Course Description. Learning Objectives

Transcription

1 Dalhousie University School of Architecture ARCH 6504: Montage in Architecture 3 credit hours Winter Ken Kam (ken.kam@dal.ca) Thursday, 9:00 12:00, Room HA-18 Course Description This class examines the history, concepts, and uses of montage in architectural representation. It also considers how digital photography and computer technology can generate various forms of montage for analyzing, representing, and developing architectural designs. Additional Course Description This course is a critical examination of montage/photomontage of architectural representation in the modern world. It develops the use of digital images in architectural design work. It also provides a detailed examination of current digital photographic equipment, software and practices, including capturing, editing, and manipulating images. In addition, storage options and digital printing will be examined. With any new computer digital technology there is an old analog origin, and photography is no exception. Students are often thrown into digital technology with little or no regard for how images are being created. This course combines the old and the new process (digital photography/laser engraver) of three different media: black and white photographic prints, digital prints, and block printing/photograving. Photomontage and montage have long been practiced in architectural representation. Now, with computer technology, digital media can combine hand drawing, photography, 3D modeling, etc. in an almost seamless way to express architectural ideas, similar to a cinematic matte painting. This crosses disciplinary boundaries of various arts, including painting, photography, sculpture and drawing. Learning Objectives 1) Students will complete the course with a good understanding of the culture and history of photomontage. 2) Students will learn to use fragments of different landscapes, buildings, places, people, and environments to assemble a graphic illustration and/ or model. Students will also use their photographic, design and 3D modeling skills to create a digital illustration. They will also gain and/or further their knowledge of using the 3D printer, laser engraving machine and multiple large format printers. Furthermore, by the end of the course, students will have a greater ability to express design ideas through digital media. They will also have a deeper understanding of the relevant hardware and software for digital input and output. 3) Students will develop research skills and creative and post-production skills through the use of different technical equipment (i.e., lighting, camera movement/position, computer editing, laser cutting machine, CNC router) in their projects. 1

2 1) Photographic Montage in a Grid Structure: Bernd and Hilla Becher s photographic works use grid format typologies to focus attention on the uniformity of certain motifs and at the same time to display the diversity possible within a set form. Robert Smithson uses arrays of photographs in grid-like formations to study a landscape. David Hockney uses photographic prints to assemble dense collages describing landscape, interiors, and people. Students will use the grid structure or related methods to examine a site or landscape. The resulting photographic montage will examine ideas of space, time, memories, and functions. Montage in Architecture 2017/18 Winter Katsushika Hokusai - 36 views of Mount Fuji Assignment 1 This assignment is to get you thinking about the theory and practice of using multiple images to convey an idea. You will create a montage. This montage will be a grouping of images with a particular idea or subject. What: Research the artist and reflect on how they are related to your current work (if there is no relationship...that s o.k.). How: From the lecture select two or three artists with whom you relate, or are interested in. Research the artists work Gather or take images of your current thesis work (plan, section, pictures, site plan, etc...), the more the better. Create a framework by comparing your own images and the artists work, e.g. I like the work of the Bechers, therefore I am taking multiple images of a complex machinery or, I like the work of Hokusai - 36 views of Mount Fuji, therefore I am taking pictures of 36 views of Citadel hill (if that s what your thesis topic is about) Create a theme and variation for your framework. e.g. maybe I can take detailed photographs of the complex machinery and place them together in a grid structure. Objective: The resulting photographic montage must examine the ideas of space, time, memories, and functions. Format: digital or print 2 Montage by: Glen Nicholson 3

3 Montage by: Mark Dainow Montage by: Elijah Lukac 4 5

4 2) Digital photo collages/illustrations: Fragments of landscape, environment, vegetation, people, and lighting are used in architectural illustration. Students will develop ideas and skills, developed from previous parts of the course, to examine and create a digital illustration. Montage in Architecture 2017/18 Winter Assignment 2 This assignment is to get you thinking about the theory and practice of layers and perspectives. What: The choice of medium for visualizing an idea is something that faces all students of architecture and urban design. Each medium and style option that you select will influence how your idea is seen and understood. For assignment 2, create three digital photographic compositions of an environment, a space and/or an idea. How: You are to create three pieces of work : 1. Create a b&w extended street scape. (a practice in perspectives and layers) 2. Switching objects and backgrounds. 3. Create a panorama photograph using different elements. (based on cinematic matte painting layers theory) Material: You can download free and high resolution images from the Library of Congress website ( You can scan new photographs Photographs of your site Format: TBA Digital illustration by: Matte Griffin 6 7

5 Digital Montage by: Alastair Bird Digital Montage by: Sara Deter 8 9

6 3) Three-dimensional model or scene Construct a three-dimensional model (diorama) or scene that depicts or describes an idea, a landscape, an architectural structure/element or a fictitious scene. It can be a static model or it can be interactive with moving parts. Montage in Architecture 2017/18 Winter Technical / Media / Format: An exploration of material in how to convey your idea is encouraged. 1. CNC carving on different material, i.e. plastic, aluminum and or wood. 2. The use of laser engraver (image rastering/cutting) 3. 3D printing Assignment 3 This assignment is to get you thinking about the process of transferring a two dimensional image to a three dimensional form. What: Construct a three-dimensional model or scene that depicts or describes an idea, a landscape, an architectural structure/element or a fictitious scene. It can be a static model or it can be interactive with moving parts. The primary aim is to create a three-dimensional space using two-dimensional photographs or illustrations. How: You can use any material or methods to construct the model. (refer to images shown in class) Rules: Maximum volume size cannot exceed 275 inch (6.5 x 6.5 x 6.5 inches) Objectives: 1. Develop a further understanding of digital translation from two-dimensional drawing to a three-dimensional model/diorama 2. Develop a further understanding of image fragmentation, assemblage, and composition 3. Express architectural ideas through digital media Due Date: TBA 3D model by: Beth MacLeod Model by : Kevin Hu 10 11

7 3D model by: Matthew Kijewski 3D model by: Matthew Kijewski 12 13

8 Timeline Week 1 - Jan First day of class 2 - Jan Professional Practice Week: Jan (no other classes) 3 - Jan Feb. 1 - assignment 1 due 5 - Feb Feb Feb Study Break (no classes Feb ) 8 - Mar. 1- assignment 2 due 9 - Mar Mar Mar Mar assignment 3 due Evaluation Criteria Students grades will be based on class attendance, class participation, the quality and punctuality of written or photographic assignments, and your overall improvement. Ken Kam will be grading the assignments and projects. Components 10% - Class participation: assessed by classroom attendance, preparation for class presentations, and contribution to class discussions based on your work and own experience. 90% - Assignments: Project 1-30% Project 2-30% Project 3-30% Grades A, A or A+: Excellent technically and conceptually, communicates well to others, attention to detail and craftsmanship, good skill development. B or B+: Good work. Some technical problems and/or problems communicating concept. Skill development, good ideas. B : Complete all assignments, average work, average concept development, basic skills. Technical problems. F: Unacceptable work, deficient in most respects. Very late or no work. Assignment Objectives The projects in this course are intended to enable you to improve your digital photographic skills and in return to enhance your architectural representation skill through the use of images. Generally each project includes at least three kinds of objectives: (1) subject matter communication (meaning), (2) aesthetics (composition), and (3) technical mastery (skill). Some Guidelines for Project Critiques and Evaluation - Creativity - Originality - Simplicity - Understanding of design elements: balance, focal point, etc. - Content - What are we looking at? - What are you telling us? - Is it worth looking at? - Is it important? - Technique - Evidence of technical control - Concept - Does it fulfill the assignment? How well? - Presentation - Clean print - Does the presentation work with the concept? Submissions All projects consist of multiple image printouts and will be displayed in class or the Exhibition Room (if available). You can use the Faculty s print shop to produce your images but it is not mandatory. After the presentation please hand in all of your prints and make sure your name is on every piece of work you submit. Ken Kam 2 Oct Late Submissions Assignments are due on the date assigned. For every class that your assignment is late, your grade on the assignment will drop by one level - e.g. from B to B- (unless you have a written note from a doctor)