Studio 06

Open Studio: Life Support

Martin Musiatowicz

Studio Description

This is a student led studio, with an open brief and individual project focus but with an interest in how architecture supports life in and around itself. Students will be supported - in a collaborative environment - to define, explore and resolve their own design research project in an area of interest, with an experimental focus.

Overlapping with the other Open Studio, a series of workshops, talks and tours will frame up relevant issues, examples, techniques and tools. You will work iteratively and will be pushed to resolve your ideas and proposals to a high level.

Studio Outcomes

It is not necessary to have a project in mind to take this studio, but you are encouraged to reflect on your interests and arrive with possible questions, techniques or issues which you feel need further exploration and will begin to define your area of expertise as a graduate. You will be guided through a process of defining your specific research problem, a project brief, finding a suitable site and a developing a design response to these.

Through the course of the semester, the studio will zoom into common aspects or points within the design process– such as reflective practice, site mapping, concept generation, user research and presentation and communication techniques. Working from the idea of a student-centred approach, you will also be encouraged to participate in critique and feedback for other students work and as a group we will collaboratively contribute to the learning outcomes of all members of the studio.

Deliverables will be a detailed design project resolved at a scale appropriate to your research question, project type and brief, and communicated to a quality and complexity expected for a graduating thesis project.

Studio Leader

Martin Musiatowicz is an architect and director of Kart Projects, whose work spans a range of education, residential and landscape projects. Prior to establishing Kart, he worked on high profile public buildings with 3XN in Denmark; Room 4.1.3 Landscape Architecture and Graeme Gunn, aswell as other local practices.

Martin has taught at a number of architecture schools, most recently RMIT University where he was design studio leader and professional practice coordinator. His recent research interests focus on the design of learning spaces, housing and public space. He has contributed to and edited publications such as A+T magazine, Kerb and Art & Australia.

Readings & References

Readings will be set along the way in response to students’ research interests and projects.

Schedule Tuesdays and Thursdays 09:00-12:00

Contact Handbook