This unit is intended to teach 6th grade students in New Haven about modern and traditional architecture through specialized analysis of different types of homes. This unit contains floor plans of a house, apartment, and elevation for the students to study and analyze. The students will understand the homes and their performance through studying the floor plans. I have written a continuation and refinement of my previous architectural unit entitled “Space and Body in Architecture”. This unit contains a more comprehensive and detailed explanation of how to read and draw floor plans.
The latter portion of the unit is on how some people design houses, porches, entrances, etc. The designs can be represented in a variety of ways such as drawings, models, collage, verbal description, tracing, magazine pictures, painting, etc. There are many types of decisions the students will have to make while designing architecture. The culminating activity is for the students to prepare a preliminary design of an architectural element of their choice.
To analyze a house we need to understand how the house works and what it is about. The interior and exterior should be reviewed closely to gain an over-all impression and sense of continuity. The spatial divisions and functions can be analyzed as formal/informal or horizontal/vertical circulation areas. The function of space should be casual and appealing. Specific aspects should be studied such as:.
roof—type high angular, slate shingles
walls—barrier, boundary, enclosure of space, privacy
hall —arge, wide, deep, spatial area, lighting
fireplace—location, size use of
entrance—size, lighting, location, number of
staircase—location, angle, material
windows—size, shape, type, continuity to structure
rooms—size, location, shapes, specialized spaces, secluded rooms
floors—different levels, change of planes
yard—landscape, shrubbery, vines, trees, garden
ornamentation—wood carvings, designs, patterns
lighting—dark, gloomy, airy, bright, electric, natural “indirect”
inside—decor appearance, mood tones, paneling, paint, wallpaper, textures, furniture
Architectural design is not just concerned with ornamentation or detail, but with the practical and esthetic requirements such as proportion, openings, needs, taste, and a pleasing appearance. The design problem should be studied logically and include many ideas. Thought should be given to what gives character to the plans, elevations, sections, and details.
The design can be expressed in a variety of ways as I mentioned previously. One or more ways should be selected according to the designers ability and experience.
drawings—if the student is able to draw/sketch logically/ legibly on paper
models—scaled version of projects made from clay, cardboard, toothpicks or any workable available material
collage—students can express their idea or feeling by arranging objects into an interesting form of art, materials including magazine pictures, newspapers, scrap material, metals, etc. can be used
verbal—descriptionnote exact details including color, dimensions, texture, materials, cost, patterns, shapes, forms, and feelings
tracings—use floor plans and pictures of buildings already built to become familiar with the process of designing
magazinepictures—choose pictures of things you like from a variety of magazines or brochures and organize so a sketch can be made from them
painting—same as drawing to express color/moods
The following lists are possible steps to analyze existing conditions and proposals for new conditions or designs.
- Analysis and Reworking of Existing Conditions
- 1. rough sketch leading to floor plan of existing site
- 2. location of boundaries
- 3. floor plans including key items
- 4. sections showing important interior elevations
- 5. analyze conditions to determine what modifications or designs you want to do, think about what improvements or change could be worked on such as a skylight, window, or entrance
Proposals for New Conditions or Designs
- 1. after reviewing the existing conditions choose a room that is of interest and could benefit from a change
- 2. the following are examples of problems that should be looked at in the room that was chosen:.
a. space b. Iight c. path d. viewing e, privacy f. storage g. fireplace h. inside decor - 3. choose one of the problems in the room that could be corrected by a new condition or design
- 4. make a rough sketch, if unable to draw gather magazine pictures
- 5. modifications and adjustments need to be approved and suggested by teacher
- 6. sketches or pictures are needed of all the significant details
- 7. drawings of inside and outside of project should be graphic and show general character and appearance, the drawings should be to scale
- 8. drawing of what the structure will look like through pen, pencil, watercolors, etc.
- 9. decisions on details have to be made such as colors and styles
- 10. a written description of all material and equipment that are necessary with approximate costs, (students will be given a list of all materials and prices to choose from)
- 11. construct a model
Objectives
The students will be able to:
1. recognize the symbols used in floor plans.
2. read and use a scale ruler.
3. read floor plans and understand their purpose.
4. analyze examples of rooms through floor plans.
5. understand measurements made with a ruler or yardstick.
6. draw floor plans to scale of their own home, apartment, or room.
7. follow the steps in a design.
8. make or prepare a preliminary design of their choice.
Extra Activities
- 1. Draw in furniture arrangement on a floor plan outline.
- 2. Draw floor plans of a section of school such as a classroom and furniture arrangements.
- 3. Measure and draw interior elevations of a house, room, or apartment.
- 4. Compare different housing in the community by exchanging floor plans.
- 5. Analyze a building the student likes for a particular reason.
- 6. Write a descriptive narrative of where you live or why you would like to move to another place.
- 7. Write a descriptive narrative about the type of house or apartment you’d like to live in and why.
- 8. Experiment with changing a simple floor plan into different scales.
- 9. Make a collage expressing the feelings of where you would like to live.
- 10. Trace the outline of a building and fill in your own details.
- 11. Paint a favorite building in the community.
