What if everyone was an architect? The tangible application of STEAM skills, aesthetics, clear communication and empowerment to propose innovative alternative realities… would the built environment finally be able to keep up with modern technology, lifestyle trends, and responding to social concerns such as the climate emergency?
These are the questions our studio is hoping to help answer. Architects have excluded themselves into near extinction – a dying craft taking place behind closed doors. We want to share the design process by exposing it. We want to expose the external forces that shape design too; things like business finance & investment, policy, research, technology and construction.
No matter your age or experience, come get involved!
Link: What’s On at BiBO
Happy Homes in Vancouver have created this toolkit to introduce principles all developments can integrate to promote well-being, sociability, and all-around happiness.
Link: Happy Homes Toolkit
880 Cities invite people to think about how an 8 year old experiences a city on their own, how an 80 year old experiences it, and then how those 2 individuals might enjoy it together. Thinking in this way changes your perspective; you see safety, sociability and access differently. One of their most successful campaigns is Open Streets, and Covid-19 simply reinforced the impact that closing a road or area to cars can have. This toolkit is designed to help anyone interested in trialling an Open Streets “event”.
Link: Open Streets Toolkit
The Bernard van Leer Foundation actively promotes Urban95 thinking: imagining the world from a height of 95cm (3yrs old) on the basis that if we design cities for the most vulnerable [including children, elderly, disabled or neurodiverse] it results in cities that are better for everyone
Link: Urban95
ZCD Architects have created several toolkits to help designers work with and integrate the feedback of young people into the design process.
A great talk organised by the London School of Architecture, Holly Harrington and Rosanna Vitiello, about the future of public realm infrastructure and the idea of the 15-minute city.
BiBO’s Town Gateways Proposal was used as an example of a positive public realm project.
Here are some useful resources for Part 3 students to assist with your studies:
Print this off and pin it up next to your desk! You will need to keep referring back to this to make sure you’re gaining the right kinds of experience to demonstrate competence at Part 3.
Criteria here: ARB Part 3 Criteria
ARB: The Architects Code
RIBA: RIBA Code of Conduct
It’s a good idea to read through the JCT Standard Building Contract, and familiarise yourself with the contract details and standard clauses, in preparation for exams, coursework and future practice.
Contract here: JCT SBC 2016
A useful app for assisting with revision (note: the app is not yet available for Android devices).
Link here: My Part 3 App
Stephen Brookhouse’s Part 3 Handbook (3rd Ed.) provides useful, up-to-date guidance on all elements of the course, including the case study, exams, coursework and interviews.
Amazon link here: Part 3 Handbook
Spend your time learning how to design buildings, not getting irate with AutoCAD!
Its infuriating to waste precious time in tutorials trying to understand drawings because “Sorry, I couldn’t get my CAD to print right”. Lines are architect’s words… so bad lines = bad communication.
Be aware that most employers have their own in-house CAD standards, templates and plot file (CTB). So you really don’t need to learn about this unless you’re interested in becoming a CAD manager. If this is the case, it might be worth looking into BIM careers.
Download our AutoCAD template, pre-populated with some common layers and suggested lineweights. You will need to also download our CTB and follow the setup instructions below. This should have you up and running in no time.
A CTB (plot style file) file is used in AutoCAD to attribute plot styles (line weights and line types) to index colours. The “index” is the 256 colours arranged in a grid on the Index tab, and the CTB will not “read” Pantones, RAL or other colours you might work with.
Handy tip: Use true colour 255,255,255 if you ever need to print white. For example, if you’ve designed a laser-cut screen and want it to block out background information… solid hatch that bad-boy with 255,255,255. Yes, there is “wipeout”, but it doesn’t work very well with advanced CAD so forget about it.
How to Set Up a CTB
Further guidance from Autodesk on installing CTBs here And to set the default plot style, here.
Note:
A useful video showing how to clearly communicate your ideas through hand drawings.
Here’s an article from Archdaily with a list of fun activities which could help you to improve your skills as an Architect outside of the office.
Link: How to Become a Better Architect
Handy compilation of the UK’s Paragraph 79 houses for those in need of scope, precedent or inspiration in promoting the highest standards of architecture.