1. DIS • Architecture and Design Assignment 01 Spring 2015
Assignment 01
Design Understood - Design Experienced
Sweden - Finland | Austria - Switzerland | Netherlands
photo of a group model

2. DIS • Architecture and Design Assignment 01 Spring 2015
2
Design Understood - Design Experienced
Design understood, design experienced
The study tours of the Architecture and Design Program at DIS form an integral
part of the learning process. We visit sites to experience and analyze design,
and to ultimately become better architects and designers.
Assignment 1 is an integral part of this endeavor. The assignment is carried out
in groups of 3-5 students. The assignment consists of an in-depth research and
analysis of a specific design and the construction of a scale model (architecture,
interior architecture, urban design) or an intepretative poster (graphic design).
The framework for the research and analysis is a model developed by Danish
architect, Erik Nygaard, in his book, Architecture Understood (the book as a
whole is only available in Danish, but the Introduction has been translated for
the purpose of this assignment and is available on Blackboard). The model is
not exhaustive but should be seen as a framework devised to guide the student
through various possible viewpoints helping to assure a balanced analysis.
Model of interpretation (the four windows) see diagram to the left
Below the use of the term ‘design’ implies all of the design disciplines, i.e.
architecture, interior architecture, urban design and graphic design.
1. Design understood based on its conception
Design can be analyzed on the basis of how it began, for example the brief,
the designers intentions, the site, region, topography, climate and culture
surrounding the design, as well as on the ideas of the time, the so-called
Zeitgeist, and how this informs the design.
2. Design understood as pure form
Design can be analyzed on the basis of its form, shape, color, geometry, kerning
and proportions, seen as an object, seen as space, as negative space, or on the
basis of the construction, materiality, texture or structural expression. Most
‘classical’ art historical, aesthetic approaches are at home in this category.
3. Design understood based on its reception
Design can be analyzed as reactions to other designs - both historical design
or design of its immediate context; the phenomenological experience - how
users/our senses react - can form the basis for an analysis; approaches building
off of environmental psychology, urban sociology and human perception in
a wider sense and the way in which design impacts, shapes or guides our
behavior are at home in this category.
4. Design understood through socio-cultural determinants
Design can be analyzed as a result of or at least as implicated by the political,
economical, historical, socio-cultural conditions surrounding its conception,
form and reception. The way architecture may be informed by analytical
approaches from other academic disciplines, like literary analysis, semiotics,
structuralism and poststructuralism, are also at home in this category.
Course of action
1. Groups are given a building or site or design and jointly plan the research
they need to carry out to fulfill the assignment.
2. Each group analyzes the building or site or design using all four elements
of the model of interpretation to produce 8-10 slides of research based critical
reflection. The interpretation must include a concluding page stating three
good study questions to pursue when on site (see #5 below).
3. Each group concurrently constructs a scale model of the building or site
to further enhance their understanding - graphics produce a metaphorical
interpretation in the form of a poster. Scales and format are decided together
with faculty. Plots of drawings are provided in 1:100 (buildings) and 1:200
(urban sites), students can scale up or down off the drawings. No additional
plots will be provided. Initial background information on the buildings/sites/
designs to start students off of is stored on Blackboard.
4. Each building or site or design is presented prior to the study tour to your
tour groups as a 10-15 min verbal and slide based group presentation of your
design understandings, with 5-10 minutes Q&A from the audience.
Think of the four elements of the model as four windows
into the work of architecture - you need to view through
all four.

3. DIS • Architecture and Design Assignment 01 Spring 2015
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Design Understood - Design Experienced
Course of action ctd.
5. On the study tour, each group is responsible for making a short presentation
of the building or site or design focusing on the three study questions (see #2
above) which your peers should reflect on when visiting.
Required Reading
Nygaard, Erik. Architecture Understood
Located on Blackboard
Assignment 1 Studio Placements
Faculty studio locations are listed below. See back page for student placement.
Initial Faculty Studio Location
BB Birgitte Borup F24-503
BC Bo Christiansen F24-503
BG Britt Gundersen F24-403
CDC Courtney Coyne-Jensen V5-41
EF Eva Frederiksen F24-503
HØ Heidi Østergaard F24-403
JH Jeanette Hendeliowitz V7-21
JN Jacob Nørløv V5-21
MD Martin Dahlbeck F24-403
MLH Marie-Louise Holst V7-11
RF Rasmus Frisk V5-11
RV Rune Veile F24-403
Jennifer Odedina Pratt Institute IA - Interior Design Bauhaus Master Villas EF
Meghan Ford Phil U AD - Architecture Bauhaus Master Villas EF
James Zidell U of Colorado AD - Environmental Design Bauhaus Master Villas EF
Allison Henry Columbia U PUD - Urban Studies Bauhaus Master Villas EF
Kevin MacDonald Cal Ploy, Pomona AD - Architecture Freiburg BC
Megan Van Artsdalen Tulane U AD - Arch, Environmental Freiburg BC
Danqing Guo MICA UD - Environmental Design Freiburg BC
Tessy Lopez Smith College PAD - Arch and Urbanism Freiburg BC
Maxwell Yousey Phil U AD - Architecture St. Gerold EF
Samara Petigrow Cornell U IA - Design and Env. Analysis St. Gerold EF
Rebecca Laudrup American U of Paris PAD - Fine Arts St. Gerold EF
Catherine Wisell Gettysburg College PAD - Theatre Arts St. Gerold EF
Jamie Elderkin Cal Poly, SLO AD - Architecture Thermal Vals BC
Alem Bukvic Conn College PAD - Architecture Thermal Vals BC
Luhua Liu Kansas State U AD - Architecture Thermal Vals BC
Kali Bruhnke U of Minnesota IA - Interior Design Thermal Vals BC
Emilio Munoz Cal Poly, Pomona AD - Architecture Vitra Haus HØ
Laura Cale Kansas State U IA - Interior Arch/Product Vitra Haus HØ
Elizabeth Wilford Dickinson College PAD - Studio Art Vitra Haus HØ
Natalie Punzak Yale University AD - Architecture Vitra Haus HØ
Hannah Miller Cal Poly, Pomona AD - Architecture Zaha Firestation HØ
Paulo Andrade Pratt Institute IA - Interior Design Zaha Firestation HØ
Margo Fredericks U of Minnesota AD - Architecture Zaha Firestation HØ
Yun Feng Trinity College PAD - Art History Zaha Firestation HØ
VAD
Switzerland -
Austria
Schedule
Day Date Time Event
Fr Jan 23 13:15 - 14:15 Meet with Studio Faculty
See blackboard for location
14:15 - 15:00 Introduction to Assignment 1
Location: Alexandersalen
15:00 - 17:00 Studio with Asn 1 Faculty
Tu Jan 27 13:15 - 17:00 Studio with Faculty
Fr Jan 30 13:15 - 17:00 Presentations of Assignment 1
Locations: Tour V: F24-306
Tour W: V7- Basement
Tour X: N7-A21
Tour Y: V7-41
Tour Z: N7-A23
17:00 - 18:00 Photos: Asn 1 Groups + Models
Location: F24-206
17:00 - 19:00 AD social
Location: V23 - 2nd Floor
Feb 28 - Mar 08 AD Long Tour (Presentations on Site)
Name University Program - Major Site Faculty

4. DIS • Architecture and Design Assignment 01 Spring 2015
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Design Understood - Design Experienced
Sweden - Finland
WAD
Muna El-Taha Wellesley College PUD - Architecture Chapel of the Holy Cross CDC
Zachary Williams Cal Poly, SLO AD - Architecture Chapel of the Holy Cross CDC
Kelsey Birchenall Pratt Institute IA - Interior Design Chapel of the Holy Cross CDC
Alison Grover Colby College PAD - Architecture Chapel of the Holy Cross CDC
Kyle Kithas Cal Poly, SLO AD - Architecture Hammerby Sjöstad RF
Sonya Sohyun Jeong Pratt Institute IA - Interior Design Hammerby Sjöstad RF
Wesley Moore Kansas State U UD - Landscape Architecture Hammerby Sjöstad RF
Frances Archbald Hampshire College PAD - Arch Studies/Art Hammerby Sjöstad RF
Samantha Aisawa Cal Poly, SLO AD - Architecture Helsinki U Library RF
Connor Davidge Cal Poly, SLO AD - Architecture Helsinki U Library RF
Zhixian Song Pratt Institute IA - Interior Design Helsinki U Library RF
Margaret Cochrane Middlebury College PAD - Architectural Studies Helsinki U Library RF
Ming Chen Cal Poly, SLO AD - Architecture Stadsbiblioteket RF
Yeon Gyu Jeong Pratt Institute IA - Interior Design Stadsbiblioteket RF
Maya Crosman U of Michigan PIA - Art and Design Stadsbiblioteket RF
Coleman Rutstein U of Missouri AD - Architectural Studies Stadsbiblioteket RF
Natacha Schnider Cal Poly, SLO AD - Architecture Woodland Chapel CDC
Kari Ostroot U of Oregon IA - Interior Architecture Woodland Chapel CDC
Julian Huertas Bowdoin College PAD - Visual Arts/Art History Woodland Chapel CDC
Sharon Heera An MICA AD - Architectural Design Woodland Chapel CDC
Katlin Amsler U of Minnesota IA - Interior Design Bauhaus School MLH
Sarah Bartosh CU Boulder AD - Environmental Design Bauhaus School MLH
Andrea Nichols U of Maryland PAD - Architecture Bauhaus School MLH
Adrian Newcomb Cal Poly, Pomona AD - Architecture Bauhaus School MLH
Karen Tang Cal Poly, Pomona AD - Architecture Beyeler RV
Ricardo Torres U of San Francisco AD - Architecture Beyeler RV
Rebeca Ontaneda Smith College PAD - Architecture Beyeler RV
Erin Swaney CU Boulder UD - Environmental Design Beyeler RV
Minjeong Kim Pratt Institute IA - Interior Design Kunsthaus Bregenz RV
Kevin Farrell Cal Poly, SLO AD - Architecture Kunsthaus Bregenz RV
Julia Wilcots Princeton U PAD - Civil/Env Engineering Kunsthaus Bregenz RV
Elissa Palmer Wesleyan U AD - Art Studio/Math Kunsthaus Bregenz RV
Claire Rozman U of Minnesota IA - Interior Design Gemeinde Ludesch MLH
Anna-Julia Plichta Mt. Holyoke College AD- Arch Studies and History Gemeinde Ludesch MLH
Stephanie Waterman College of Charleston PAD - Communication Gemeinde Ludesch MLH
Dalton Baker MICA AD - Architectural Design Gemeinde Ludesch MLH
Kady Murzin George Washington IA - Interior Arch/Design St. Benedicts (Sumvitg Chapel) RV
Julia Melendres Cal Poly, Pomona AD - Architecture St. Benedicts (Sumvitg Chapel) RV
Martin Chung Him Man Vassar College PAD - Art History St. Benedicts (Sumvitg Chapel) RV
Cameron Billinghurst Pratt Institute IA - Interior Design Vitra Seminar House MLH
Lucas Wolff CU Boulder AD - Environmental Design Vitra Seminar House MLH
Veronica Magner Phil U AD - Architecture Vitra Seminar House MLH
Sylvia Mosiany Smith College PUD - Arch and Urbanism Vitra Seminar House MLH
Austria -
Switzerland
ZAD
XAD
Name University Program - Major Site Faculty
Alvin Cheung Cal Poly, SLO AD - Architecture Kirkkojårvi School JN
Yeji Bang Pratt Institute UD - Interior Design Kirkkojårvi School JN
Maggie Cham Pratt Institute IA - Interior Design Kirkkojårvi School JN
Yiting Zeng H.W. Smith Colleges PAD - Architecture Kirkkojårvi School JN
Rebecca Chau Cal Poly, SLO AD - Architecture Kulturhuset- Sergels Torg JN
Thomas Walborn Cal Poly, SLO AD - Architecture Kulturhuset- Sergels Torg JN
Charlotte Fuss Conn College PAD - Architectural Studies Kulturhuset- Sergels Torg JN
Kathleen Hanley Harvard U PUD - History of Art/Arch Kulturhuset- Sergels Torg JN
Madeleine Osgood St. Olaf College GD - Studio Art/Religion Marikmekko BB
Emma Johnson St. Olaf College GD - Studio Art Marimekko BB
Annette Lee Cal Poly, SLO AD - Architecture Markuskyrkan BB
Tathya Abe Brown U PIA - Environmental Studies Markuskyrkan BB
Chuyang Zhou U of Minnesota AD - Architecture Markuskyrkan BB
Chi Wei Yang UC Berkeley IA - Architecture Markuskyrkan BB
Christian Frederiksen Cal Poly, SLO AD - Architecture St. Henry’s JN
Marianne Kim Pratt Institute IA - Interior Design St. Henry’s JN
Emma Whipple U of Michigan PAD - Design St. Henry’s JN
Camille Vantalon Cal Poly, SLO AD - Architecture Woodland Ressurection Chapel BB
Shizhen Tao Pratt Institute IA - Interior Design Woodland Ressurection Chapel BB
Jenna Sacks Phil U IA - Interior Design Woodland Ressurection Chapel BB
Jonas Luebbers Williams College PAD - Studio Art/Computer Sci. Woodland Ressurection Chapel BB
Sweden - Finland
Juliana McDermott Endicott College GD - Graphic Design Arne Jacobsen BG
Jenna Rothstein U of Michigan GD - Art Arne Jacobsen BG
Miles Brenninkmeijer Sarah Lawrence PGD -Visual Art/Psych Arne Jacobsen BG
Ellen Mesnik St. Olaf College PGD - Studio Art Arne Jacobsen BG
Sarah Jung Pacific Lutheran U PGD - Fine Arts Aros BG
Lauren Adams CU Boulder GD - Digital Art Aros BG
Qiao Mei Liu Binghamton U GD - Graphic Design Aros BG
Meredith Soychak CU Boulder GD - Advertising/Studio Art Brandts BG
Marianna Nowacki St. Michael’s College PGD - Media Studies Brandts BG
Jennifer Ford Bradley University GD - Graphic Design Brandts BG
Symone Fogg Georgetown U GD - English/Studio Art Eye Museum MD
Kristen Garbe U of Minnesota GD - Graphic Design Eye Museum MD
Helen Li Simmons College PGD - Marketing/Web Design Eye Museum MD
Jeffrey Chung Bowdoin College PGD - Art History/Visual Art Frame Magazine JH
Katherine Warwick Gettysburg College PGD - Studio Art Frame Magazine JH
Isabel Browne St. Edward’s U GD - Graphic Design Frame Magazine JH
Claire Schlenker Wellesley College PGD - Computer Science MOTI JH
Shelby Tanaka Phil U GD - Graphic Design MOTI JH
Cullen Whitmore U of Michigan GD - Art and Design MOTI JH
Cady Smith Pacific Lutheran U GD - Graphic Design Kunsthall Rotterdam MD
Zoe Pruitt U of Rochester PGD - Studio Art/Brain Science Kunsthall Rotterdam MD
Katherine Johnston U of Minnesota GD - Graphic Design Kunsthall Rotterdam MD
Robert Linkens Cornell U GD - Design and Env. Analysis Stedelijk Museum JH
Hannah Palese Phil U GD - Graphic Design Stedelijk Museum JH
Jill Beers U of Vermont PGD - Studio Art Stedelijk Museum JH
YAD
Netherlands