Phase I : Hunches and Hypotheses Themes, Mappings, and Guidebooks ALAR 8010 Research Studio | Fall 2022
Schedule In Phase I we will elucidate the complex issues of hydrology, water management, and Launch: Tuesday, August 23rd wildness through simultaneous research, mapping, data visualizing, and idea generation. Review: Thursday, October 13th The objective is threefold: 1) to become familiar with Berlin through a variety of lenses and scales, 2) to design a guidebook that navigates the city of Berlin through specific theme, and 3) to establish a series of hunches and hypotheses that will help guide the second phase of work in the studio.
More than simply collecting research to document existing conditions, research as defined in this phase should focus on setting a strategic agenda for the semester. Because you are working at the scale of the city and region, work performed in this module should involve mapping across multiple scales and projections; research along multiple timescales to reveal past, present, and future states; and diagramming and visualizing complex urban relationships. In addition, this module asks you to take a speculative approach, drawing conclusions, forming questions, and establishing hunches and hypotheses. Each student will create their own body of research and will also design a guidebook that projects a specific narrative about the city. In other words, this research is not neutral—rather, it should tell a
particular story about hydrology and wildness and its role in the format of Berlin that lays a foundation for future propositions.
It is critical in this phase that your research is not restricted to planometric maps and diagrams. Rather, you should develop research utilizing a variety of metrics and formats including diagrams, sections, visualizations, animations, models, and writing.
1. To become familiar with the city of Berlin through a variety of lenses 2. To establish a definition of wildness that accounts for multiple, simultaneous representations 3. To develop a guidebook that presents your narrative on hydrology, wildness, and the city of Berlin, which will guide users (and yourself) in the city 4. To produce a coherent (intellectual and visual) body of research that outlines the scope of your interests and the themes and values that guide them
Part I: Base Mapping Working in pairs, students should select one theme from groups listed below and develop base mappings that represent its physical and temporal dimensions cartographically. Because there will be an extra individual the studio will need a leader that sets the standards, scales, manage data, and helps to organize the base mapping efforts.
The outcome of the base mapping will be multiple mappings that represent the theme and provide the studio with the information necessary to understand the topic.
• Society • Politics • Economy • Technology • Hydrology • Ecology • Geology/Topography
Part 2: Guidebook Each student will design a guidebook that can be used to navigate the city through a specific narrative and/or perspective. You are asked to look into guidebooks as physical artifacts and to develop the content and design the physical artifact, keeping in mind how both allow someone to understand Berlin. The guidebook should have a point of view, it is a tool to project your understanding of the city through your own research. You will use the guidebook during your visit to Berlin as a prototype and upon returning to Campbell Hall you will be able to make revisions and/ or reflections.
Part 3: Individual Research . hunches and hypotheses Each student will create a body of research that will define their approach to hydrology in Berlin and will express a definition of the term “wildness.” Importantly, the individual research will also contain initial propositions that will test ideas for the second phase of the studio.
This will be any combination of diagrams, mappings, drawings, photographs, films, etc…
The individual research will also contain field work assignments that will interpret material details and art/culture during the visit to Berlin.
Phase I : Hunches and Hypotheses : Themes, Mappings, and Guidebooks
Week 1 8.23 Studio Introduction and Topical overview 8.25 Student Interest Presentations
Week 2 8.30 Working Session 9.1 Group Mapping Pin-up and Discussion
Week 3 9.6 Desk Crits . Guidebooks 9.8 Pin-up and Discussion
Week 4 9.13 Desk Crits . Guidebooks 9.15 Pin-up and Discussion
Week 5 9.20 Group Desk Crits 9.22 Working Session
Week 6 9.27 Group Desk Crits 9.29 Review and Discussion
Week 7 9.30 - 10.9 Studio Trip to Berlin
Week 8 10.11 Desk Crits 10.13 Review of Initial Propositions/Research/Guide Book/Field Work