Abstract:

The Study of Form is one of the subjects meant to help first year architecture students develop their design skills while learning and practicing visual arts techniques and representations. The practical studio work is organized on various themes which explore bidimensional and tridimensional architectural representation with emphasis on developing creative answers to practical assignments. The results, in the form of drawings, models, films or similar media are valuable exercises for the related projects of the Architectural Design Studio.

Recently, a collaboration opportunity determined a change in the strategy of the Study of Form studio, shifting the theoretical approach to a more practical one. In a partnership with the local Puppet Theatre for organizing a street festival, the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning invites the students of this class to design and build urban installations for the public of the festival.

The study analyses the changes brought by the project to the didactical process. Using examples of student work, the authors, also the tutors of the studio, aim to determine the role of a real client and of the public exposure in enhancing student creativity and motivation.

Keywords:

Architecture, Study of form, creativity, experience, festival, student, installation, performance, motivation.