Material, Atmosphere and Ambience

The seminar introduces understanding of atmosphere and ambience in the discourse of material practice in architecture. The materials are contextual and cultural manifestation tool of architecture in  addition to its pragmatic function that forms the basis for construction means and methods, It carries with it, a long history of human civilization and its tradition. The seminar aims to imbed material practice into the history and culture of its origin, resource utilization, craftsmanship, fabrication and its role in performance within building assembly. We will look at the materials from the lens of various global crisis such as environmental issues, economy, politics of manufacturing, use of natural resources and its life cycle. Examples and precedents are introduced to the seminar to discuss strategies for adaptation, rehabilitation, restoration, conservation, regeneration and preservation techniques.  Material practice carries affects such as cultural ambience and atmosphere. It includes effects of acoustics, lighting, tactility and aesthetics. The seminar aims to bring forth more comprehensive, complex and holistic understanding of material and materiality which has different degree of impact at various scale of events from personal to communal to local to global.

In addition, we will look at a range of materials and its fabrication methods ( hand made, mechanical and digital ) in different economies from vernacular building materials and building techniques to new and advanced contemporary material explorations.

The seminar is meant to be a survey of diverse material practice and each student will be expected to choose one material to work on a research of its application and possibilities for its incorporation into a  contemporary practice.