Introduction

The world of architecture is multi-faceted. It combines the world of engineering with the world of fine art as the architect strives not only to fulfill the functional needs of the client but also ensure that the structures fit into the environment in a positive way.

The Task

You will be using online information to learn about several buildings and some of the leading architects in the world.

When studying the buildings, you will do so with an eye toward both the "form" and the "function" of the structure.

As you look at the architects pay attention to where they received their training, what other architects or architectural movements influenced their work, what their design philosophy is, and what buildings they are especially known for.

You will be creating a report on one architect with a focus on one of their buildings.

The Resources

Use the following sites for this assignment:


The Great Buildings Collection

Wikipedia article on architects

Wikipedia list for famous architects

Architecture Week Online

The American Institute of Architects



The Process

Start by creating a new folder in the My Documents folder on your computer. Give this folder your name. You will save everything for this assignment in this new folder.

Visit the Great Buildings Collection site. Explore what you find on architects and buildings, keeping in mind the requirements listed in "The Task" section above.

Next, look at the Wikipedia sites to help you select an architect. Once you have selected an architect, sign up for that architect on the sign-up sheet in the classroom. Do not sign-up for an architect who has already been selected.

You will be building a short presentation on your architect using presentation software. We will use the OpenOffice presentation tool for this. Go through the sites that pertain to your architect and copy images of their buildings and save them in your folder. Find information about the architect's life, schooling, influences and type that up in a word processor and save that document in your folder.

Launch the OpenOffice presentation tool and assemble a set of slides that your will use in your short talk about the architect. A few slides about the architect's life and a half dozen showing their building should be sufficient. The length of your talk will only be a few minutes.




If you have time, you can use the Great Buildings Collection site to view 3D walkthroughs of many buildings. To view the walkthroughs you need to have DesignWorkShop installed on your computer, which it already is. You will find it by clicking on Start->Programs and looking through your computer's list of installed applications. Open it up and you can use it to view walkthroughs that you can download.

Downloading:

  • Locate the Spatial Model on the site. Select the "Platform Neutral Download" by clicking on it.

  • When the browser prompts you for what to do with the file, select to save it.

  • The Downloads dialog box while appear and show you the downloading status. When it's done, close that window.

  • The file should now be on your computer's desktop. You can open it with DesignWorkShop.

The Evaluation

You will be evaluated on the completeness of your presentation. Be sure to include the information required as shown in "The Task" section above

The Conclusion

As a result of participating in this assignment you should have a better understanding that the world of architecture, the relationship of form to function, and be familiar with the background of at least one known architect.



Go to the main Drafting Assignment page