Worlding-with - in Company

Overview

In this Worlding-with - in Company course from Architectural Association, participants will collectively research, design and build an interactive pavilion that enhances the public’s perception of water, soil, geology, flora and fauna while positively influencing and interacting with these diverse ecologies.

Led by the design collective Space Saloon, this 12 day workshop takes place on-site at the Iowa Lakeside Lab, a permanent field research station and summer camp. 

Together we will engage with the physical and invisible ecologies of Northwest Iowa’s Great Lakes region using a variety of analogue and digital tools. 

We will visit regional natural sites with field-researchers, consulting directly with local scientific experts and lab technicians. As a collaborative unit, we will create hands-on explorations with local low-carbon, earthen/plant-based and repurposed materials, culminating in the construction of one final pavilion.

Skills Developed

• In person lectures by visiting scholars, experts and other designers and artists.

• Group working studio environment, with direct daily access to tutors.

• Visits, tours and excursions to regional sites including historical landscapes and national parks, led by local guides.

• Be introduced to design tools and concepts like LCA material analysis, cradle to cradle thinking, and multi-species design.

• Experimentation with new digital documentation tools including 360 cameras, photogrammetry, thermal imaging, weather measurement devices, sound recording and more.

• Software tutorials for architectural design tools including: Rhino 3D, Grasshopper, Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator and Premiere) and basic GIS visualization.

• Hands-on tool training, material fabrication and construction.

• Development of a real built project from design to documentation.

• Social activities including campfires, public workshops, swimming, biking, sport and local Okoboji lakeside summer events.