COURSE INFORMATION
Course Title: ADVANCED DESIGN STUDIO I
Code Course Type Regular Semester Theory Practice Lab Credits ECTS
ARCH 401 B 7 4 4 0 6 10
Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) NA
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: M.Sc. Julian Beqiri jbeqiri@epoka.edu.al , Wednesday, 9:30-10:30 am
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: NA
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours: NA
Language: English
Compulsory/Elective: Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered) Integrated second cycle study program in Architecture (5 years)
Classroom and Meeting Time: S04. Monday +Thursday 8:45-12:45
Code of Ethics: Code of Ethics of EPOKA University
Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement: N/A
Course Description: Development of personalized processes of data collection, analysis and building programming which reflect the nature and interests of designers; development of ability of applying the knowledge about structures, construction and detailing all trough the design process by design problems; control of the ability of developing complicated programs for buildings - building groups in complicated environments and finding relevant design solutions.
Course Objectives: - Integrating a deep research in the design process - The importance of a comprehensive understanding of the context - Analytical and critical thinking - Creativity and innovation in design - Dealing with complex phenomena - Concept development - Graphical representation - Teamwork - Awareness for social responsibility of architecture [co-living concept]
BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE
1 RESEARCH / PROCESS / DESIGN
2 The course comprises two distinct units: Research and Design, where the Studio is the key site of design learning and its first testing ground.
3 The process is developed by harmonizing unique trajectories through the profession of architecture and beyond, while maintaining an interdisciplinary thinking approach.
4 ARCH 401 Advanced Design Studio aims at navigating uncertainty in the creative process of designing, the assembling of new ideas and the search for the appropriate ways to align architecture with other cultural and social fields.
COURSE OUTLINE
Week Topics
1 Introduction – Delivering Project Brief. Ted Talks
2 Warm-up: Representation of Themes
3 Understanding the Context + Developing Theoretical Background
4 Understanding the Context + Developing Theoretical Background
5 Preliminary Jury I
6 Understanding the Context+ Developing the concept. First concepts about the program
7 Developing the concept. Integration of the concept with the context
8 Developing the concept. Integration of the concept with the context
9 Developing the concept. Concept development in urban scale
10 Preliminary Jury II
11 Developing the concept. Concepts in intermediate scale
12 Developing the concept+ project. concepts in architectural scale +footprints
13 Developing the concept+ project. Concepts+ 1:500 scale drawings+ model
14 Developing the concept+ project. Concepts+ 1:500 scale drawings+ model
Prerequisite(s):
Textbook(s): Jacobs, J., The death and life of great American cities. New York: Random House and Vintage Books, 1961. Lynch, K., A theory of good city form. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1981. Alexander, C., Ishikawa, S., and Silverstein, M., A pattern language: towns, buildings, construction. New York: Oxford University Press, 1977. Gehl, J., ‘Cities for People’. London: Island Press, 2010. Lynch, K. (1960) The image of the City, MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts Debord, G. (1967) The Society of the Spectacle, New York Conde, Y. (1994) Architecture of the Indeterminacy, Pallasmaa, J. (2005) Eyes Of The Skin, Great Britain Eisenman, P. Diagram_An Original Scene of Writing pp. 83-103. Alexander, Ch. (1977), A Pattern Language
Additional Literature:
Laboratory Work:
Computer Usage: yes
Others: No
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
1 Holistic Analytical Thinking in design process
2 Multidisciplinary design process understanding
3 Producing multi-scale design proposals
4 Dealing with social and and environmental design problems
COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES
(Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)
No Program Competencies Cont.
Integrated second cycle study program in Architecture (5 years) Program
COURSE EVALUATION METHOD
Method Quantity Percentage
Presentation
2
20
Project
1
35
Attendance
0
Other
1
25
Total Percent: 100%
ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)
Activities Quantity Duration(Hours) Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours) 16 8 128
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) 16 8 128
Mid-terms 2 8 16
Assignments
Final examination 1 8 8
Other 1 20 20
Total Work Load:
300
Total Work Load/25(h):
12
ECTS Credit of the Course:
10
CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER

The Advanced Design Studio I (ARCH 401) serves as a laboratory for architectural innovation while firmly contributing to the core of architectural education itself. Therefore, emphasizing human diversity and behavior and the relationship with the physical environment can better address the societal roles and responsibilities of the future architects.