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ARCH 141 – DESIGN IV
Professors Lebbeus Woods, Christoph a. Kumpusch, Jennifer Lee, and Mersiha Veledar
URBAN ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO
The intention of the studio was to explore the potentials of a 21st century university campus in New York City. We used as a focus the West Harlem site proposed for the Columbia University campus extension. Exploring the best relationships between different programs of study and research, independently of Columbia’s planned programs for the site, our aim—working individually and in teams—was to create a Proto-Urban Campus that anticipated future developments in education.
Our approach involved the creation of a planning matrix for the site. A matrix differs fundamentally from a master plan. Instead of being based on predetermined programs of use, such as School of Business, School of Art, and the like, it is a three dimensional armature designed for the site that will accept many interdisciplinary and hybrid educational programs likely to develop in the future. Seven teams of four students conceived, designed, and presented seven matrix schemes. From these, a jury selected a matrix based on idealized paths of movement through and above the site on which individuals worked for the remainder of the semester, developing their innovative educational programs and projects. These may be understood as temporary or semi-permanent constructions in an evolving architectural and educational landscape.
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