Thesis Studio
TRANSFOMERS
Dr. David SC Mah
Studio Description
This urban design thesis studio will focus on developing strategies for intelligent transformations of Melbourne’s inner and middle ring suburbs.
To frame this exploration, we will use Melbourne as the focus, drawing from its history and speculating on possible futures.
The studio will engage in a reflection on urban transformations more generally, while also considering Melbourne’s sites more specifically. We will draw from a range of examples of Melburnian suburbs that have or are currently undergoing densification and transformation.
By establishing an understanding of these and other models, students in the course will embark on their own strategies for how existing urban fabrics, environments, networks, and communities may be strategically and sensitively renovated. These proposals are expected to articulate a position on the forms that the emerging and future spaces in the city may assume.
It is anticipated that work produced within this studio may be suitable for publication within academic and/or professional architectural and education journals, alongside public exhibitions. Students undertaking this studio will be asked to give permission for their work to be published. Any such participation is entirely voluntary and will not occur until well after semester has finished; your decision to participate in the dissemination of your work (or not) will not impact your studio performance in any way.
Studio Outcomes
Assessments
The course will have two formal assessments, one delivered at midterm and the other for the final submission. There will be a series of shorter exercises which will contribute towards building these major submissions.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a capacity to make a contribution to the existing body of knowledge in architectural, landscape architectural or urban design theory and practice;
- Demonstrate critical awareness of how their chosen specialisation contributes to this body of knowledge;
- Demonstrate an understanding of design as a form of research enquiry.
Generic skills
- Written, verbal and graphic presentation of ideas;
- Correct use of design terminology;
- Ability to analyse social and cultural contexts;
- Critical thinking and analysis;
- Creative response to complex problems;
- Ability to select the appropriate design approach.
Studio Leader/s
Dr. David Mah is a senior lecturer in urban design and architecture at the University of Melbourne’s school of design.
Previous to the MSD, David was a lecturer at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design (2010-2017). While at the GSD, David was also design research lead for the Health and Places Initiative, a research collaboration between the Harvard Graduate School of Design and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health focused on studying the links between the built environment and health outcomes.
Previous to Harvard, he also taught design and theory at Cornell University’s department of architecture (2007-2010) and Landscape Urbanism at the graduate design school of the Architectural Association in London (2004-2007).
Together with Leire Asensio Villoria, David is author of the books: Systems Upgrade (2022, Actar) and Lifestyled: Health and Places (2016, Jovis). His writings have been published in a number of academic as well as professional books and journals, including The Eixample Example. Urban Landscape Critical Concepts in Built Environment : Typology, Space, Representation. Routledge 2015, Over-Research. in The Generic Sublime Actar 2016, Sense and Sensibilities. Kerb. 23. Actar 2015, Digital Design as a Material Practice. Paradigms in Computing Making, Machines, and Models for Design Agency in Architecture. Evolo 2015 and Digital Media and Material Practice. Representing Landscapes: Digital. Routledge. 2015 amongst others.
Together with Leire Asensio Villoria, David is also active in the production of architectural and creative works. His works has been exhibited internationally including at the Royal Academy of Art in London. The Tallinn Architectural Biennale, NGV Melbourne Design Week and The Storefront for Art and Architecture in New York and has been featured in professional books and journals published by Birkhauser, Evolo, Lars Muller, Actar and Routledge amongst others.
Professionally, David has worked within a number of international design practices including FOA and Zaha Hadid Architects where he was engaged in the design and delivery of a number of urban design as well as architectural projects in the United Kingdom (The 2012 London Olympics and Legacy masterplans), Singapore (one north science park masterplan) and Spain. David has been collaborating with Leire Asensio Villoria as asensio_mah since 2002.
Schedule
Monday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm in MSD 241
Thursday 10:00 am - 1:00 pm in MSD 125