msa BA2 2011|2012

Design Report 4


The authoring of Design Report 4 gives you the opportunity to document and record the processes
of research, analysis and design you have undertaken in order to solve the series of architectural
problems set in Project 4.0. The report provides the opportunity to justify the design decisions you
have made and to be reflective about your own developing design process and learning. The report
is intended to compliment your portfolio submission, not to replicate it. We work in a visual
environment and the strength of your sketches, diagrams and analytical drawing is important here,
as are your editing skills. Your report should be thorough in exploration but concise in explanation. It
should indicate the stages of reflection and amendment, through self development, peer review and
studio feedback.
Output

The design report should be written clearly and concisely in a report style, not as a diary. It is
however a journal; the term implying an amount of reflection on actions performed during the
design process. Record each stage of what you do by scanning or photography, build an image bank
of research and development as you progress, consider each image with regard what it
communicates about your work.
The report should be written using the section headings overleaf. Each section should have a body of
text describing the research and processes undertaken and should be accompanied by drawings /
diagrams / images etc. which are clearly labelled and referenced within the text.
The design report should be an A4 bound document, to include a digital copy of the full report.
[Keep another digital copy for yourself.] Please check your disks are readable.
All text should be typed and checked for spelling and grammar. Students who have problems with
report writing should consult with Helen Bowman, the faculty student support officer.
Assessment Criteria

The overall learning outcomes and assessment criteria for Design Studio 4 are listed in the unit
proforma in the 2010-2011 BA Definitive Document.

Submission

The design report should be submitted to the CWRO Personnel, JD West, between 2 and 3p.m. on
23
rd
April 2012, with a completed submission form. Please put your name on your CD + case, which
will be separated upon submission from your bound copy.

Remember to allow time for printing and binding as this will not be an acceptable excuse for a late
submission.





Order of Contents

0.0 Cover | Contents | Key Image
1.0 Introduction | Design Statement
2.0 Analysis of Texts and Precedents
3.0 Contextual Analysis
4.0 Programme Analysis
5.0 The Argument for the `Generation` of Form
6.0 Structural Solution | Building Technology
7.0 Environmental Performance
8.0 Servicing Strategies
9.0 External Envelope | Internal Finishes
10.0 General Arrangement Drawings
11.0 Reflection
12.0 References + Bibliography

0.0 Cover

The cover of the design report should have the following information:
Student name
Title of project
Studio tutor name
Year of study

1.0 Introduction

The Design report is set out in ten sections and forms a concise reference to your ability to
`generate` an architectural form and inform structure and materiality through assessment, analysis,
research and development.
Section 1.0 forms the introduction to the report and, as a preface, should provide an overview of the
subsequent material. It is an opportunity for you to introduce yourself and `frame` the whole report
by making reference to the key investigations that arose from the content of each successive brief.
This is where you may consider the accumulated learning from the series of design briefs. A preface
of this kind allows you to make reference to any ideological position and is useful in providing an
interpretation of, and reflection upon, your personal development within the programme.
You should describe the Project Brief, the location and issues of context in a succinct text. You may
accompany the description with a location plan at an appropriate scale.
You should make reference to the development of your theoretical understanding, investigative,
exploratory, analytical and developmental skills, and the extension of your architectural vocabulary
or other factors that you consider to be of general significance to your developing appreciation of
architectural design within the context of Semester 2.
The introduction should be presented as structured text. It will demonstrate that you are aware of
`how` you learn in a generic or abstract way. The subsequent sections present evidence of the
specific skills, techniques, methodologies, references employed and positions developed.

2.0 Analysis of Texts and Precedents

The examination of material for exploration, investigation and inspiration can be critical to
designers. It may be pragmatic texts about complex Japanese timber joints or theoretical texts that
speculate on near futures, it may be the work of artists, filmmakers, photographers or the local
authority, whatever this is that you read, enquire about, develop is valuable as precedent.
There will be key texts or buildings or works that have informed your work, this is the opportunity to
describe your understanding of these and the impact you perceive this as having | had | will have at
various stages of the project.

3.0 Contextual analysis

The recording and analysis of the circumstances of the general location and specific site for a
building is a significant process in generating an understanding that informs the initiation of design
strategies. Your design briefs have more specific explanations of the nature of context and the issues
specific to this project. This section is concerned with how this process was undertaken, the skills
and techniques employed, and an evaluation of the developed understanding that resulted.

Suggested methodologies
Sequentially describe the range of processes, techniques or methods used to record and develop
descriptive `models` of the physical context for your project. How do you re-represent your site?
Make particular reference to research, representational or analytic skills acquired or employed in
the process. Did you learn to map territory, did you gather and analyse data concerning the
characteristics of the site?
Conclude your analysis with a statement and/or diagrams that demonstrate the output of
your contextual investigations.
You are required to use illustrations and summary diagrams that exemplify the process but
avoid reproducing your sketchbook and/or portfolio the objective here is to provide a
concise and coherent reference to your methodology. This is critical to the legibility of this
section of your report.
Consider: land use | landscape features | infrastructure | access | views | sight lines | sunpath |
prevailing wind | climate data | topology


4.0 Programme analysis

The analysis of the circumstances of building users as represented in the `programme` is a significant
process in generating an understanding that informs the initiation of design strategies.
This section is concerned with how this process was undertaken, the skills and techniques employed
and an evaluation of the resultant developed understanding.

Suggested methodologies
Sequentially describe the range of processes, techniques or methods used to record and develop
descriptive `models` of the programme for your project. Did you select and analyse programmatic
precedent? Did you consider different user groups?
Make particular reference to research, representational or analytic skills acquired or
employed in the process. Did you access the Controlled Documents of the Building
Regulations to develop your project? Did you produce diagrams that told you new
information about your precedent that informed your design?
Conclude your analysis with a statement and/or diagrams that demonstrate the output of
your investigations into programme. Evaluate the way that your understanding and/or
ability to interpret programme developed as a function of the descriptive or analytic
processes.
Consider: user groups | spatial requirements [area + volume] | sequential experience | circulation |
learning spaces | proximities | economy | efficiency

5.0 The Argument for the `Generation` of Form

A range of possibilities for `form` will have arisen from your enquiries into context, programme and
texts | precedents undertaken in studio and set out individually in the preceding sections of this
report. These possibilities will have taken root in design development. You will have exercised
judgement that integrates and unifies these generative potentials into a formal design proposal. This
section is concerned with your ability to explain and present the compound argument embodied in
your design proposal.

Suggested methodologies
Sequentially order and present a series of studies based on your substantially complete design
proposal that explain the `form` in terms of the relationships established with its physical context
and the organisation of programme.
Include references to specific texts | precedents that support the setting out of your
argument centred on `context` and `programme`.
The explanation of your design should be represented graphically with explanatory
annotation. The objective is to explain your design in ideograms, diagrams and other
strategic images rather than reproduce design drawings that will appear in your portfolio.
Three dimensional sketches and photographs of study models with additional annotation
may be useful explanatory tools.

6.0 Structural Solution | Building Technology

In this section you will explain the development of your structural, material and technological
strategies.

Structure
Use diagrams and images of models to explain your approach to and development of a structural
system. This should include a formal representation of your final structural proposal, a physical
model + a 3D CAD model or drawing.

Material
Making reference to studies and to precedent analysis you should explain your material choices for
your structure, envelope and interior.

Technology
Use diagrams and drawings to illustrate the technology of your building.
Consider: openings | security | ventilation | heating | lighting | components | drainage | acoustics

Your commentary text + diagrams should address the following questions:

What type of foundation have you specified + why?
How does your building stand up? Is it a load-bearing, framed or hybrid structure?
What type of structural material have you selected + why?
What are the construction | buildability issues associated with the choice that you have
made?
What sustainability issues are associated with the choices you have made?



7.0 Environmental Performance

The aim of this section is to examine all environmental aspects of your building. This should include
site | orientation, material choice, ventilation, lighting + acoustic strategies, environmental energy
systems [passive heating | cooling | ventilation], water recycling + waste systems. You should also
include your completed Design Profile form [available to download from the msa DS4 moodle page]
and include it within this section.

Environmental Considerations: Site
Reviewing your selected site only, with reference to research material + site observation, prepare +
diagram site analysis that demonstrates that you have identified environmental factors that
represent generators or constraints in developing environmental strategies.
Show how you have considered: sunpath |prevailing wind direction | local conditions | landscape
topography | issues of exposure | noise | air quality | view | temperature + any factors that may
affect this [shading/wind exposure etc.]
Environmental Considerations: Programme
Review the spaces in your building programme in terms of the environmental criteria that need to
be achieved to establish appropriate conditions for building users. Communicate this in schedule or
table format. List as a set of bullet points all spaces contained in the building programme + activity |
use. For each space list the environmental conditions and requirements.
Clearly identify any special environmental conditions for key spaces, for example: spaces generate
heat, produce, spaces that need either blackout and natural light.
Consider: heating | cooling | humidity | natural + artificial lighting [general illumination in relation
to specific task] | acoustics + ventilation.

Environmental Systems: Heating, Cooling + Ventilation
The objective is to present coherent and reasoned strategies for the integration of environmental
systems that are viable + consistent within overall design strategies. Annotation should set out the
argument for the strategies described by drawings in all sections.
Annotated diagrams [e.g. plan/section/axonometric] should show:
Location of energy sources + routes to output devices for heating system.
Typical ventilation strategies. Indicate spaces with particular ventilation needs/approaches
[toilets, showers etc].
Identify and indicate strategies for summer cooling where appropriate.


Environmental Systems: Lighting
Diagram using sketches your lighting strategy showing both passive and electrical lighting conditions.
Demonstrate user needs to specific lighting considerations + seasonal adaptations.

Environmental Systems: Water + Waste Systems
Draw diagrams of your building to show:
Location of drainage within the building [foul | grey water]
Location of rainwater | surface drainage | recycling
Location of refuse collection | on-site recycling
Location + distribution of water heating [hot + cold pipe runs within the building]


Integrated Environmental Design
Attention should be drawn to the potential or need for adaptation and the ways in which users can
control or modify their environment. Note: diurnal and seasonal requirements/operation, as well as
adaptability for future changes of layout/use. Lifespan + potential for recycling.


8.0 Servicing Strategies

Use diagrams and drawings to illustrate the technology of your building. You should draw simplified
schematic diagrams for each of the following:
ventilation | heating | lighting | components | drainage | acoustics


9.0 External Envelope | Internal Finishes

Making reference to studies and to precedent analysis you should explain your material choices for
your envelope and interior.

You should draw a 3D representation of one structural bay of your chosen case study. It should
include a window or door opening. Show interfaces between external cladding and primary
structural components at ground and/or upper floor level [show make-up of external skin]. All
building components must have key or annotation. This should be an exploded axonometric or
isometric that clearly shows all of the following:

Foundation
Primary structure
Secondary structure
Claddings [external]
Linings [internal]
Prefabricated components | equipment | services

You should also demonstrate the build-up within the envelope of the following performance criteria
by means of annotation [you may describe hot and cold air using arrows and DPMs as a dashed line]:

Damp proofing
Fire protection
Insulation [thermal]
Ventilation (within envelope | internal | external | trickle ventilation]


10.0 General Arrangement Drawings

Here you will simply provide the images and drawings which best describe your scheme in light of
the arguments and ideas explored through earlier chapters. Typically this may include a plan, a
section, a model and a 3D montage/render. You should explain the value of each selected image
with reference to earlier development work.


11.0 Reflection

Reflect critically on the methods, experiments and results of your design development. Consider the
success of your analysis, research and process and describe the areas that could be refined if you
work in a similar way in the future.


12.0 References + Bibliography

Provide a complete list of references appropriately cited using a recognised system.
Distinguish between:
Directed references [issued in studio lectures and tutorials]
Self directed references [identified personally]
Peer references [via blog, studio etc.]
List your references as:
Books [specify chapters or extracts where appropriate]
Periodicals [specify precedents or articles]
Web sources
Visited buildings | exhibitions
Credits

The production of a design report is an integral part of your assessment in Design Studio 4,
contributing 10 credits of the 40 credit total for the unit.
The learning outcomes and assessment criteria are consistent with Design Studio 4 [see BA Definitive
Document 2011-2012].

Content

The content and structure of the report should be set out as Sections 1.0 12.0 [see attached].
Please note that all references and quotations must be properly cited using a recognised referencing
system [e.g. Harvard System].

Output

The format of the report is A4 [to include A3 fold out sheets if necessary]. All text should be typed,
spell checked and organised in an easily digestible format [not in essay format containing large
amounts of unstructured text]. The report specifically requires the use of illustrative material
[ideograms, sketches, diagrams, photographic reproduction etc.]. Illustrative material should be
clear, legible, appropriately referenced and annotated and carefully organised to read coherently
with related text.
As a guide, the report should be 2500 words [excluding bibliography]. You should keep a personal
copy of the full report.

Submission

The report should be submitted to the CWRO Personnel, JD West, between 2-3p.m. on 23
rd
April
2012.