Architecture Foundations Studio

The course aims at developing design skills through analyzing existing buildings and design projects and through solving real-life spatial architectural problems that require solutions derived from the Danish context. Students will work in physical and digital media to construct spatial models and will further their graphic and verbal communication skills in order to convey abstract spatial concepts.

Studio groups combine students of different standing and background. The course is taught vertically, and expectations relate to each individual student. Full-year students can progress to Architectural Design Studio as a Core course in the spring semester. Alternatively, they may switch to Urban Design Foundations Studio or Interior Architecture Foundations Studio.

Semester students can indicate a preference for either the Sweden-Finland or Germany-Netherlands study tour. Final tour placement will depend on availability.

Fall

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Spring

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Prerequisites

Documented background in fine arts or studio art, or completion of a course in drawing. Students are strongly recommended to enroll in the lecture course ‘20th and 21st Century Danish Architecture

Students should bring examples of any previous drawing or other art work in a portfolio to be shared with their studio instructors at the beginning of Assignment 2. This will allow the professors to become acquainted with the design experience of each student. The portfolio should contain:

A one-page resume (short and precise) listing all studios, courses, assignments, and other relevant material, beginning with the most recent information. Clearly state current year/position in school. Briefly state expectations of study at DIS.
Approximately 3 pages of project illustrations from one or several projects done in any studios (or independently if relevant), accompanied by a short description.

The portfolio must be submitted as a digital PDF or hard copy. The pages should be formatted to A4 size (210mmx297mm) or US-Letter size (8.5"x11").

Field Studies

: In-class site visits, and in some cases visits to design offices and notable architectural examples

Instructors

Kelly Nelson

Architect, AIA (MArch, University of Maryland, 1996). Employed at Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects 1996-2010. He has been a key player on projects like Hotel Hilton, CPH Airport, DR-byen and Go-Terminal. While working at VLA Kelly has taught studios and lead study tours here at DIS numerous semesters. With DIS since 1994.
Michael Cederfeld

Architect, M.A.A. (Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, 1988). Practicing in Danish architectural design offices since 1986: Gottlieb Paludan, Dissing + Weitling, Georg Rotne, DOMUS. Adjunct Professor, external examiner 1992-97, 2006-12, Royal Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture. Assistant Professor, Lund University Sweden 1998-99. With DIS since 2009.
Bo Christiansen

Architect, M.A.A. (Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, 1993). M.Arch (University of Washington, 1995). Practicing architect. Own office since 2004. With DIS since 1999.
Courtney D. Coyne Jensen

Architect, M.A.A./ Ph.D. (Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, 2000). M.Phil. (Cambridge Univ., 1999). B.Arch. (DAAP, 1995). Sr. Lecturer, Victoria Univ., NZ, 2005-6. Lecturer, Witwatersrand Univ., ZA, 2002-3. Young Artist Grant from Danish National Arts Foundation, 2001-2. Practicing with architectural offices in DK, ZA, DE, UK & US. With DIS since 2000.
Mark Werdelin

Architect, M.A.A. (Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, 2001) Bachelor of Architectural Faculty (University of Westminster, London 1996). Own office since 2002. With DIS since 2007.
Leslie Lorimer

Architect AIA LEED/BD+C. (Stanford University, Economics, 1988)(MArch,UC Berkeley, 1995). Employment at Sim Van der Ryn Architects & Associates, SMWM Architecture & Planning. Own firm since 2000, Lorimer Architecture. With DIS since 2010.