Study Programmes 2015-2016
ARCH1621-1  
Workshop A : Projects between object and architecture - furniture
Duration :
48h Pr
Number of credits :
Master in architecture (120 ECTS)4
Master in architecture (120 ECTS)4
Lecturer :
Aloys Beguin, Olivier Fourneau, Luc Mabille
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
General framework of studio 1-1 A : 
Students will study a variety of small scale projects, located in satellite areas of architecture: furniture, urban furniture and public facilities, specific interior fixtures, (commercial and museum spaces...), temporary architecture, spatial scenography, factual architecture, innovative forms of architecture, approach to industrialization and modular architecture etc.
 
 
Through the choice of the nature and scale of these projects, the workshop will give students the opportunity to develop a specific function on an intermediate scale between the object and architecture, using their imagination and technical skills.
Insofar as possible, the projects chosen should be "achievable" in order to stimulate and raise the students' awareness of the responsibilities of the architect, in order to put them in contact with a contractor and to appreciate all the constraints inherent in constructing a piece of architecture.
Insofar as possible, some projects will also be chosen from the competition of ideas or cultural events in order to allow students to familiarize themselves with and take an interest in this kind of work and to develop the communication aspect of their project.
The exercises will be varied in scale and objective, placing the emphasis both on the idea and the overall concept, on development and technical skill and on the quality of the presentation.
Specifically,
The workshop ARCH1621 concerns design and realization of a piece of FURNITURE
  The exercise's purpose will be to design a piece of furniture and ensure its completion on a real scale in accordance with the financial and logistical skills of the architecture's student.
In 2015-2016, the workshop takes as subject a creative research for development of furniture prototypes of a small public district's library. The discussion is conducted in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism /education to reading, of Liege city.
Learning outcomes of the course :
The aim of the workshop is to complete basic architectural training through more targeted training in operational aspects of architecture, to allow students to develop a coherent concept from the initial idea of the overall project through to the last detail, up to the precise implementation of the project bringing together composition, formulation, technical ability, evaluation of costs and creative sensitivity.
The aim is to achieve a high quality project and to analyse the quality of ideas, the quality of form, consistency of implementation, technical skills and quality of communication.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
The workshop uses theoretical and practical knowledge from the first three years of the Baccalaureat in the fields of construction, technology of materials and equipment. Interest, curiosity and student creativity, for the specific fields concerned by the projects covered, are required. Basic knowledge of a wide range of materials and techniques used in construction and in the fields of furnishings and finishings is required. Sensitivity to the social sciences in general is to be included in the project (sociological, psychological and cultural fields) should encourage consistency.


Mandatory supplementary courses:
The technical information course 1625 must be linked to the 1621 workshop.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
The workshop takes place basically through the practice involved in the project i.e. the process of reflection based on personal investment of the student and resolution of a question, supported by follow-up and the advice of the teaching staff.
The workshop operates specifically through:
* Introductory presentations to subjects;
* Analysis of reference projects to stimulate reflection.
* Discussion and individualized guidance on projects, group discussions.
* Information spots as and when recurring questions crop up;
* Possible use of information from external resource people
* Integration and application of the technical part as well as the part on cost and feasibility.
The workshop covers a semester and  includes a real achievement or prototype making.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
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Recommended or required readings :
There is no syllabus or compulsory bibliography.
Students' curiosity will be stimulated in the following fields:
* Journals and thematic publications relating to specific areas covered in the projects developed.
* Manuals and technical documents.
* Visits to workshops and use of external advisors from specific fields of the profession.
* Analytical studies on the use and significance of space and form.
* In-depth analysis of exemplary creations
Assessment methods and criteria :
Attendance at the workshop is compulsory in order to allow for continuous monitoring of the student's work
The criteria for assessment are:
-Value of the student's commitment to the project, as shown through all documents produced throughout the project: preliminary analyses, supporting technical files, documentation, research models
-The ability to manage and organize work and to put forward suggestions
-The final quality of the synthesis between the idea, the formal composition, technical skills and communication
The assessment stages and their weighting will be defined  according to specificity of the project: preparatory analytical work sketches / draft project, models and mock-up 1-1 / final prototype and project.
The final assessment  will be conducted by the teaching staff and possibly by specific resources persons. Students will orally present their work (final prototype of furniture) on the basis of graphic material and models or files which they have created.
2nd sesssion of the examination is to take over and improve the result in mitigating the criticisms made during the evaluation.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
The workshop will include  an actual creation or a prototype.
The programme is subject to adaptation according to the number of participants in the workshop and by consultation with them.
Schedule for the 2015-2016 workshop:
The workshop takes place in the 1st semester by 12 sessions of 4 hours, with final jury at the end of the semester.
Depending on its difficulty, the project is carried either individually or by duets or trios, in agreement with teachers.
Contacts :
aloys beguin architecte (00)32+4 2221430 email : aloys.beguin@ulg.ac.be