4/day)....................................................... $500
Interviewee Honararium**........................................................ $1000
Total........................................................................ $8000
* Alternative may include self-filming and editing which requires alternative budget and timeframe
** Alternative may remove this line item if interviewees are amenable to pro bono interviews. Cost savings to potentially be applied travel and accommodation to an additional location.
*** Additional “volunteered” days not part of proposal scope to be discussed if beneficial to the scheduling of interviews and travel.
“Even a brick wants to be something.”
- Louis Khan