Details of the output and grades for the Islamic Architecture Design Studio 3 2024 course at UIN Malang

Returning to teaching after a 3.5-year hiatus, I was excited to lead Islamic Architecture Studio 3 class B. In this course, students design a home for a client with unique interests and a specific profession.

During our first meeting, I introduced myself and got to know the students. I noticed that many had not perfectly excelled in their previous studio courses. This prompted me to revisit a teaching method I'd used before.

My doctoral studies in environmental psychology equipped me with the knowledge that designers, when making decisions, are primarily influenced by two factors: first, past experiences for a desire for perfection. However, since achieving perfection is often unrealistic, I decided to focus on the second factor: time constraints.

I've observed that many students finalize their design decisions at the last minute. Often, these initial choices fall short and require significant revision later. This cycle of last-minute decisions and revisions hinders their ability to complete their final projects effectively.

Instead of forcing decisions under time pressure, I propose a different approach. By setting clear deadlines throughout the design process, students will have opportunities to make choices, evaluate their initial attempts, and iterate on their ideas. This allows them to learn from early mistakes and build a stronger final design and assignment output.

The sheer volume of deliverables for this course can be daunting. Students will produce a range of outputs, including analyses, concepts, schematics, design development documents, a logbook, architectural drawings, shop drawings, perspectives, animations, a physical model, presentation boards, and potentially more.

Designing a house requires a multifaceted approach, and this range of outputs reflects that complexity.

While striving for a perfect design is admirable, it can hinder students' progress through the workload of this course. Therefore, I propose a method that emphasizes daily decision-making and iterative improvement.

For example, in Week 4, students will spend 15 minutes sketching out their initial floor plan designs. These will be collected and discussed as a class, focusing on identifying areas for improvement. Students will then have another 15 minutes to refine their plans based on the feedback. This cycle will repeat until the class reaches a satisfactory level of development for that day's task. The next day, we'll move on to a new aspect of the design, such as elevations, without revisiting the plan. 

Initially, some students are surprised by this method. They express concern that decisions made early was not perfect and they need to revised before moving to the next stage.

In these situations, I explain that design is an iterative process. We strive for excellence, but achieving absolute perfection is an unrealistic goal. Here's how I frame it: "Perfection isn't something humans can achieve, it's a realm beyond us. Instead, let's focus on doing our best with the knowledge and skills we have at this moment. If we've done our best with the knowledge and skills we have at this moment, that's enough. There's always room to learn and grow, and with limited time, we can revisit and refine decisions later." The design process requires us to manage our time effectively, ensuring we cover all aspects of the design.

By emphasizing the iterative nature of design and the value of learning from early mistakes, students can begin to embrace the concept of accepting imperfections.

Over time, students adapted well to the iterative design workflow.  By the semester's end, everyone had successfully completed most of their project deliverables, Alhamdulillah [Praise be to God].

While the final designs leaned towards established aesthetics, they were well-executed and functional.  In the context of Indonesian architecture, this is not necessarily a drawback. I see the designs prioritizing functionality ensures these designs create livable spaces that meet the needs of their occupants. Also the design are respecting tradition. Drawing inspiration from established styles reflects an understanding of Indonesian architectural commons.

While innovation is certainly important, sometimes successful design solutions lie in reinterpreting existing ideas in a fresh way.  Perhaps in future semesters, we can explore ways to encourage creative exploration within a framework that respects the cultural considerations.

Thank you.

CHECK THEIR WORK HERE

Their grades are: