AA Diploma Unit17

Latent Territories: Soft Itineraries

Cities are still planned following archaic functionalist strategies where infrastructural systems partition off territories within the city that causes a growing privatisation, turning its back on the public realm. Concurrently, the last decade’s rapid expansion of information technologies and transportation networks has diluted the distinction between work-ing, living and leisure affecting the way we design and experience boundaries in architecture. What has become more critical today is the seamless interconnection between those activities and how they interfere with the public sphere. Diploma 17 will investigate the socio political role of circulation as the design motive for architecture.

The unit does not see form as an object of contemplation in the classical sense nor for its ability to carry cultural mean-ing as seen by the post-modernists, but rather for it’s consequences. The key emphasis of our study will be the perfor-mative and behavioural aspects of geometry and its ability to stimulate the individual and enhance the collective. This geometrical integration will allow for the development of tectonic models that synthesise structure, circulation and activity. Through this coupling of programmes we can begin to experiment with new organisational and growth pat-terns assigning areas of permanence and open-endedness. We will investigate the possibilities of form as a mediator from moments of solitude to social interaction.

This year the projects will focus on the design of as a semi-autonomous building at the scale of a neighbourhood that integrates multiple activities of living, working, transport and leisure. Students will develop their design thesis through speculative proposals of urban concepts for the near future. As a unit, we will engage with technology not as an end in itself but for it’s pivotal role in the way we design and fabricate architecture. Going beyond the status quo we will use contemporary digital design and manufacturing techniques in innovative ways allowing us to escape the limitations of standardisation. Diploma 17 encourages individual explorations and embraces diversity of ideas allowing students to develop their own voice in the field of architecture.

DIPLOMA 17 2013/2014Unit staff: Theo Sarantoglou Lalis and Dora Sweijd

Heat wave in China brings 15,000 to pool

AA Diploma Unit17

Phase 1 // Tectonic ExperimentationWeek 1 – 9

Gregory Spaw, Denzer tile accumulation, Harvard GSD

In term 1, we will be combining intense design experimentation and seminars exploring historical precedents to insti-gate a fruitful debate within the unit and trigger individual research agendas. Through these precedents, we will be focussing on the dilution of boundaries and the use of circulation as inhabitable space, creating new modalities for occupancy and stimulating individual experience. The key emphasis of our explorations will be the performative and behavioural aspects of form and its ability to reposition the body as a central preoccupation for the design of architec-tural space as well as enhance the collective.

Through a series of design workshops involving 3D modelling and particle simulation, we will aim to understand how form plays a catalytic role in deriving distinctive organisational principles, flow, visual connections and a variety of social interactions. During this phase we will concurrently aim to develop assessment techniques as well as a distinc-tive visual language to facilitate our understanding of the complexity that lies within those projects. We will start the project by investigating the ground as the primordial mediator of social life.

Tae Young Lee, Microport, 2011

Zach Fluker, Resourcefill, 2013

Greg Spaw, Harvard Graduate school of Design, 2007

AA Diploma Unit17

Later in the term, we will investigate possibilities of enclosure and will debate the ability of form to constrain or allow hybrid modes of occupancy. We will experiment with ground deformations in order to establish individual trajectories as well as places that are morphologically more suitable for collective gathering. During this phase, we will apply the mapping and assessment tools developed in phase 1 to understand and plot different scenarios from controlled circu-lation to wandering.

Through a closer look at the work of experimental architects such as, Friedrich Kiesler, Claude Parent and others, we will study how these architects developed seminal ideas of their architecture principles at the small scale in the form of models, manifestoes, abstract drawings and prototypes, that where later projected at the city scale in the form of speculative photomontages. We will explore geometrical integration as a means to develop tectonic strategies that synthesise multiple design objectives such as experience, structure and circulation. Through intuitive experimentation and continuous critical assessment, we will be developing a series of tectonic studies and prototypes in the form of elaborate digitally designed physical models and drawings. In addition to 4 seminars and 6 project based workshops, there will be by-weekly evening digital design workshops for all of term 1. Towards the end of this term, you will also set out the technical ambitions of the project as inseparable from the development of your design thesis. We ask both 4th years and 5th years to identify and pursue their Design thesis concurrently with a material system.

IMPORTANT DATESPin-up: Thursday 10/10Pin-up: Wednesday 23/10Portfolio presentation: 28/11TS5 subject presentation: 12/12

1.1 Case studyWorkshop 1: Nurbs modelling, particles simulation, flow analysis. Seminar 1: Unit Discussion on precedentsOUTPUT: Case study ppt, Mapping Diagrams, Particle simulations, Drawings.

1.2 Ground Formations Workshop 2: Ground formations: Transient and collective trajectoriesWorkshop 3: Subdivision modelling Seminar 2: Public space and the city.OUTPUT: CNC model, mapping diagrams.

1.3 Enclosures Workshop 4: Subdivision modelling Workshop 5: structural modelling and optimisation tools: Karamba, Galapagos.Workshop 6: optimization and form finding tools: KangarooSeminar 3: Overview on Chinese UrbanizationSeminar 4: Portfolio presentations from previous Dip 17 studentsOUTPUT: Large Study models, final large scale model 1:20, large axonometric or perpective drawing, organisational diagrams, model photos, detail Models, material testing.

1.4 Portfolio PresentationOUTPUT: Printed well-crafted portfolio pages min. A1

1.5 TS 5 Seminar 7: Dip 17 High pass TS presentationsOUTPUT: 5th years to submit TS subjects.

AA Diploma Unit17

Peter Ortner, Harvard Graduate school of Design, 2007

Phase 2 // Organisational Strategy: CouplingWeek 9 of term 1 to week 5 of term 2

During this phase, we will be shifting our attention from tectonic strategies to the coupling of different programs. As we become more agile designers and develop thematic drivers for the project, our explorations will gradually integrate a greater level of complexity. We will discuss how the rapid expansion of information technologies and greater efficiency in transportation networks has diluted the distinction between working, living and leisure affecting the way we design and experience boundaries in architecture. Under those conditions, buildings are increasingly facing programatic ob-solescence. Our research will explore the possibilities and benefits of a dynamic and symbiotic synergy between the different activities composing the unit. Through programmatic coupling, we will experiment with new organizational and growth strategies as a means of producing interresting new public occupancy. Through your design, you will chal-lenge notions of hierarchy, ownership and define public space.

IMPORTANT DATESEnd of term Jury: Wednesday 19/12 Jury: Monday 6/01Jury: Thursday 6/02

Seminar: Historical precedentsOUTPUT: Large Study models, final large scale model 1:20, large axonometric or perpective drawing, organisational diagrams, model photos, detail models, material systems model.

Vicky Bei Shu Chen, combinatory urbanism, 2011

AA Diploma Unit17

Unit Trip 2 // China: Beijing - Chongqing - Hong KongWeek 1 - Term 2

We will travel to China, the empire of change. China is undergoing unprecedented rural exodus and extreme urban-isation. Instant cities are planned following archaic functionalist strategies where infrastructural systems partition off territories that cause a growing privatisation, turning its back on the public realm. Concurrently China doubled it stan-dards of living in just one decade. It has at least 166 cities with more than 1 million inhabitants and it is expected to nearly triple it’s building stock by 2030. Through our journey, we will have the opportunity to witness China’s contradic-tions and question our perception of the reality of parts of the Chinese society and as such its cities and its architecture. We will question the dominant typologies of the high-rise and plinth and the instrumentalisation of infrastructure to fullfill political goals. During our trip, we will have the chance to discover Hong Kong’s street markets, Beijing’s remark-able buildings and flourishing contemporary art scene, traditionnal Hutongs , siheyuan courtyard houses and desolate high-rise districts. We will interact with local student communities, arrange visits to museums and exhibitions.

Unit Trip 1 // Stutgart - Basel - LausanneWeek 8 - term 1 / 3 days

Before we start developing the organisationnal principles for the project, we will go on a short trip to europe where we will be visiting some of the architectural projects studied in the beginning of the year, confronting our analysis and cri-tique with the real. We will start in stutgart by visiting the benz museum. We will then head off to basel where we will visit zaha’s Lf one as well as HDM projects. We will then head north where we will visit Hans Islers remarkable concrete shells as well as SANAA’ s learning center in Lausanne. During this tour we will be visiting museums and architecture schools. Through these building visits we intend to initiate a discussion on the relationship between material systems and tectonic intentions.

Michael Wolf, crowded Hong Kong apartments

AA Diploma Unit17

Context analysis // Documentation bookWeek 02 - Term 2

Following our journey in China, you will need to define the precise contextual limits / cultural scenario of your inter-vention. This phase will allow you to gather all relevant information regarding your topic revealing elements beyond the visible geographical and physical reality. You will be asked to establish a synthesis of the existing situation and to identify the deficiencies and potentials within your observations.• Diagrams showing comparative studies.• Data (urban sociology, enabling technology affecting lifestyle, target user groups, Program inventory, activities dis-tribution, ….•Existing site drawings & maps printed at the required scale• Mappings of important aspects for your project: Land use, Infrastructure, Circulation & networks, Massing Typolo-gies, Urban Morphology, Density,…• Programmatic Elements of your project.• Quality Photos

IMPORTANT DATES:Pin-up & submission: Week 6 of Term 2

OUTPUT: Printed & bound documentation book.

Eric Fischer, Beijing Tourist geotagging map. Romain Jacquet-Lagreze, Vertical Horizons, Hong Kong.

AA Diploma Unit17

Phase 3 // Deployment Strategy: Urban UnitWeek 5 – 11

You will start investigating your thesis by design as building proposals, critically addressing architectural form as the urban syntax of a value system. Through a thorough understanding of the real, we will question, test and rethink the classic urban paradigms. This year our attention will shift from the hinterlands of west Africa and Brasil to the large metropolises of china. The unit will address a denser populated area and will focus it’s attention on the design of a semi-autonomous building that integrates multiple activities of living, working, transport and leisure. Through your speculative proposals you will be proposing an alternative to the dominant typological models of the high rise and plinth. We will approach this building as urban planning, defining it’s internal relationships and providing a definition of publicness today. You will be deploying speculative urban-to-tectonic proposals that respond critically to a variety of socio-political issues. The material definition and technical validation of your project will be a key element to con-solidate in this stage.

IMPORTANT DATES

Jury: Thursday 27/03

Workshop: conceptual art techniques. digital painting.

OUTPUT: large urban model, large urban axonometric, conceptual photomontages, aerial view, close up image show-

ing occupancy, tectonic scale documents.

Brian Cheng, Insertion of complex de aleamo, Rio 2012.

AA Diploma Unit17

Phase 4 // Project VisionWeek 1 – 9

During the final term, we will focus on the production of final images and elaborate physical models. We will use digital painting techniques to produce elaborate photomontages not as a promotional means but as a way to asses and capture the project escence in a limited amount of images. In all instances we will question the role of the architect and the socio-political implications of our practice. Diploma 17 encourages individual explorations and embraces diversity of ideas allowing students to develop their own voice in the field of ar-chitecture.

IMPORTANT DATES

Jury: Thursday 27/03

Workshop: concept art workshop 2OUTPUT: Conceptual photomontages, final physical models, 3 project images, aerial view...

AA Diploma Unit17

Selected Bibliography:

Bruno Latour and Peter Weibel, Making Things Public: Atmospheres of Democracy, MIT Press, 2005.

Barthes Roland, Mythologies. Paladin, 1973

Auge Marc, Non-places: Introduction to an anthropology of supermodernity Verso, London & New York, 1995

Kelly Kevin, Out of Control: The new biology of machines,1995.

Burdett Richard, Cities: People, Society, Architecture: 10th International Architecture Exhibition - Venice Biennale,

Riz- zoli, 2006.

Virilio Paul, Parent Claude, Architecture principe, Issues 1-9. Editions de l’imprimeur, 1966.

Claude Parent, L’eouvre construite, Loeuvre graphique, cite de l architecture, 2010.

Mark Wigley, Constant’s New Babylon, The hyperarchitecture of desire, 010 Publishers, 1998.

Lefebvre Henri, Writings on cities, E. Kofman and E. Lebas, trans. and eds., Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1996

Rem Koolhaas, Ole Bouman, Mark Wigley. Volume 8: Ubiquitous China. March 1, 2007. Print.

Tomás Saraceno, Cloud Cities, Distanz, 2011.

Team 10, 1953 – 1981 : In Search of a Utopia of the Present, Nai Publishers, 2005.

Stan Allen and Marc Mc Quade, Landform Building, Lars Muller publisher.

Farshid Moussavi, The function of form, Actar D, 2009.

Frei Otto, Occupying and connecting, Menges 2009.

Architectures Radicales 1950-2000, XYZ 2003Syd Mead, Oblagon, Kodansha 1996

Unit Staff

Theo Sarantoglou Lalis and Dora Sweijd are the founding Principals of LASSA ARCHITECTS (LASSA-ARCHITECTS.COM), an international architecture and urbanism studio with offices in London and Brussels. LASSA is currently involved with commissions in China, Egypt, Greece, Kuwait and Korea. Theo and dora have been Unit Masters of Diploma 17 at the Architecture Association since 2009 focusing on speculative cities.Theo Sarantoglou Lalis received his masters from the Bartlett school of Architecture in London. He has taught post-graduate studios at Columbia University and Harvard University. Prior to founding LASSA, he held project director posi-tions at Future Systems and project director Asymptote. Dora Sweijd received her masters from the Bartlett School of Architecture in London. She previously worked at a number of practices in Brussels, London and NY. Dora and Theo have lectured internationally, lead workshops and taught undergraduate studios at LTU in Sweden and at the AA.