ARCH5131C Topical Studies in Design Theory – Plan Matters
Target Students BSSc1, BSSc2, BSSc3, BSSc4, MArch1, MArch2
Course Term 2
Course Type Elective
Teacher(s) TAM, Sin-lung Nelson
This course seeks to investigate the strategies employed in contemporary architecture for spatial organization, with a specific focus on their representation in floor plans. The use of plans as a medium for this study is particularly significant, as it reflects the emphasis that Le Corbusier placed on this aspect of architectural design. In his seminal work, “Towards a New Architecture”, Le Corbusier declared that "the Plan is the generator", highlighting the importance of order and intentionality in the creation of architectural space.
Through a focused study of a curated collection of plans, this course aims to establish a comprehensive body of knowledge on the strategies employed for spatial organisation in architecture. Specifically, we will examine the graphic expression of spatial organisation, the relationship between spatial organisation and spatial quality in our chosen design cases, and the ways in which spaceorganising strategies interact with other architectural aspects, such as enclosure, structure, program, and material expression.
By engaging in this rigorous analysis of spatial organization in architecture, we target to deepen our understanding of the fundamental principles that underpin successful architectural design.
