Materials in Architectural Design Education Software: A Case Study

2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jules Moloney ◽  
Rajaa Issa

Most CAAD software in use for architectural education relies heavily on abstract geometry manipulation to create architectural form. Building materials are usually applied as finishing textures to complement the visual effect of the geometry. This paper investigates the limitations of commonly used CAAD software in terms of encouraging an intuitive thinking about the physical characteristics of building materials in the context of the educational design studio. The importance of the link between representation and creativity is noted. In order to sample the current functionality of typical software used in architectural education a case study involving 80 first year architecture students is presented. These outcomes are discussed and the possibility for new or extended software features are suggested. The paper concludes with an argument for design software that redresses the balance between geometry and materials in architectural design education.

Author(s):  
Emel Birer

First year architectural design education can be started with various methods which, through testing within different studio studies, can also give ideas as to how to start architectural education. This study will address the contributions, and results of starting first-year architecture education with game as a mediator.  When they start their architectural education, students will have their own unique experiences of form, and space gained since their childhood in their built environment. Therefore, in order to refine the students’ perceptions on their built environments at the beginning of the education process, it’s necessary to provide them with opportunities that will give them confidence in what they can do about form and space. The aim of this paper is to emphasize the importance of the first year in architectural design education, and to discuss the beginning methods, considerate student, tutor and educational factors together. Thus, the game selected to start the architectural education with the purpose of activating the gaming instinct of the student is the “City Game”. The findings of this study provide guidelines for tutors to set up a favorable learning environment from the city and that cooperative learning can be enjoyable by the game for the students.Keywords: design education, game, mediator, first year architectural education 


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Ayebeng Botchway

<p>Computer software has come to replace the manual form of designing in both architectural education and practice. The use of drawing boards had been employed in architectural education and practice for a long time. Since the first half of the twentieth century, computer hardware and corresponding software have seen dramatic change and development manufactured and tailored to meet the demand of changing technological and human needs. Architecture has had its fair share since the advent of computers and has seen major milestone changes in its integration into the profession. In the last century, architectural education in Ghana has also witnessed this revolution. From the year 2000 and thereon since Computer Aided Architectural Design (CAAD) was introduced in the Department of Architecture (DOA) in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) there has been tremendous improvement in the CAAD tools used in architectural design education. There is therefore the need to evaluate the CAAD software used by the students and faculty. This paper looked at the existence and the mode in which CAAD software is applied in the department, the predominant software used by students and the mode of acquisition of the software. The findings proved that CAAD is taught as part of the curriculum in the DOA and has helped improve architectural design education over the years. However, the full potential and benefit of CAAD use has not been realized as a result of challenges faced by students and faculty in teaching, learning and acquisition of software.</p>


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