Objectives
The course explores architectural design by integrating and bringing together social, ecological and spatial dimensions through the study of existing buildings : it leads to work on programmatic conceptualisation. Students are also invited to reflect on the role of the organisation chart (whether schematic or more complex) in its ability to facilitate the transition from a programmatic approach—involving the definition of activities, uses, qualities and spatial relationships to be promoted within a facility—to formal design work, with a focus on situating it within an urban context.

This course is based on collaboration across several disciplinary fields. This collaboration involves identifying points of intersection between methods for assessing the quality of spatial use, inventive programming, and a design approach that employs algorithmic representation techniques (notably experimenting with the contributions of new forms of artificial intelligence to architecture). Students are thus encouraged to develop a critical understanding of digital tools, by exploring their potential and assessing their limitations.

Course Structure
The course draws on theoretical and practical insights into assessment and programming as key processes in architectural design. It offers an approach to architectural programming based on a method for analysing the quality of use of spaces, which students explore during visits to a craft workshop and a medical and social care facility. A practical exercise then aims to devise a decision-making tool using a computational process (Computational Design) to develop complex flowcharts and narrow down the possible spatialisations within a given urban context.

During two group visits to the facilities, students make observations, take notes (sketches, photographs) and conduct interviews with users regarding their usage patterns. This data is analysed, objectified and recorded in a document that highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the spaces studied and identifies the priority planning issues for each facility. Programmatic proposals and an initial floor plan are developed on this basis, to form the foundations of the design work.

Teaching team
Jodelle Zetlaoui-Léger
Michael Fenker
Claire Duclos Prévet
Jonathan Bruter

Further information : https://paris-lavillette.archi.fr/enseignement/option-experimentation-pedagogique-interdisciplinaire-44-h-2/