School of Architecture

Florida International University           

ARC 6910

MasterÕs Seminar    

Read

Fall, 2008

Tuesday/Thursday 12:30-1:45

PCA 342

 

INSTRUCTOR:                          Gray Read,  website:  www.fiu.edu/~readg

Email:  readg@fiu.edu     Phone:  (305) 348-2672

                                                 

CLASS HOURS:                       Tues, Thurs 12:30- 1:45,  PC 428. 

 

PREREQUISITES:                    Students must be in the final semester of design before their MasterÕs Project and have completed Graduate Research Methods.

Approval of Graduate Advisor

 

WEB INFORMATION                ŅHOW TO DO A MASTERÕS PROJECT IN ARCHITECTUREÓ is posted at www.fiu.edu/~readg This is your guide to the process.  Web page also has link to Suggested Projects and bibliography.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:         This course provides the structure within which students engage in independent research to formulate --and develop- a coherent question that they will pursue through design in the latter part of the fall semester and the spring semester.  The two-semester masterÕs project constitutes an original contribution to current thinking in the discipline of Architecture. In this course, the question is explored through academic research and analysis, both recorded in written form.  In studio, the question is usually addressed through a design exploration. This seminar will assist the student in:

 

1)     Developing a design question and design project.

2)     Finding written work and case studies that address the question

3)     Developing a means of graphic analysis appropriate to the inquiry.

4)     Developing a program and choosing a site for the design project.

5)     Producing a written document based on analysis of theoretical texts and design projects that describe the theoretical inquiry and frame the design project.

 

The graduate seminar document should articulate a design question supported by research and a clear set of design principles, derived from analysis of case studies. 

 

Discussion/seminar format.  Group meetings twice per week. Students develop and present masterÕs project topics/ projects and written work for review by instructor, graduate committee and student colleagues.

 

OBJECTIVES:                          To define a speculative proposition based on research and analysis that can be tested in design.  The proposition should focus on a specific instance of a larger design question, whose implications are broader than those of the particular project.

 

 

 

 

 

REQUIRED TEXTS:                 Wiliams, Joseph  Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace  6th Edition (NY: Addison Wesley Longman) 2000

Class handouts. 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY:           Florida International University has no provision  for unexcused absences.  Attendance at all classes is mandatory and expected. Please see University policies on religious holidays. Three (3) unexcused absences will result in failure of this class. 

 

REQUIREMENTS:                    A MasterÕs project proposal that defines an intellectual question in the field of design and frames a design project including documentation of program and site..  This paper will conform to academic standards including footnotes and bibliography.

 

Interim submittals of these documents and interim presentations will also be required.

 

GRADING POLICY:                 Grades are based upon an evaluation of the quality and thoroughness of research, clarity and coherence of the written work.  Student participation in class discussion sessions and consistent engagement in the thinking/ writing process will also be evaluated.

 

ACADEMIC POLICY:              

Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas, and community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an equitable opportunity to learn and honestly to demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. All students are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as outlined in the Student Handbook.

For policies on academic misconduct, sexual harassment, and religious holidays, and information on services for students with disabilities, please refer to University policies in the FIU Student Handbook.


School of Architecture

Florida International University           

MasterÕs Project Seminar     

ARC 6910

Gray Read

Fall, 2008

 

SCHEDULE

 

 

 

WK       1          8/25                 Introduction:  MasterÕs Project

                        8/27                 MasterÕs Project Question

Assignment 1: Statement of Topic and Project                      

 

2          9/1                   Individual Conferences – No Class

DUE: 1-page Statement of topic and project (200 words) - Bring to your individual Conference

Assignment 2: Preliminary Program due 9/15

Assignment 3: Research Review due 9/29

9/3                   Individual Conferences – No Class

                                   

3               9/8                   Framing a Design Question: Programming- Please bring laptops to class      

9/10                 Programming

 

4               9/15                 Effective Reading

DUE: Preliminary Program

 

­­­­­­­­­­­Read Section ____Yanelis Moreno_____Ileana Rodriguez___

­­­­­­­­­­­Rifkind Section____Angel Demdem______Maddy Gannon___

 

 

9/17                 Presentations and Discussion

 

­­­­­­­­­­­Read Section ____Nick Rozwadowski_____Andrew Santa Lucia

­­­­­­­­­­­Rifkind Section____Adriana Garcia______Rafael Concepcion_

 

 

5          9/22                 MasterÕs Project Proposal: Discussion and Presentations

 

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Read Section ____Oscar Wasmosy________Geraldine Pena

­­­­­­­­­­­Rifkind Section____Rey Diaz________Susan Aguerri___

 

 

9/24                 Presentations and Discussion

 

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Read Section ____Mikhaile Solomon________Karla Rivas___

­­­­­­­­­­­Rifkind Section____Jonathan Azur________Yanina Corbea___

 

6          9/29                 Presentations and discussion

 

10/1                 Graphic Analysis: In-Class exercise

Assignment 4: Graphic Analysis of Case Studies

DUE: Research Review 6 pages (1200 words) + 1 page bibliography

 

7          10/6                 Focusing a Topic: Presentations and Discussion

 

­­­­­­­­­­­Read Section ____Sabina Vakovsky______Josue Jean-Louis__

­­­­­­­­­­­Rifkind Section____Jessica Berthin_____Brett Castellucio___

 

            10/8                 Developing a Thesis: Presentations and Discussion

 

­­­­­­­­­­­Read Section ____Olivier Montfort  ____Mark Legg___

­­­­­­­­­­­Rifkind Section___Francisco Garcia________Suzette Garcia___

 

8               10/13               Presentations and Discussion

           

­­­­­­­­­­­­Read Section ____Arthur Rolle___Irina Mitina___Cassie Straus

­­­­­­­­­­­Rifkind Section____Jorge Garciga ____Josˇ Geada_____

 

10/15               Program of the site: Presentations and Discussion (10/17 is last day to drop course with a DR grade)            

DUE: Graphic Analyses of Case Studies

 

­­­­­­­­­­Read Section ____Jesus Mateo ____Esther Krumhansl___

­­­­­­­­­­­Rifkind Section____Lindsay Goeb_____ Nathalie Guedes___

 

 

9     10/20        Defining your design project: Presentations and Discussion

Assignment 5: Presentation Due 10/31

 

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Read Section ___Fernando Mane___Annaliet Pino___

­­­­­­­­­­­Rifkind Section____Kristopher Ruis______Charlene Johnson___

 

 

10/22               Gathering Site Information: Discussion and Presentations

 

­­­­­­­­­­­Read Section ____Anthony Martinez_______Alex Lozano___

­­­­­­­­­­­Rifkind Section____Nicolas Esper________Josˇ Arana___

 

10        10/27               Programming: Discussion and Presentations

10/29               Site Analysis: Discussion and Presentations Last day to drop class

10/30 Friday    Presentation of MasterÕs Projects:  Each student presents project question, research, and case study analysis to Faculty Group.

 

 

11        11/3                 Detailed Programming: Discussion and Presentations

                                    Assignment 6: Final Project Program and Site Information Due 11/11                       

            11/5                 Discussion and Presentations

                       

 

12        11/10               Rewriting Proposal for MasterÕs Project Book

DUE:    Project Program and Site Information

Assignment 7: MasterÕs Project Proposal

            11/12               Presentations and Discussion

           

 

13        11/17               Presentations and Discussion (Last date for Graduate Design 3 Review)

11/19               Presentations and Discussion

 

14        11/23               Presentations and Discussion

DUE: MasterÕs Project Proposal

            11/27               Thanksgiving Holiday

 

15        12/1                 No Class

            12/3                 No Class

 

Friday 12/4      MasterÕs Project Review: Each student presents project to Faculty Group