Rian Architects & Designers

Project Brief  (by David Verdy)

The second studio module in the M.Arch. Design program focuses on establishing and developing mutually inspiring relationships between technical and environmental requirements and design ideas. The studio addresses increasing systemic interdependencies of human habitation, built form, technology, society, natural and urban environments in contexts of high population density, as they are typically found in the fast-expanding cities of Asia. Design proposals must be based on a strong research background, which is intended to lead to a diversity of individually defined and well-argued architectural design approaches. Project work is developed in a studio setting supported by lectures, group and individual tutorials. Reviews of students include departmental staff, visiting experts from other schools as well as practicing architects. The brief invites students to develop experimental future- oriented mixed-use towers with an emphasis on networks of the future, including social, economic and spatial aspects. Students are asked to develop contextually responsive architectural design proposals that integrate social, cultural, technical, and environmental knowledge at an advanced level.