Overview
ADST 300 is the third of ten studio courses that will prepare you for work in an architect’s office. This studio introduces you to the principles and processes of architectural design. The focus will be on understanding and designing with basic architectural elements and on the organization of habitable spaces in plan and section. Habitation and basic shelter are key topics in architecture, as they relate to the basic architectural elements, and are explored in depth in this studio.
The design process will be presented as the realization of an architectural idea that arises in response to both the context, which is the natural and built environments in which the building will exist, and the program, which is the functional and experiential requirement of the human activity to be supported and enhanced by the building.
Outline
The course is divided into five projects, each of which introduces an important skill that will enhance your abilities as a designer and provides opportunities for you to develop your own approach to design. You will also want to use your paper sketchbook to sketch in, take notes, answer study questions, state personal learning goals, and jot down ideas. Key pages can be scanned and stored in your Personal Archive.
Each week, you will be asked to share your work-in-progress with your academic expert and the other students in the studio. This weekly session is the equivalent of a desk critique (a session during which the architecture student sits down with their instructor to review their designs) given in a face-to-face studio.
These interactive meetings will be held in an online environment that includes video conferencing, audio conferencing, and social media, and will allow the academic expert to provide feedback on your work. This type of session is intended to be a productive working session much like you would experience in an architect’s office. Upon registration, you will receive a full set of instructions for connecting to the virtual studio.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course, you should be able to:
- Comprehend: Understand the basic principles of shelter, site, and the human dimension of a program.
- Apply: Apply fundamental architectural principles in the design of simple buildings and interior spaces, and respond to natural and built site characteristics in the development of a project.
- Apply: Apply appropriate representational media, including freehand drawing and basic computer technology, to convey essential elements at each stage of the design development process.
- Apply: Begin to build a community of practice by working with other students.
Evaluation
Your work in this course will be evaluated based on five projects. You are required to scan and submit your projects to your academic expert via the Project links on the course home page. Each project is weighted as shown below. Note that your participation in discussions, and your sharing of resources, will contribute to your grade.
| Activity | Weight | Complete by |
| Project 1: Precedent Study | 15% | Week 2 |
| Project 2: Disaster Relief Shelter | 30% | Week 6 |
| Midterm presentation | | Week 7 |
| Project 3: Sleeping Quarters | 15% | Week 8 |
| Project 4: Sleeping Quarters Reimagined | 30% | Week 12 |
| Project 5A: Final Presentation: Reflecting on What You Have Learned | 10% | Week 13 |
| Project 5B: Submit 2 images to the academic expert | | Week 13 |
| Total | 100% | |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
You must achieve a cumulative grade of 67% or greater to receive credit for ADST 300.
Materials
This course either does not have a course package or the textbooks are open-source material and available to students at no cost. This course has a Course Administration and Technology Fee, but students are not charged the Course Materials Fee.
Although there is no textbook for this studio, the academic expert may assign readings as they deem appropriate during the course.
Resource Materials
Student-Provided Tools and Equipment
You must provide a digital camera for your own use, as well as a few other tools. The items you will need to provide are listed below:
Photography tools:
- Smartphone with camera, or digital camera (SLR preferable)
Drawing materials:
- 35.56cm × 43.18cm (14” × 17”) Strathmore 300 series acid-free drawing paper
- 22.86cm × 30.48cm (9” × 12”) Strathmore 300 series sketchbook
- white or beige 2-ply card stock
- trace paper
Drawing tools:
- 0.30 mm precision felt pen (or similar)
- 2H to 2B pencils or mechanical pencils
- coloured markers and/or pencil crayons
- compass
- protractor
- ruler
- drawing board (recommended)
Modeling materials:
- white or beige 2-ply card stock
- clear plastic sheet
Modeling tools:
- self-healing cutting mat: 18” × 24” (45.75cm × 60.96cm) or larger preferable
- metal-edge cork-back ruler (various sizes)
- stainless steel knife
- masking tape/painter’s tape
- white glue
- modeling set square
Use of Computers
You may use computers to design and complete your projects for this studio (except where noted), but remember that hand drawing and modeling skills remain essential to the development of an architect and we encourage you to use those skills wherever possible.
Course Home Page (online): The course home page houses all the online components of your course.
Study Schedule (online): The study schedule on your course home page includes the Course Information, the five projects and links to the online readings.
Course Information (online): The Course Information provides specific information about how to proceed through the course. Read the Course Information carefully before you begin reading the Study Guide.
Study Guide (online): The 5 projects are embedded on the course home page.
Forms: Forms you may need are available through the myAU portal