Can a building perpetuate pedagogy? While many different pedagogical philosophies and theories have been developed in the last century changing drastically the way we understand teaching, learning, and playing, the design of the built environment where these activities take place has barely varied. This advanced studio aims to be an opportunity to investigate how design can shape experience and affect the subject in processes of playing and learning.

Students were asked to design a playground (pictured above), a series of open and closed recreational spaces considering them an active part of the pedagogical strategy that will lead the final design of their designed learning environments.

Professor: Lorena del Rio

Student Participants: Abdullah Balkhyour, Hamza Basurrah, Jenny Gonzalez, Yoo Bin Jung, Manasi Kshirsagar, Lilliam Navarro, Adan Rios, Tetiana Muraviova, Hao Yu, Clare Hacko, Justine Humble, Nicholas Scribner

Spring 2017 Fashion Show Experience showcased the array of talent at CCA. Full of Hot Air, taught by  Peter Anderson, is the studio that produced the setting for the show. Students did hands-on research with membrane materials and fabrication processes, with the goal of producing new prototypes for lightweight built structures.
There is a long history of experimentation with this medium by artists, architects, and engineers, from early examples of balloon and dirigible construction for air travel to tensile-membrane building components. With the rapid development of plastics and advanced composite materials since the middle of the 20th century, many new types of membranes have become available for use, only some of which have been exploited so far in architectural applications. Students explored air-supported and closed-volume membrane structures and components using materials and processes that are accessible to them within the studio and CCA back-lot setting, working at the 1-to-1 scale of human inhabitation.

Professor: Peter Anderson

BuildLab and Pavement to Parks join forces in an exciting exploration of mutable design and fabrication projects to be tested in the public realm. Pavement to Parks will sponsor and host the final prototypes on site at Pier 70 with the goal to temporarily activate public space within our neighborhood.

This 1:1 AIS designed and prototyped mobile unit(s) for this experimental, resourceful and unpolished waterfront area that is proud of its industrial past. These mobile prototypes provided infrastructure for outdoor learning including different combinations of shelter, stage, and seating that could host teaching, performing and gathering activities of varied size groups. Designing through physical making was the primary focus of this studio. Through an investigation in material literacy, a 1:1 structural and material system emerged for a site-specific construction. This course investigated both traditional and digital fabrication techniques and focused on the process of making, construction management, design detailing and documentation.

Project Partners & Sponsors: Robin Abad, San Francisco Planning and Pier 70

Professor: Sandra Vivanco

Student Participants: Truong Nguyen, Victoria Wang, Hui Ching Fok, Autumn Austin, Han Zhang, Gaby Niken, Emily Blemker, Yan Zhu, De Huynh, Rajah Bose, Wut Hwe, Tiffany Yan