Studio 22

Idea Factories III

Nicole Allen and Emma Lubbers | Technology + Process Focus

This studio is available to students enrolled in ABPL90142 Studio C, ABPL90143 Studio D, and ABPL90115 Studio E.

Studio Description

USER University of Melbourne

SITE Fishermans Bend Campus

PROGRAM 9 interdisciplinary STEMM institutes

TEAM 2 designers per institute

Idea Factories investigates the potential for academic institutions and environments to manufacture information, solve systemic problems and facilitate structural change in our societies. This semester, the studio will investigate the potential of the University of Melbourne’s future campus in Fishermans Bend. Each project team will be asked to develop a research institute designed around addressing an urgent problem. Teams will receive a site on the future campus and, together, the studio will build out a theoretical version of the campus of the future.

Studio Outcome

This studio will focus heavily on drawing and model craft, in-depth practical research, and critical studio culture.

1. Drawing & Modelling Craft: Students will be asked to study and practice architectural drawing and representation. In the same way that we study existing buildings as precedents for our designs, we will study existing drawings and models as precedents for our design communication. We will use the tools and techniques at our disposal to experiment and refine craft. Physical models will be a major, mandatory component of the deliverables in the studio. We will research modelling techniques, build iterative study models, consult with modelling experts and build high quality final models.
2. Research and Concept Development: This studio will require students to write their own brief—declaring a project topic, researching that topic and executing an architectural piece that demonstrates clear conceptual development. The ability to manifest an elegant concept clearly through building performance and architectural form will drive success in the studio.
3. Critical Studio Culture: Studio sessions will be interactive design workshops. Students will be pinning up, sketching, work-shopping ideas, and participating in each-other’s pin-ups and desk crits. High levels of participation in this process are fundamental to success in the studio.

Studio Leaders

Nicole Allen is an American architect, designer and educator currently based in Melbourne. Along with her academic practice, she is an associate at Grimshaw Architects where, among other projects, she is a lead designer of the Campus Development Framework for the University of Melbourne's Fisherman's Bend Campus. Previously, she was an associate at New York City-based SHoP Architects where she specialised in the interface between high-density mega-projects and urban centres. Nicole holds a Master’s degree in architecture from Columbia University in the City of New York (GSAPP) and a Bachelor of Science in architecture from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Her primary interest is advancing the practice of architecture as a tool for creating equitable, flourishing cities.

Emma Lubbers is an architect from The Netherlands. Recently, she moved to Melbourne and joined Grimshaw Architects in the beginning of 2019. Emma studied at Eindhoven University of Technology where she obtained a bachelor and master’s degree in architecture. Previously, she worked in Rotterdam for OMA where she was involved in a series of projects, varying in scale and type including several years working on a large-scale soccer stadium. Emma has most experience in the early phases of projects; however, she values a design which is good from concept to the very small building detail and is interested in sustainable and innovative design.

Schedule Mondays 18:15-21:15 in MSD Room 238; Thursdays 18:15-21:15 in MSD Room 142

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