Studio 37

Fieldstudies

Jack Davies, Tim Brooks, and Stephanie McNamara | Cities + Living Focus

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

Studio Description

Fieldstudies is a dedicated research group within Fieldwork with a mandate to explore social issues facing urban Australia through architecture. The principal mode of research is undertaken through a long-term program of architectural design studios.This semester seeks to question architecture’s role in the increasingly complex overlap between humans and technology, and how it impacts the mechanisms of the way we live, work and play. The Fieldstudies students will filter this research through the lens of “innovation precincts,” via a detailed proposition on a city fringe site.

Studio Outcome

Each student will undertake group directed research to drive their own architectural project and compilation of an accompanying studio book. The end result will be a detailed architectural proposal designed with a true mixed-use spirit, supported by a strong concept, graphic representation and iteration.

A combination of required readings, esquisses, field trips, design reviews and symposiums at the Fieldwork studio will support the teaching program. The learning outcomes of Fieldstudies will be:

• Critically explore the evolution of local; international; historic and future precedents and compare relationships between context, public and private
• Understand the impact of planning, social, technological, sunstainable, commercial and demographic demands on an architectural outcome
• Develop a personal design philosophy and agenda of mixed-use precincts and effectively communicate them graphically and verbally

Studio Leaders

Jack Davies is an project architect at Fieldwork, and since migrating from New Zealand in 2012, he has lived and worked across three continents and multiple contexts.From award winning projects in Australia, to working in Dubai and throughout Europe, his work has transitioned across all phases – from intensive design competitions to detailed documentation and site delivery. Having previously worked at OMA in Rotterdam, his professional and independent projects have been widely published. His experience designing challenging architecture in a complex environment has shaped a clear and direct method of communication as well as a desire to promote architecture’s agency within Melbourne and in a wider context.

Tim Brooks is a project architect and has amassed extensive experience in the public, educational, commercial and residential sectors since 2011.He has been involved in award winning cultural projects, including the redevelopment of Hamer Hall and the Shrine of Remembrance, incorporating historical research into architectural practice, creating new spaces with distinct identities which enrich, rather than detract, from existing civic buildings. With experience from concept design through to handover, Tim has a real interest in working collaboratively with builders and clients, as well as advocating for design integrity, particularly during construction. Tim enjoys taking an active role in architectural education, teaching and guest critiquing at RMIT and the University of Melbourne, as well as carrying a similar responsibility within the practice as lead of our CPD & Training Committee.

Stephanie McNamara is a project architect who since 2010 has gained extensive experience across the cultural, multi-residential, education and masterplanning sectors. After completing a portion of her RMIT Master thesis in Paris, she was keen to practice in Europe. She joined the Fieldwork team in 2018 upon her return from 4 years working in the Netherlands and London, during which time she led teams across large-scale, complex multiresidential and masterplanning projects. Particularly experienced in the conceptual project phases, Stephanie is practiced in (and relishes) defending this design intent through to completion. She understands the excitement, trust and dedication that is required to get extraordinary projects built, and facilitates this through meaningful client, consultant and stakeholder relationships. Prior to Fieldwork, Stephanie worked at Foster + Partners.

Travel Project site and Fieldwork Studio | Weeks 1 and 2 and ongoing

Schedule Tuesdays 09:00-12:00 in MSD Room 241; Thursdays 09:00-12:00 at Fieldwork Studio

Contact Handbook Key Dates