Healthy Environments and Communities

Initiated by staff members from the Departments of A and U, this research and design project is a collaboration with housing association Habion, and knowledge and network organisation Platform 31. It will look into the role played by neighbourhoods in promoting health, changing lifestyle, and preventing future diseases. To elaborate on the relationship between space and health, this course will use suburban neighbourhoods as testing grounds – areas predominately built for families and often lacking public facilities like neighbourhood centres and medical care facilities. The course will explore the role of public architecture and dwelling in dealing with these issues, in order to create more accessible and just environments.

A – Fieldwork analysis

(20 % of the final grade)

Group work

Students will work in groups of 3 / 4 members; they will receive feedback through review sessions, collective presentations and peer review.

Assessment will take place via oral presentations and submission of graphic material.

B – Generative analysis

(20 % of the final grade)

Combination of collective and individual work

In this phase, students will work in groups of 3 / 4 members first and then will engage individual assignments; they will receive feedback through review sessions and presentations.

Assessment will take place via oral presentation and submission of preliminary design output: drawing and images, physical models, materials samples.

C – Design exercises and charettes

(60 % of the final grade – 10% group grade, 50 % individual)

Combination of collective and individual work

Within the general design framework implemented in phase B, students will work individually on the definition of a design proposal that address specific spatial issues at the scale of materials’ explorations, construction details, façade studies, etc. In order to properly assess individual contributions, each student will be asked to submit a design journal documenting the progress of their work throughout the course, as well as containing a critical reflection on their personal contributions in Phase A and B.

Assessment, therefore, will take place via oral presentation, submission of an individual reflection, and submission of design output: drawing and images, physical models, materials samples.

Students pass the course with a 6.0 or higher. With a lower grade, the course can be repaired to change the grade into a pass. The repair is unsupervised and needs to be completed within 2 weeks after the end of the course. When the repair is unsuccessful, the student needs to follow the entire course again, or possibly another Q5 elective in the third education period.