Material Misuse - Southern Polytechnic State University

Exercises and Final Project:The semester will be divided up into a series of exercises that are designed to reinforce each other in thedesign of the final project for the semester.Project #1: Material MattersUsing the Material Connexion Online Database (or similar search engines), research emerging materialsand products in the category of wood and polymers. Source actual samples or create a facsimile tocreate a series of sample boards that includes technical data. Material research can also include woodand plastics with embedded technologies (smart materials).Project #2: MISUSE Experiments: WOODCollect an extensive array of used and new WOOD product, that ranges from, harvested bark, pinestraw, branches, driftwood, etc, to thin sheet veneers, dimensional lumber and timber. Distress thematerial through techniques such as hammering, scoring, scorching, dying, etc. Create a series ofarchitectonic objects that investigates various (mis)uses of the material at hand. This can include, but notlimited to, architectonic vessels, frames, screens and surfaces. Photograph various misuse experiments inWOOD, format and upload these photographic studies (with explanatory texts) to digital booklet.Project #3: MISUSE Experiments: PLASTICSCollect an extensive array of used and new PLASTIC product, that ranges from used PET water bottles,shopping bags and food packaging to clear, translucent and/or opaque sheets of polycarbonate andstyrene. Distress the plastic through techniques such as heating, scoring, scorching, bending, shredding,etc. Create a series of architectonic objects that investigates various (mis)uses of the material at hand. Thiscan include, but not limited to, architectonic vessels, frames, screens and surfaces. Photograph variousmisuse experiments in PLASTIC, format and upload these photographic studies (with explanatory texts) todigital booklet.Project #4: MISUSE 'Garden Folly' PAVILIONThe temporary garden pavilion will be situated on the Great Lawn of the Botanical Garden of PiedmontPark. The project will be similar in tone and scope to the London's Serpentine Gallery Pavilion. Eachstudent will be asked to create a pavilion that will investigate the combination of both plastic and wood inthe design of a provocative architectural project that engages the public through staging a series ofactivities and events that ranges (for example) from an afternoon café, an evening reception or a nightlyconcert. Material experimentation will be encouraged in the consideration of primary, secondary andtertiary structural systems, filtering and screening of natural light, envelope design, etc.The design of the pavilion might also include the design of seating, tables, counters, light fixtures, etc.EvaluationThe following is the breakdown percentages for the course:Project #1: Material Matters(Initial Material Research): 5%Project #2: MISUSE Experiments: WOOD 20%Project #3: MISUSE Experiments: PLASTICS 20%Project #4: MISUSE 'Garden Folly' PAVILION 45%Readings + Participation 10%