ARK-E1021 - Studio Spring, Emergent Design Methodologies, 13.1.2023-9.6.2023

The analysis task has two parts: site analysis and metaxographic analysis. Each of four four person's groups will work on both tasks.

The site analysis consists of analysing standard contextual characteristics. This should be mainly presented with images made by oneself.

In metaxography, the word Metaxis refers to in-betweenness (relationships) and graphe to descriptive analysis. Objects can have relationships with other objects and interact, influence and shape them. Relationships between objects can be analysed and developed. Relationships can be considered as recognisable entities. Object relationships have their own “motivations” and “thinking”. Sometimes they escape the expressed intentions of their authors. Sometimes the intentions should receive more attention. We would like to emphasise that metaxography is something completely else than the genre of relational architecture, which studies collaborative design methods.

It is possible to represent relationships as diagrams, which can be implemented as a variety of different designs. The relationship perspective urges us to be open to multiple logics in design and its evaluation by putting focus to different types of collage as a way to organise complexities.

In this course, we concentrate on the spatial relationships between natural elements and built elements. These may occur as relationships 

a) between objects:

• relationships created by different relative locations, sizes, dimensions and forms of objects and spaces 
• depth – front and back 

b) between object systems (between organisations of nature or building):

• systems of location in 2D and 3D, such as stripe, grid and mesh 
• overlap, embed, scatter
• structure can be a spatial system other substances can exist within, outside or without a relationship to it.
• succession of elements and spaces inside and around: e.g. spatial series 
• multisensory relationships – not only visual  

Group 1:

Metaxographic analysis: 

• Under (Snøhetta)
  
• Genoa Port (OMA)
  
• Vellamo (Lahdelma & Mahlamäki)
  
• The Danish National Maritime Museum (BIG)
  

Group 2:

Site analysis: People and functions

Metaxographic analysis: 

• Copenhagen Maritime Youth House (BIG)
  
• Porsgrunn Maritime Museum (COBE & Transform)
  
• Duboak Maritime Heritage Interpretation Centre (NFO)

Group 3: 

Metaxographic analysis: 

• Shenzhen Maritime Museum (SANAA)
• Shenzhen Maritime Museum (3XN)
• Shenzhen Maritime Museum (Sou Fujimoto)
• Shenzhen Maritime Museum (UNStudio)

Group 4: 

Metaxographic analysis: 

• Maritime Center in Rotterdam (Mecanoo)
  
• Kaap Skil (Mecanoo)
  
• National Maritime Museum renovation (Dok)
  
• Osaka Maritime Museum (Paul Andreu)
  
• The National Maritime Museum of China (COX)
  

• Living Breakwaters, New York City (Scape)

  
  

  
  

  
  

Presentation technique: 

PDF / Powerpoint, max. 20 slides: mostly visuals. Emphasis on findings or guidelines for the use of the design task.